A Combination of Factors to Violent Crime

As I read Sissela Bok’s “Aggression: The Impact of Media Violence” I found myself wondering what evidence was presented in her article that clearly showed the correlation between media violence, increased aggressive behaviour and violent crime in America. Bok tried to link the impact of media violence to an increase in violent crime but did not include any discussion regarding other factors linked to violent behaviour, including mental illness, poverty, addictions, access to guns and other important factors that needed to be included.

Bok’s purpose is to show the link between an increase in aggression, violent crime and media violence because it “directly injures others and represents a more clear-cut violation of standards of behaviour.”  She states that violent crime peaked in the early 1990s and even though overall crime rates declined in 1992, violent crime did not. Although she states that media coverage of violence continued to escalate at this time, she does not provide further statistical information that violent crime also escalated during the same time period. 

Bok is unsure why America has a higher rate of violent crime than other industrialized countries stating that “we need to ask questions of why our rate of violent crime is higher.”  Canada is mentioned as one of these countries but clearly our media is inundated with the same US programs depicting violence but our violent crime rates continue to be substantially lower than the US. Bok acknowledges that many professionals argue that it is difficult to establish that the media is a major cause of increased aggression, and other factors must be looked at when determining the cause of societal crime. These include drug abuse, poverty, alcoholism, population changes, and even firearm possession. All these factors are contributors to societal violence and should be examined as a combination of cause for violent crimes. Bok states “that the media accounts for between 5 and 15 percent of societal violence.” The margin of this statistic is too large and does not clearly show what percentage of violent crimes can be linked to the media.  There is no evidence of the media being a major contributor to violent crimes, or that the media is the main link to societal violence. Bok even indicates that more research would be needed to determine what violent images are responsible for sparking aggression.

Although Bok’s introduces some evidence about the correlation between violent crimes and media coverage; she does not present hard evidence that proves the media is a major cause of an increase in violent crimes. The media coverage of violent crimes may be one of the many contributors that increase societal crimes. Bok needs to evaluate some of the other factors that our linked to an increase in aggression and violent crime.

Do you think that the media in Canada presents the coverage of violent crime differently than the US media?

Hope for Africa

In Pandemic: My Country Is On It’s Knees, Stephen Lewis describes Africa as a continent once full of “vitality, growth and boundless expectations” but now ravaged by the pandemic of AIDS.  His essay is intended as a letter to the rest of world that we not forget his beloved Africa.  He vividly tells the stories of these desperate people. He expresses his disappointment by the abandonment of other nations.

In the beginning of his essay, Lewis reminisces about a continent that he has always had a love affair for. He worked in Africa for a few years, predominately at universities, before returning to Canada in 1961. He describes a country that was full of life, enthusiasm, care, and very welcoming. Lewis goes on to describe the devastating effects that AIDS is having on the continent. The vibrant continent he once knew is desperate for help. The most powerful example he uses is when he describes the “child headed households”. It is hard to comprehend that this could exist; hundreds of children, as young as eight, now the head of the household.

Lewis has written a tribute to the people of Africa; calling grandmothers the heroes of the nation. These old women in their eighties who should be resting at this stage in their lives are now the caregivers for ten, twenty children.  And the children who are the most innocent victims have now become the mothers and fathers of their families.  The stories of the suffering of men, women, children from full blown AIDS is heart wrenching. He describes what little health care system there was as being unable to coup with the pandemic. “There were two to every bed, head to foot, and foot to head.” He speaks about the abandonment of some of Africa’s own professionals that are desperately needed to fight the pandemic.  His words are also a cry for help. For more medical professionals who are needed, as well as funding for education, awareness, food, and healthcare.

Although the pandemic seems undefeatable, Lewis ends with glimmers of hope. He speaks of the programs such as: Doctors Without Borders, PMTCT, and PMTCT plus. Because of these organizations, miracles have happened. Infants who have been born from infected mothers are HIV-negative, lives have been saved that otherwise would have been lost. With proper care, attention, and resources, there is hope for Africa; Stephen Lewis’s beloved Africa.

Is there hope for Africa?

Changes…That Change Everything

In Margaret Atwood’s essay, A letter to America, her expression of disappointment, confusion, and regret is vividly expressed as she wonders where is the America she knew so well.

Atwood`s purpose for the essay is to ask some tough questions, which are directed to the American people about their values as a nation and how these values seem to have changed in a very short period of time.  These values were at one time envied by the world. She uses bold statements like “You're torching the American economy” and “You’re gutting your constitution”. These statements question the heart and soul of America.

In the beginning of the letter, Atwood reminisces on how she once felt about America culture and how much fun it was. She focuses on the achievements of America, and how it has been an immense influence to all other nations.  As neighbours, their accomplishments became our accomplishment and it filled us with pride. We sat quietly by and watched and safe beside them. Atwood then turns her attention to the negative changes that America as undertaken and how their once strong relationship with other countries has deteriorated because of their decline in values. She has been affected by this personally, and questions the decisions they have made, although she seems embarrassed to do so.

She achieves the purpose of her letter by examining the path in which America is heading. “If you proceed much more down the slippery slope, people around you will stop admiring the good things about you.” She relates them to the fallen USSR, as well as talks about their diminishing resources. In my opinion, the best example is she when she asks “how did you get so scared”.

In Margaret Atwood’s, A Letter to America she examines the reputation of America and  how a great nation like America has deteriorated in the hearts of minds of us all. A once well respected nation has seen their decisions hurt its economy, their reputation on an international level and their own people

Could what happened in America happen to a well respected nation like Canada?

Margaret Atwood's letter can be viewed at: http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/America/Letter_America_Atwood.html