Peg - People are NOT "by and large a violent lot". I can testify to that from the whole experience of my life. A very small minority of people are "a violent lot", and they cause trouble out of all proportion to their numbers, AND...they garner immense attention from the media! Most people are non-violent most of the time, and the media ignores that.

Your observation would be better put to say: "All societies contain a certain number of people who tend to be violent." (like about 5%, I would guess...)

It should be added to that, that: Poverty and desperation can cause a larger number of people to turn to violence than is usual under more favourable circumstances. That this is so is not a reflection upon the evil of humanity, but the evil of oppression and inequity.

Walk through ghettos late at night, flashing your money, and you will discover that to be true...whether in the USA or elsewhere.

I'm never impressed by arguments that try to pin "original sin" or its secular equivalent upon human beings.

- LH