I saw an edited version of the video on the early national news this morning. I searched out this link on the internet to get more details.A young thug who boasts of being 6'8" tall thinks beating up a homeless man and videotaping the assaults is funny.
Imagine the person who finds humor in pummeling a poor homeless man and then stealing his bicycle against his anguished pleadings of needing his bike, all the while smiling into the camera and saying “Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah or whatever the (expletive) you are.”
Then, according the story I linked, they sought the man out again for a second assault and
In a second video, the young man is seen attacking the man from behind as the cameraman records the assault and cheers him on to “Go, go, go!” The victim is punched, kicked and knocked to the ground. He slowly gets up and looks directly at the camera.
“Oh, my God, you’re bleeding!” the cameraman says sarcastically. “We didn’t mean to do that. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Wipe off the blood.
The cameraman then directs the young man to give the victim a hug. The bleeding victim reaches out to hug his attacker, who then rams his knee into the homeless man’s stomach or groin.
The homeless man begins to scream, prompting the attackers to leave, but not before the young man runs up and delivers a flying kick to the victim’s head, knocking him to the ground.
“You gave him the big boot!” the cameraman exults. “The big boot!”
This young ruffian thought this unfortunate homeless man was just "a bum," one of the dregs of society, totally worthless and apparently expendable. I suppose he thought that feeling was widespread enough that others might find it humorous as well.
It made me stick to my stomach. It made me sad. It made me angry. And it made me think.
There is widespread outrage over this incident, as there should be. But here is the metaphor: Our elected representatives in Washington D.C. do this same thing all the time, blatantly, on video (just watch the news), all the while showing the same disdain for our most helpless citizens. They do it and smile into the camera as they do. They do it proclaiming their patriotism and devotion to God. They do it and wish us all a Merry Christmas. They hug us and then kick us in our collective groin.
And whereas the ruffian in the above story is now in the hands of the justice system, our representatives in Washington are free to continue their assaults on the poor. It's perfectly legal and apparently widely acceptable. The political conservatives have done a good job of making the poor and defenseless into villains. They have become, in the words of Dickens' Scrooge, the surplus population.
Thinking on these things is certainly enough to dampen the holiday cheer.
12 comments:
It doesn't dampen the holiday cheer. What it should do is make people want to stand up for those who can't stand up for themselves. It should make people want to elect representatives who can and will represent the people of this country accurately and in good conscience. Thank you for posting this and for the depth of true Christmas spirit in which you live.
What this country needs is a sense of the intrinsic worth of each person. No one has the right to brutalize another person, regardless if the victim is a homeless man or a constituent.
Aha, I have discovered your problem Doug! It is the same problem I was diagnosed as having when I began to have doubts about my faith. I was told, "The trouble with you is, you think too much."
I have been watching the TV guide for Scrooge with George C. Scott and am looking forward to seeing it.
It is truly sad and disheartening how beastly some of us really are. Both instances you cite involve the more powerful harming the weaker. Not only is the harm deplorable, but also the cowardice in choosing the weaker to victimize. That power corrupts was a very correct observation.
The ruffians who assaulted the homeless man might very well be suffering from some kind of psychological disorder.
Or not.
And if not, I think you have hit the nail on the head, Doug -- the ruffians were merely taking to it's logical conclusion the values our society ascribes to poor and homeless people.
After all, you don't need to go further than your TV or radio to hear "respectable" pundits tell you the poor and homeless are lazy, self-indulgent, useless burdens on society, and deserve their fate.
It angers me that a society as wealthy as ours refuses to take care of its own. Even some species of animals do better than that.
Mildred,
I believe that the best thing most of us could do is stop being conned by the "keep more of your own money" tax-cut politicians. Those of us who do work should be more than willing to pay the taxes necessary to keep our nation's safety net in tact and healthy. The power of everyone pitching in together can accomplish so much more than private charities alone can. Second, I think we should stop voting for politicans (and vote out those who are already there) who speak of making changes to Social Security and Medicare, who have the wickedness to spout the lie that ours is the best health care system in the world, who are constantly crying that we are overspending and should slash spending. The money is there to do all the things we need to do - in the hands of the one percent - we just need to reassess our tax code. And it would help if we as a nation changed some of our priorities about spending.
Ahab,
They've told the lie so often that it has stuck and maybe is now conditional wisdeom, that the poor are poor totally due to their own laziness and lack of ambition. That recall efforts are not underway at this very moment because of the shenanigans right now in the House of Representatives is astounding. Maybe most Americans don't care if those who are out of work and are dependent on unemployment insurance to eat and stay housed lose that lifepreserver.
Exrelayman,
I've been told that - that I think too much - many times. And my usual rejoinder is "and you don't think enough." Nine times out of ten I'm right. I wish more Americans would rethink what they see going on in our country, this assault against the needy, the elderly, the disabled and chronically ill.
Yes, the Scott Christmas Carol really makes my Christmas. I have it on DVD and will be sharing it with friends and family this holiday. Enjoy your viewing of it.
Paul,
Yes, and what manner of animal have we become as a nation? I cannot believe more of the villagers have not risen up, pichforks in hand, and assaulted the Congress. Do we just not care anymore?
Oh, cheese whiz, I read this after the next one. Did not see that episode of "How the Human Race Turns on Itself." UGH. It is as horrible as the Native American woodcarver who a police man shot dead in the back here in Seattle. So accepted was this that the cop did it in front of tall office bldgs full of people, his own squad car camera and a woman crossing the street RIGHT THERE. Even with all those witnesses crying, "FOUL!" the cop got a slap on the hand, but the Dept of Justice FINALLY took up pur aggressive police dept., and Hell is now raining on them. People who hurt others are hurt people, psych 101. While we will never wipe out all evil (ie those who hurt others), we continue to rally and fight against such failures. OUR failures, not any of God's. We are not smart enough yet, to figure out how the poor can stop the rich from hurting them, nor an adult from hurting a child. We can't figure out, yet, how to give each of us a life with dignity...to the end. But it is in our minds, our hands, and each year we push ahead, in my mind, in the right direction. Earthquakes can't be stopped, yet, but I see the outpour of the best in us after each one. We are doing the best we can under the powerful threats to goodness, blue skies, and happy days. It seems to me both too enormous and too simple. We must just live in love, fight for love, spread love, and never ever give up. I have less than 40 years left. This is how I will spend them. It is that simple.
absolutely horrible to think that these fellow human beings have no more respect for the "other" than to do this, repeatedly! What a sad, sad commentary.
Diane,
I remember reading about that on your blog. Sad and outrageous. Those who believe in spreading love - and I am one - need to really get busy!
Don,
It is and it broke my heart to see it. It was on my mind throughout the day. Still can't get those images out of mind!
Post a Comment