The Root Of All Revenge Is Corporal Punishment

Punishment doesn’t teach any problem resolution skills.

I see revenge everywhere in the media. In the movies, like all of the Marvel Universe movies, as an example. The protagonist is minding his own business when suddenly, the antagonist jumps out to bite the protagonist for some long forgotten, past misunderstanding. Melee ensues. A series of tit-for-tat exchanges are weaved throughout the plot until the climax of the movie.

In the climax of every action movie I’ve seen, including the Marvel Universe movies, it’s pretty much the same. The antagonist is met with overwhelming force by the protagonist and his allies. The antagonist is then dispatched through a huge battle, usually killed off, or sent to some isolated region of the country, prison, the planet, or the universe. No judge, no jury no trial.

I see revenge in TV, too. All of the cop shows are about revenge for the perp. All of the action shows feature some sort of act of revenge. It’s actually rather hard for me to name an exception. Even in comedy shows, sarcasm is the norm and that is a very subtle form of revenge.

I see revenge in social media, too. I just can’t believe the incredible bile that Hillary supporters, now Biden supporters, have for Bernie Sanders. Even in their crusade, it’s all about beating Trump in the next election. That’s revenge. Yes, Trump is doing some not very nice things in the eyes of liberals. But it is possible that Trump has a good intention somewhere under his…