Violence & the fantastic reward.

Maybe it's my imagination. But I sense that society is becoming more and more violent. Apparently, more people are deciding that the only way to settle grievances is by violence. By individuals. Used to be that we tried to settle our differences by nations going to war. A collective sort of violence. We'd invent just wars. But now we have individuals waging war. Like the nut that attacked Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi yesterday in Milan. Fractured his nose. And cracked two of his teeth. No doubt about it. Berlusconi is a cad. And he's going to trial on charges of corruption. And that's where these matters should be handled. In a court of law. But we have vigilante justice these days. A group of religious fanatics trying to mete out justice. Or in many cases, it's only a single individual. Maybe people are feeling that the system doesn't work any more. I wonder. If it's the beginning of a revolution. Individual acts of violence. As a replacement for collective acts. As an example, look at the proliferation of suicide bombings. Yes, individuals blowing themselves to smithereens in a crowded setting. So they can go to Valhalla or wherever and enjoy having sex with 62 virgins. I've heard of all kinds of excuses/justifications for violence. But that one -- the fantastic reward -- tops the proverbial cake. --Jim Broede