Metric tons worth of popular culture built around the idea that you can kill anyone you want if someone you love gets hurt. Almost nothing in popular culture about the downsides of murder sprees. Maybe not great.
Lowkey the most radical thing Spielberg ever did is hinge the personal story in Munich on the idea that giving in to a lust for violence makes you catastrophically bad in bed.
"Damn, better make sure I never end up with someone who's great in the sack until they engage in extrajudicial violence by getting VERY CLEAR about what comprises extrajudicial violence!"
I do think that it's broadly a circumstance where it's important to understand the feelings of anger and hatred that violence generates, while using that to NOT give in to it, especially at a state level.
At a social level, I think it's really hard to work through how we can separate out the desire for revenge and understanding the consequences of being indulged in that desire, in a way that doesn't abandon the wronged.
What is justice without vengeance? I don't think it's always clear. But failing to ask the question often just leads to an indulgence of the desire for vengeance.
As "Genocide Joe" told the War Cabinet: Grief and rage are inevitable but they are not your best advisors.
Best thing he's ever said. One of the best any POTUS ever said.
