Why is American civilization more violent & apathetic than others?

Question

I'm not talking about countries with civil wars and the like. I mean for a nation at peace within its borders.

Answer 1

I think it has to do with being raised from birth in a capitalist society. I mean seriously. For example, when you explain communism to ppl, most Americans agree it is a much more equal, fair and righteous way to live BUT they always follow up with saying, 'it will never work.' If you ask them why, they say, 'because of human nature to always want to have more based on a person valuing themself as smarter etc... more elite than others who are less intelligent, weaker or whom have made costly mistakes.'

Stay with me on this....

The reason they always come back with that statement is because they have been taught from birth to think in terms of 'self'. Capitalism teaches you that. It teaches you to take whatever you can from society. It rewards the 'haves' over the 'have nots' no matter how the 'haves't acquired their wealth. IE, 80% of the rich in the USA was inherited and not earned.

So you see, since we are taught this from birth, we live and thrive on 'self' accomplishments where the success scale is based on how much money you have.

The reason this mentality results in pessimism is because most ppl, while they on the surface live this way, in the back of their minds they wish it wasn't true. They see inequalities around them everyday with the Donald Trumps, etc...

So, the average American whom has experienced the greed that is bred out of capitalism, develops a mentality of 'failure in humanity'.

Now if you ask them why they feel this way, they won't have an exact answer. Why? Because most have no clue that this is what is going on in the back of their subconscious. Most ppl lack the ability to take themselves out of what they have been taught from birth and then put themself in a different culture.. they lack the imagination and insight unfortunately.

Ok with all that said, you will never get a sense of community from a core capitalist society. That is like oil and water. Why? You have to understand that capitalism teaches competition from birth.. that everything in life is a competition and when we watch all around us breaking the rules to win over and over again, we begin to make excuses for our own corruption to win. Example, the small business owner who gives kickbacks to win a job bid.

And lastly, the violence. When a society is grown, molded, and bred around 'self' it develops a extreme level of apathy and once again.. don't forget competition...

When you combine competition with apathy what do you get? = a cruel opponent that will try to win at all cost.

Answer 2

When has American culture and society NOT been violent?
If one looks at American history from the 18th to the 20th centuries one sees a mosaic of racism, genicide, and murder spread through out the country. From economic exploitation of immigrant workers to laws that deprived black Americans of their equality and rights to vote in free and fair elections to the deaths of hundred of Tejano American citizens at the hands of the Texas Rangers in the border beteen 1900 to 1915...to the thousands of blacks who were lynched after the civil war and on up into the 1930s and 40s.
We seem to have never escaped from a wide open frontier mentality where anything is permissable.

I think the misues of religion has something to do with it but violence was condoned .
We feed off it and it factors into entertainment as well.
As Stokley Carmichel said, " violence is as American as apple pie"

Answer 3

because our government has gone mad with power . it went to their heads .. and they lost fair judgment and vision.what can not be gained by power and war can be gained by negotiations especially if blind power and wars have proved to be nothing but a catalyst to more terror and a catalyst to more hate.

throughout American history, American governments have been in a position to always fight in order to gain more ground, and expand , it is the imperial natter of our nation, i am not saying it is bad ... the fact that our nation is a motley crew made us in constant need to fight and expand .. we fought each other ... at one point in time. but that does not mean that we were not right.

Any civilization that reaches a stage of maturity , has to pave a down fall for itself which applies to the roman empire and Islamic civilization.... even Pharaohs , Persians and Greeks had to go through a down fall ... one of the most prominent aspects of down fall is " blind power , unjustified wars and Belligerence " it is only a matter of time to see the US taking it's turn .

Also the fact that the US is the only super power in the world made our governement think that it will just do whatever it wants right, left and centre, which proved extermely dangrous.
this way of thinking is exteremly strange, other governments will not just let it silde and nations will not just pipe down, the language of repsression only leads to aggression...

there has to be 2 poles ... not jut one pole . there has to be balance .. natuer of life is like that " yin and yang" "boy and girl

apathey , comes in as a result of isolation, our ppl are isolated , 9/11 came a shock and ppl started asking questions " why us ? what have we done ? " those questions were muted by the biggest hoax ever " the war on terror" which is nothing but an excuse to justifi this calamity , however now the questions have been raised again and the files are being opened ... we will wait and see

America has a role to play as a leader of the world, if the qaility of the leader is to set an example, then America is setting an example to those who are weaker , and unfroutninatly this example is bellerigence , power freakish natuer and utter maddeness.

Answer 4

Because despite all of the trappings of a high civilization,America never lost the ingrained barbarism that was in the original settlers of this country (male and female criminals). Not very many came over on the Mayflower to be sure.

Answer 5

We are more violent, because we need more. We have more to loose and want to protect what we have. The American race has become adapted to a lifestyle of indulgence and waste. We think we need things when we indeed do not. We shower ourselves with gadgets and technological gimmickry to mask our unhappiness.

This applies to the populace as well as it applies to the rich and super-rich. The greed-driven economy is controlled by greed-driven individuals. No matter if they have billions, fifty villas and twenty yachts; they think they need more.
They excuse this with the words: "Hey, that's capitalism.", when they indeed know that a society and the capitalism rampant in that society is driven exclusively by people. Capitalism doesn't develop in the wild, but is created by people and their greed.

And that is why we are so violent.

Answer 6

Compared to who? France where they are rioting in the streets? Most Middle Eastern Countries? Shiites vrs Sunnis vrs Jews? Russia? Black markets an Russian Mafia? Central America? Drug cartels? Look closely at the violence in the other countries in most of the world. It is no different just reported less. Africa, warlords killing for territory. America is a large country with over 300 million people. There is going to be some crime and some apathy, but there are alot of Media outlets waiting to report it too.

Answer 7

I totally disagree with your statement. I won't set here and blame a political party. I would say it seems that way because you live here. You'd have to walk in someone elses shoes to really know that for sure. Also don't forget a large amount of crime that goes on here is committed by illegals. Not all Not half but a lot.

Answer 8

You should Join the military and travel to different countries to gain enough experience to make your own deductions.You will find that America is less violent than most countries.

Answer 9

You say than "Others" what are you comparing it to?
America is huge, don't compare it to one small European
country. It's probably a better comparison to compare it to other continents. Remember also that the media in the US is trying to sell, sell ,sell and violence sells.
Apathetic, deep down a lot of Americans want to be left alone. They have their lives and their struggles and events in other other countries are far away....

Answer 10

???? Look at the rest of the world, and you'll come to the conclusion that America is not that violent. Look at Africa, middle east, these people walk around with guns shooting them in the air for no apparent reason.