Gun culture is a constitutional right in the U.S. The guns in the U.S. are supposed to be used for self-defense, hunting and recreational activities. However, in practice, they are many times used in killing humans. Every day there is a gun related murder in the U.S. Even sometimes a teenager uses gun to kill. In the past I have written many articles about this in The Dispatch.
On the other hand, the mob culture is not an everyday incident. But sometimes it happens too. On January 6, 2021, both mob and gun culture took place when a violent mob killed and injured many people, including police officers. I watched the live telecast at that time for a while. In Third World countries, mob culture is pretty much an everyday event, though.
For example, in my native Bangladesh, in the last year, there have been almost 4,000 people killed and more injured. Unfortunately, the same number of incidents of rapes took place. It’s real anarchy under the interim government of Dr. Younus, a one-time a Nobel prize winner.
A long time back when I was a university student, there was an incident where a young man was beaten to death, and the next day our renowned journalist, Nirmal Sen wrote in a newspaper column, “We want a guarantee of a natural death.”
Indeed, we want to die according to nature even though we are now living in the USA for a long time.
Let me now tell you, Dispatch readers, the story of one of the first incidents that happened in America. Salem Witch Trials (1692): In colonial America, the Salem witch trials of 1692 showed how fear can turn into mass hysteria. A small group of people began accusing others of witchcraft based on personal grudges. As rumors spread, more people joined in denouncing their neighbors, leading to false accusations and executions. The intense pressure on individuals to comply had devastating consequences for innocent lives.
There was also the French Revolution (1789). During the French Revolution, particularly the storming of the Bastille in 1789, collective emotions ran high. This event marked a pivotal moment when citizens united in anger against oppressive rule. As tensions rose, individuals joined the mob, acting violently against authority. In the chaos, many lost their sense of morality and rationality.
Recent events in the United States have also had a modern-day impact. Events such as the Black Lives Matter protests highlight how collective anger against social injustice can ignite passionate protests. However, while many peacefully protest for change, some groups may engage in destructive behavior, driven by emotions such as anger or frustration.
Abraham Lincoln gave a sermon in this speech, warning about the effects of the democratic spirit. With enthusiasm, his words rang with an urgent warning of mob culture: “The most dangerous enemy of the democratic spirit is this mob culture.”
Jiben Roy, a native of Bangladesh, is a retired chemistry and pharmaceutical sciences professor at Mississippi University for Women. He writes occasional columns in The Dispatch. His email address is [email protected].
Jiben Roy, a native of Bangladesh, teaches chemistry and pharmaceutical sciences at Mississippi University for Women. His email address is [email protected].
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