The Driving Force Behind America's Decline

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Recommended: Effects of television violence on children

"Shots fired! Shots fired!" is what was heard through the Philadelphia police scanners on the morning of February 11, 2004. Many officers raced to the scene of T.M. Pierce Elementary in North Philadelphia. It was too late, one dead and another wounded. Yes, ten year old Faheem Thomas-Childs dead and the crossing guard wounded in the arm. It was 7:30 am when gunfire exploded through the school yard as parents/guardians took their children to school on what was supposed to be another beautiful school day. This scene and others like it are becoming more often in the US. What do many people see when they look at American society? Does it look satisfying? Or does seeing violence and other dehumanizing acts question what type of society we live in? Violence in mainstream media is the cause of many violent acts and crimes across the Untied States. Ten-year-old Faheem Thomas-Childs wasn't murdered by a gun, but by someone who used a gun as the instrument for his criminal act. This little boy was not only killed by a teenager who was trying to attack another teenager but also by the media whose main goal is to use the Second Amendment to the best of their ability.

A main factor in violence in the media is through video games. Many game companies make their game as "real" as possible. Teenagers no longer want two dimensional games; they want games that depict adult situations. Such as to pick up hookers (Grand Theft Auto: Vice City), gain access to a government information by killing guards (Metal Gear Solid), invade an innocent village with tanks (Command and Conquer: Red Alert) or kill your best friend with a chainsaw (Doom). The media is more concerned with selling a product than what a product actually does. When pre-teens and teens buy these games or shall I say when the parents buy these games for the children they are well aware of what the games are about and what type of violence are shown in the game. The games that show extreme violence also have parental ratings so the parent knows what the possibilities are when these games are purchased. I know these parents do not want their child to do any violent acts so what is the purpose of buying these games. The purpose is to keep peace and be considered a good parent.

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