Reality of Violence

Dear World Wide Web,
In the very first pages of the book A long way gone, Ishmael Beah reminisces over a moment he shared with some of his friends after his long journey had finally come to a conclusion. I am ashamed to admit that when I first read the response his friends had to “seeing people running around with guns and shooting each other,” I laughed. Though after diving into the book and really absorbing the grave effects violence can have on one’s mentality, I regretted laughing instantly. Violence is an issue that is taken far too lightly in many countries including the United States and the response Ishmael’s friend had is one of many examples.
At first I felt that his friends’ response to “ seeing people running around with guns and shooting each other,” was hilarious but then after reading the book and thinking about why that comment was farcical, I simply could not come up with an answer. I thought about it for a substantial amount of time and have come to this conclusion: they were ignorant and so was I. Though I have no idea who exactly was taking a part of the conversation or what terrors each of his friends have faced in their lives; I know I am right. What is sadder is that I cannot blame them (or myself) for being ignorant. This is because the influences around them and ultimately us have imposed this thought that violence is “cool.” Though if they knew the horrific savagery and tragedy that Ishmael had to face at an appalling age, their jokes and smiles would quickly fade. In short, I detest what his friends said (and my reaction), but cannot say I am completely colored shocked by their (and my) response.
I do not necessarily think that all students here in the United States share the same responses to violence. I believe that initial responses depend on the perspective students have on violence. I personally think that these perspectives can be shaped by suffering a loss due to violence, witnessing a cruel act, etc. Though these are horrible things to say and think about, it is absolutely true. When is the last time you were caught in the middle of a crossfire, violent car jacking, or witnessed someone being shot right in front of you? Most likely the response will be, “Well in this one movie....”

This is exactly my point.

Until now I never realized how twisted laughing at violence is. When we see movies or read about violence in a book, it is such a surreal event that it does not even register that everyday people just like YOU and ME are getting hurt out there in the cold and unforgiving world and somehow we laugh about it. Even in the first chapter of the book, Ishmael Beah talk about how he thought the war was,

“...happening in a faraway and different land. It wasn’t until refugees started passing through our town that we began to see that it was actually taking place in our country.....At times I thought that some of the stories the passerby told were exaggerated.The only wars I knew of were those that I had read about in books or seen in movies such as Rambo: First Blood, and the one in neighboring Liberia that I had heard about on the BBC news.” (Beah 1-2)

It is not until Ishmael is forced to face the harsh realities of the war that he begins to understand that wars and violence are not like the movies where the protagonist prevails and lives a carefree life after his victory, it is much more complex than that. I am not saying by any means I understand completely what Ishmael has been through or have witnessed any of these things, I just understand the situation better.

I believe that something that the media has attributed to the thinking that violence is, “cool.” The media, which consists of movies, books, magazines, tv, etc., have contoured the images we have of violence and have validated it to be an act of patriotism (the war), courage, and even strength. Though, what this book has shown me about violence is that we never see what happens to those effected by violence.

I know it’s a strange thought but take a moment to ruminate over this: Have you ever seen the tragedy, devastation or tears of the afflicted after a major battle scene? Me neither.

So I come to this conclusion internet world: if you still think violence is cool, you are lame.


Not as caffeinated,
DECAFdork