An interesting article on aggression in last week's Chronicle of Higher Education Review. The article cited results of behavioral studies done on rats. If a rat is placed alone in a cage and receives electric shocks from the floor, it will at first jump, throw itself against the walls of the cage, do everything in its power to escape the painful stimulus. Eventually, however, it will no longer attempt to evade the shock, will just sit there and take it. When an autopsy is done on these subjects, it is found that during the experiment they experience an abnormal growth of the adrenal glands and develop gastric ulcers.
Scientists found, however, that if two rats are placed in the same cage and shocked, they will respond by attacking each other and continue doing so as long as they are in the cage and being shocked. When these rats' bodies are later examined, it is found that they do not experience adrenal gland growth or develop gastric ulcers. The conclusion to be drawn? Having someone there to take it out on -- as it were -- helps keep the rat healthy, whereas just sitting there and taking it will, over time, make the rat sick. (Not unlike Freud's view that being civilized -- that is, sublimating aggressive instincts -- makes man neurotic).
An interesting analogy can be drawn here between those unfortunate rats in the shock cage and our soldiers currently serving in Iraq. The soldiers regularly experience "shocks" from the insurgency, but, because they find it impossible in many cases to distinguish the insurgents from the general populace, they have to just sit there and take it rather than strike back. One wonders if soldiers in this predicament have a higher incidence of adrenal and gastric disease -- or perhaps a higher incidence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?
Friday, October 26, 2007
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
honorable death
From today's Washington Post:
The commandos were soon spotted by three goat herders, who were initially detained but later released. They are believed to have given away the team's location to Taliban fighters.
A contingent of more than 50 fighters attacked from three sides, forcing the Seal team to begin bounding down a mountainside into a ravine. After more than 45 minutes of heavy fighting, with his radioman wounded, Murphy realized that the only way he could contact his headquarters for reinforcements would be to move into exposed terrain to get a signal.
"In the face of almost certain death, he fought his way into open terrain to gain a better position to transmit a call. This deliberate, heroic act deprived him of cover, exposing him to direct enemy fire," the medal citation reads.
As Taliban fighters shot at him, Murphy made the call and "calmly provided his unit's location and the size of the enemy force" while requesting urgent support. At one point, he was shot in the back and dropped the transmitter, but picked it back up to finish the call, the official account said.
Murphy continued to shoot back at the Taliban fighters but was severely wounded. His team was running out of ammunition. By the end of the brutal, two-hour firefight, in which an estimated 35 enemy fighters were killed, Murphy and two members of his team were dead. A fourth team member managed to escape and was later rescued.
What strikes me most about this story is not Murphy's exposing himself to fire to call for help, although that is remarkable. What strikes me is that Murphy and his team decided to let the three goat herders go, even though he knew they would probably alert local Taliban to the team's presence. His other choice, of course, was to kill the men. He chose not to kill civilians and paid with his life. Compare this to some of the trigger-happy private contractors in Iraq, those who do not hesitate to pull the trigger on civilians, even women and children, if they feel threatened by them.
The commandos were soon spotted by three goat herders, who were initially detained but later released. They are believed to have given away the team's location to Taliban fighters.
A contingent of more than 50 fighters attacked from three sides, forcing the Seal team to begin bounding down a mountainside into a ravine. After more than 45 minutes of heavy fighting, with his radioman wounded, Murphy realized that the only way he could contact his headquarters for reinforcements would be to move into exposed terrain to get a signal.
"In the face of almost certain death, he fought his way into open terrain to gain a better position to transmit a call. This deliberate, heroic act deprived him of cover, exposing him to direct enemy fire," the medal citation reads.
As Taliban fighters shot at him, Murphy made the call and "calmly provided his unit's location and the size of the enemy force" while requesting urgent support. At one point, he was shot in the back and dropped the transmitter, but picked it back up to finish the call, the official account said.
Murphy continued to shoot back at the Taliban fighters but was severely wounded. His team was running out of ammunition. By the end of the brutal, two-hour firefight, in which an estimated 35 enemy fighters were killed, Murphy and two members of his team were dead. A fourth team member managed to escape and was later rescued.
What strikes me most about this story is not Murphy's exposing himself to fire to call for help, although that is remarkable. What strikes me is that Murphy and his team decided to let the three goat herders go, even though he knew they would probably alert local Taliban to the team's presence. His other choice, of course, was to kill the men. He chose not to kill civilians and paid with his life. Compare this to some of the trigger-happy private contractors in Iraq, those who do not hesitate to pull the trigger on civilians, even women and children, if they feel threatened by them.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
just suppose
Reportedly President Bush periodically meets with the families of soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, this to offer his condolences and thank them for their loved ones' service. Imagine if one of the grief-stricken mothers were to step up to the President, say to him "You lying sack of ----, you killed my son!" and slap him hard across the face. Would she be wrestled to the ground, placed under arrest, and later sent to prison for physically assaulting the Chief Executive? Perhaps. It would be a tough call.
One thing's for certain: that mother would instantly become a heroine in the eyes of millions of Americans. Bumper stickers reading "Slap him again!" or t-shirts sporting "Give him another!" would be seen everywhere. There'd be parades in her honor. Small towns would be renamed after her. And just imagine her popularity abroad! She'd be the toast of London, Paris, Rome -- not to mention all the Middle Eastern capitals.
As for her running for political office? Hell, I'd vote for her in a heartbeat. Wouldn't you?
One thing's for certain: that mother would instantly become a heroine in the eyes of millions of Americans. Bumper stickers reading "Slap him again!" or t-shirts sporting "Give him another!" would be seen everywhere. There'd be parades in her honor. Small towns would be renamed after her. And just imagine her popularity abroad! She'd be the toast of London, Paris, Rome -- not to mention all the Middle Eastern capitals.
As for her running for political office? Hell, I'd vote for her in a heartbeat. Wouldn't you?
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
blackwater massacre
From today's New York Times:
The events in the square began with a short burst of bullets that witnesses described as unprovoked. A traffic policeman standing at the edge of the square, Sarhan Thiab, saw that a young man in a car had been hit. In the line of traffic, that car was the third vehicle from the intersection where the convoy had positioned itself.
“We tried to help him,” Mr. Thiab said. “I saw the left side of his head was destroyed and his mother was crying out: ‘My son, my son. Help me, help me.’”
Another traffic policeman rushed to the driver’s side to try to get her son out of the car, but the car was still rolling forward because her son had lost control, according to a taxi driver close by who gave his name as Abu Mariam (“father of Mariam”).
Then Blackwater guards opened fire with a barrage of bullets, according to the police and numerous witnesses. Mr. Ahmed’s father later counted 40 bullet holes in the car. His mother, Mohassin Kadhim, appears to have been shot to death as she cradled her son in her arms. Moments later the car caught fire after the Blackwater guards fired a type of grenade into the vehicle.
This reality, juxtaposed to Prince's cool-as-a-cucumber demeanor before the House committee, his cocky self-assurance. Remorse for what his employees had wrought in Nisour Square? Not a jot. Remorse a sign of weakness, after all, and he an ex Navy SEAL, a tower of strength.
Note to self: gag reflex nearly gone from overstimulation. Must seal eyes and ears.
The events in the square began with a short burst of bullets that witnesses described as unprovoked. A traffic policeman standing at the edge of the square, Sarhan Thiab, saw that a young man in a car had been hit. In the line of traffic, that car was the third vehicle from the intersection where the convoy had positioned itself.
“We tried to help him,” Mr. Thiab said. “I saw the left side of his head was destroyed and his mother was crying out: ‘My son, my son. Help me, help me.’”
Another traffic policeman rushed to the driver’s side to try to get her son out of the car, but the car was still rolling forward because her son had lost control, according to a taxi driver close by who gave his name as Abu Mariam (“father of Mariam”).
Then Blackwater guards opened fire with a barrage of bullets, according to the police and numerous witnesses. Mr. Ahmed’s father later counted 40 bullet holes in the car. His mother, Mohassin Kadhim, appears to have been shot to death as she cradled her son in her arms. Moments later the car caught fire after the Blackwater guards fired a type of grenade into the vehicle.
This reality, juxtaposed to Prince's cool-as-a-cucumber demeanor before the House committee, his cocky self-assurance. Remorse for what his employees had wrought in Nisour Square? Not a jot. Remorse a sign of weakness, after all, and he an ex Navy SEAL, a tower of strength.
Note to self: gag reflex nearly gone from overstimulation. Must seal eyes and ears.
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