Yes It Is It’s True: We Americans really are a violent lot

H. Rap Brown became infamous about 48 years ago when he was reported to have said, “Violence is as American as apple pie.”

Though he was roundly excoriated for the comment, upon re-examination, it appears he was only showing us he had a keen grasp of the obvious. We Americans really are a violent lot.

I suppose many will retort that virtually all cultures have shown alarming violent tendencies, but to suggest that somehow people who live in the United States by contrast are peace-loving plain folks is the same as insisting the world is flat.

As I write this, I am terribly worried that somebody will be killed at a rally for Donald Trump, an event that seems to bring out those crazy lefty protesters and some young thugs who just want to raise hell. There already have been some disturbing incidents that should remind us of Germany 80 years ago.

We Americans have a pretty convincing history in using violence as a way to settle differences. Violence pervades our cinema, with a genre completely devoted to explosions, car chases and killings. And we love it. And, of course, when you hear, see or read the news, it’s part of our daily diet.

Just the other day, while putting together the background music for the Wayland High School Class of 1966 reunion, I noticed there were plenty of popular songs that promoted violence as a lifestyle or as a way to solve problems.

Ten examples submitted for your approval:

• “Ah… he knows that you’ve been cheatin’. Ah… you’re gonna get a beatin’” — The Angels, “My Boyfriend’s Back.
• “Rollin’ around in the mud and the blood and the beer.” — Johnny Cash, “A Boy Named Sue.”
• “If you don’t love it, leave it, let this song that I’m singin’ be a warnin’. Cause when you’re runnin’ down our country Hoss, you’re walkin’ on the fighting side of me.” — Merle Haggard, “The Fightin’ Side of Me.”
• “I’ll tell you what buddy if you’ve got the nerve, let’s race all the way to Dead Man’s Curve.” — Jan and Dean, “Dead Man’s Curve.”
• “If you see me comin’ better step aside. Lot of men didn’t, a lot of men died.” — Tennessee Ernie Ford, “Sixteen Tons.”
• “Fighting soldiers from the sky… fearless men, who jump and die.” — Sgt. Barry Sadler, “Ballad of the Green Berets.”
• “…so I kissed some other guy. Johnny jumped up and he hit him, cause he still loves me, that’s why.” — Lesley Gore, “Judy’s Turn to Cry.”
• “These boots are made for walkin’… and that’s just what they’ll do. One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you.” — Nancy Sinatra, “These Boots Are Made for Walking.”
• “I feel like beating someone up tonight, but I wouldn’t beat up on you, cause you’d win, and I’m not crazy.” — Sarah Kernochan, “Chez Rosemary.”
• “Don’t startle me with a sudden noise, cause I’ll stomp all over you… and I love it, I love it, I love to fight.” — The Fugs, “Johnny Pissoff Meets the Red Angel.”

Our films, our music, our literature, our TV shows, our video games, our lifestyles all prove that H. Rap Brown was right. And whenever a problem rears its ugly head, too many of us respond almost immediately by using violence, somehow with the magical thinking that hitting back is the best way to react if you hit me. There’ too much evidence to the contrary in the careful study of history.

“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” — Albert Einstein.

“If violence really solved problems, what a peaceful world we’d have.” — Coleman McCarthy.

But who has the guts and intelligence to do something different?