I think the author of the article points out an interesting trend between our pop culture and our moral limits. Unfortunately, I also agree that they go hand in hand. What also is unnerving was how we have such a capacity for violence today that it brings to mind the brutality and romanticized violence ancient Rome accepted during its downfall. There was an article in the newspaper that analyzed how movies rated PG-13 are getting more violent and pushing the envelope in movie ratings so that violence is now widely accepted in even family targeted movies, such as Pirates of the Caribbean. The author stated that there was a contradiction even in our own government, that is now run heavily by theocratic individuals who are supposed hold high moral convictions, that advocate violence to attack a wrong just as movies advocate violence to pretend to attack a wrong when in fact they are just exacerbating the publics overall tolerance for violence. I concur with him to a certain extent that morality should be better addressed in the media, but I find it, in my opinion, necessary to facilitate any means necessary to protect our well being even if it incorporates torture. Revenge is a total contradiction in itself but I find protection paramount in our survival and that is what we must advocate because our "enemy" has committed travesties against us that even our low moral convictions can not tolerate.

On another note, violence in the media must be allowed to a certain degree. I liked how the author interpreted violence as a tool to promote sadism in flicks like Sin City and Kill Bill just for the fun of it not to reflect on an underlying meaning; this also includes horror movies that lack in any substantive plots. But I think violence is necessary to except evil for what it is, cruel and rampant with sadism. Movies like The Passion of the Christ, Band of Brothers Series, The Patriot, Star Wars, etc. need violence to portray the movie's noble purpose, to reflect on the glories of the hero. When the movie uses violence to aggravate our primitive instincts just for the entertainment value in it there is an apparent wrong in that.

Another interesting contradiction on how our culture relates to violence is our attachment to religion and morals simultaneously. For example the "Passion" advocates ultimate sacrifice and still glorifies sadism at the same time just as radical theistic cults today relate violence to achieving the glory of their determined morals. Our problem is not only the media's acceptance for violence and licentious material it is our own gravitation toward those things.