I was surprised to hear Spike Lee, famous movie director, producer, writer, actor and avid Knicks fan speak as though he is also an authority on world history and world violence. There I was, frying up some bacon and eggs, when I heard him talking to Meredith Vieira on the Today Show about a children's book he and his wife have written. Suddenly, Meredith brings up "what happened in Arizona last week" because there has been so much discussion about the "level of discord in this country" and the "level of rhetoric." Not that this "rhetoric" was responsible for what happened, but it just adds to the negativity. He said something has to be done about violence in this country. "The United States of America is the most violent country in the history of civilization. And, this NRA thing, we gotta turn this around. You know, these guns are out of hand."
I believe a statement like that deserves some attention. After all, Meredith's lead-in was focused on the importance of words; "discussion," "rhetoric." Surely, we must look at the words Spike used to respond. So, drawing on his vast knowledge obtained at Morehouse College as a Mass Communication major, and in his film courses at Clark Atlanta University and New York University's Tisch School of the Arts as he worked toward his Masters of Fine Arts degree, and his life experiences writing, producing and directing films, he makes a statement that is so absurd one must wonder if he learned anything about communication from all his experiences.
"…the most violent country in the history of civilization"? Really? The United States is more violent than the ancient Romans and Greeks who continually expanded their empires by way of merciless military strategies? More violent than any number of medieval kingdoms that held absolute power over their own people and constantly sought to strengthen their positions by acquiring other lands by force? More violent than the government of the Khmer Rouge that, led by Pol Pot, is estimated to have systematically murdered about two million of its own citizens? More violent than the USSR, estimated to have killed as many as 61 million Soviet citizens, with Stalin being responsible for about 43 million of those? More violent than Nazi Germany, responsible for the deaths of an estimated six million Jews and another six million who were physically or mentally handicapped, Gypsies, Polish and Soviet citizens, and a variety of others who weren't deemed useful? More violent than the modern day country of Rwanda where 800,000 were murdered; about 20% of the population? More violent than Darfur, where over 400,000 lives have been brutally taken? More violent than Somalia, Uganda (under Idi Amin), Iraq, Afghanistan and present-day Mexico? That's quite a claim, Spike. I, for one, would like a little explanatory follow-up. While it can't be denied that our nation was born out of violence, has had a couple of internal wars (Civil and Indian), has tolerated violent treatment of an enslaved race, and participated in two World Wars and several others, do we as a nation really qualify as "the most violent country in the history of civilization?
Spike Lee knows that words are important. He has made his living turning his ideas into motion picture dialogues. Yet, he says something outrageous like this and people believe him. He sits on the Today Show couch with his serious I-care-deeply-about-this-issue face and blames "this NRA thing" for the massacre in Arizona. He seems to accept Meredith's proposition that "rhetoric" is the problem that led to this event. Yet, Spike has had his own problem with violent speech. In 1999, he said, referring to Charlton Heston, "Shoot him with a .44 Bulldog." He said it was just a joke. Do words matter? In 2005, he accused the federal government of deliberately attempting to displace black people from New Orleans by not responding sufficiently to the disaster. Might his words have caused blacks in New Orleans to respond with violence? Do words matter? Any number of basketball fans can attest to Lee's caustic remarks to opposing teams' players. Do words matter? It has been reported (though I haven't been able to substantiate it) that Lee said of a German filmmaker, "Wim Wenders had better watch out 'cause I'm waiting for his ass. Somewhere deep in my closet I have a Louisville Slugger bat with Wenders' name on it." Violence, Spike? Do words matter?
Moreover, Meredith, you don't really believe you are a journalist, do you? You let him get away with that statement without any follow-up?
One last comment: "Rhetoric" is not a bad word, and it doesn't mean "speech that instigates violence" or even "speech that causes bad feelings." Rhetoric is simply "persuasive speech." It may be used to describe empty or pretentious speech, or even insincere speech. However, it has nothing to do with what Meredith thinks it is about. Meredith, words matter. Do a little study before spouting off, please.
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