A culture of violence

Increasingly, it seems that we have a growing culture of violence. This is evident in school-yard bullying, nightclub bashings, mayhem at sporting events, road rage and abuse of women and children. There must be many reasons for the unfortunate trends. Without doubt, some of the problem is related to the influence of alcohol and drugs. Media moguls must also share responsibility for the violent content of many video games, T-V programmes and the like. When some deny that this affects the behaviour of viewers I point to hard headed business interests ready to pay very big bucks in the belief that media advertising does affect people's lifestyle choices. Then the much publicised violence of sports stars provides a shocking example for adoring fans and the weekly procession to tribunals for statutary slaps on wrists seems to have little effect. Signs of blood-lust in crowds at some sporting events are disturbing and indicate that in our secular society the jungle is not far from the surface and still needs taming. That points to the need for a power greater than our own.