Thanks for voting and reading the posts! The underage drinking column is underway and I am starting the topic for following column. After having watched all of the Saw movies this week (not exactly by choice!) and thinking of Boondock Saints and the recent releases the Watchmen and Grand Torino, I feel that American society is starting to glamorize vigilantes. Do you feel the same way? Technically, all super heroes are considered vigilantes.
This raises a few questions:
Do Americans love stories about people taking justice into their own hands?
Are we starting to feel that this is necessary in our legal systems today?
Where do we draw a limit?
Think about it and I'll put up a poll soon.
Later, Sita
I would say yes people do love the idea of vigilantes because many people out there feel cheated in some way and/or feel like nobody stands up for them/what they believe. Which is exactly what a vigilante does. Just look at the popularity of the Spiderman and Batman movies over the past few years.
ReplyDeleteI also feel people think it is necessary with the current legal system. When you think about it there are people out there that get away with a lot just because of loop holes and things of that nature. That is something that would not apply to vigilante justice.
The problem is drawing the line is impossible. So long as the vigilante is acting in a responsible and ethical/moral way people don't have problems with it. But what happens when the public's views of justice are different then the vigilante. Does the vigilante become the criminal?
Well, technically they're considered a criminal by law by taking justice into their own hands anyway, but that is a good point.
ReplyDeleteAt the end of Dark Knight, the Batman character takes responsibility and blame that is not his in order to "save" the city and the reputation of Two Face.
This is one example, even though it is a movie (remember, movies reflect society), that a vigilante is yet again doing what he thinks is right, but it isn't exactly what society or our legal system thinks should happen.
I'm putting up the poll!
Perhaps society's infatuation with vigilantes reflects a want to be like them - to have not only the courage, but the physical and mental ability to go beyond standard authority and do a great and honorable good.
ReplyDeleteBut then does this mean that we, society as a whole, are accepting of vigilantes?
ReplyDeleteSome more than others. It would depend on you views, values and beliefs. Sadly enough, this can be described with Dungeons and Dragons Alignment. Allow me to elaborate...
ReplyDeleteLet's first assume that "society" is inherently good and wants the best for itself(society).
Then, in the game, each person can be split up further into 3 categories of "good:" Chaotic good, Neutral Good and Lawful Good.
"Chaotic Good" would be your vigilante category.
"Lawful Good" are against vigilantes.
Everyone supports vigilante goals, but everyone has varying degrees of support for their methods. Whether a person supports vigilanteism or not would probably depend on their parent/friend's views or their own personal experience with law enforcement. THEN, to further complicate the situation, there is the issue of trust. If the person is a trusting person, they would most likely trust the vigilante to do the right thing. If the person isn't trusting, they would probably be afraid of someone who considers themselves beyond the law. It would also boil down to trusting the individual vigilante(if you had a specific)
So, is society as a whole accepting of vigilantes? It would depend on the most recent news heading.
"Two police officers sexually assault female bartender."
Society is accepting.
"Two police officers prevent an attempted suicide bombing in NYC."
Society has no need for unpredictable vigilantes.
Thus, not accepting.
You both make good points. In reference to the vigilante being illegal, yes it definitely is illegal but so are many other things and people just turn the other cheek because they accept it because they like the outcome or because they don't believe it should be illegal.
ReplyDeleteIs legality not meant to be determined by the better good for society?
ReplyDeleteyes it is, that and by the politicians that think they know what the better good is, the real question is who determines what is best for society and what gives them the right to do so
ReplyDeleteI suppose in this sense I just meant the vast majority of trends... so, the people, not our justice system.
ReplyDelete