Great read and so much truth. Violence really is engrained in us—even if we’re not the ones realizing it, the reality of it is always lingering.
I woke up panicked to the sound of a gunshot the other night. Then I remembered I’m not in the US anymore, and the calm returned to me once I realized it was just thunder.
I dated a guy in/out of high school whose family was super into guns. They took me to a range to shoot for the first time when I was 18. I went with him, his mom, dad and his two younger siblings. It was definitely not an intuitive experience for me.
Fast forward some years to find out his little brother was imprisoned for murdering his wife. Guess how he did it?
It was both the most shocking and simultaneously unsurprising news I’ve ever received.
Thanks for being super real about it. Recognizing how we joke or try to laugh it off (not criticizing that) reminds of the tiny bit of awkwardness or unease I feel in those conversations.
While I’ve been abroad the thing that always unites me with other Americans and stands out to my local friends is our reactions to gun sounds. From surprise firework displays for whatever holiday to an old car motor, I feel my nationality the most in those moments of unfounded fear and awkwardness seeing my friends reactions.
it's a sort of safety mechanism that we employ to defend ourselves against the dread, but i can't help but feel that it also takes some kind of toll over time. and i definitely relate to the reaction to gun sounds... argentina has had just two mass shootings in its history, and yet many argentines tend to put the united states on a pedestal, so there's some incongruity in their perception of my response and their conception of the united states.
The first (and only) time I’ve ever shot a gun was - no surprise - while visiting the US and I will never forget the ripple it sent through my body and the feeling I felt right after which was some version of « human beings shouldn’t be able to do that ». Great piece!
Hey Casey! So glad I found your blog. This post gave me a lot to think about, and you're such a powerful writer. Love how this cultural commentary is wrapped up in this narrative of the gun range. Keep writing, I'm excited to be here.
This is a great piece Casey. I struggle to understand why we Homo sapiens are violent, why we engage in so many wars, why we love guns, why we celebrate boxing and other violent sports. It's sick and sad
thanks hank! i struggle with it too. there is something very human about the propensity for violence and our celebration of physicality and domination, the glorification of warriors and fighters, etc. i don't think all of it is bad — so many cultures around the world have traditions of martial arts that honor this quality. but it is so easily distorted and weaponized to dehumanize people instead of revering something fundamentally human.
"trembling like an old shopping cart being pushed too fast".. nice one, Casey!
Great read and so much truth. Violence really is engrained in us—even if we’re not the ones realizing it, the reality of it is always lingering.
I woke up panicked to the sound of a gunshot the other night. Then I remembered I’m not in the US anymore, and the calm returned to me once I realized it was just thunder.
I dated a guy in/out of high school whose family was super into guns. They took me to a range to shoot for the first time when I was 18. I went with him, his mom, dad and his two younger siblings. It was definitely not an intuitive experience for me.
Fast forward some years to find out his little brother was imprisoned for murdering his wife. Guess how he did it?
It was both the most shocking and simultaneously unsurprising news I’ve ever received.
Violence feels seldom surprising these days.
jfc that's insane, thank you for sharing that and for reading!
Thanks for being super real about it. Recognizing how we joke or try to laugh it off (not criticizing that) reminds of the tiny bit of awkwardness or unease I feel in those conversations.
While I’ve been abroad the thing that always unites me with other Americans and stands out to my local friends is our reactions to gun sounds. From surprise firework displays for whatever holiday to an old car motor, I feel my nationality the most in those moments of unfounded fear and awkwardness seeing my friends reactions.
it's a sort of safety mechanism that we employ to defend ourselves against the dread, but i can't help but feel that it also takes some kind of toll over time. and i definitely relate to the reaction to gun sounds... argentina has had just two mass shootings in its history, and yet many argentines tend to put the united states on a pedestal, so there's some incongruity in their perception of my response and their conception of the united states.
The first (and only) time I’ve ever shot a gun was - no surprise - while visiting the US and I will never forget the ripple it sent through my body and the feeling I felt right after which was some version of « human beings shouldn’t be able to do that ». Great piece!
Hey Casey! So glad I found your blog. This post gave me a lot to think about, and you're such a powerful writer. Love how this cultural commentary is wrapped up in this narrative of the gun range. Keep writing, I'm excited to be here.
thank you for the kind comment, and from a fellow meanderer no less! it means a lot. :)
we meanderers have to stick together :)
This is a great piece Casey. I struggle to understand why we Homo sapiens are violent, why we engage in so many wars, why we love guns, why we celebrate boxing and other violent sports. It's sick and sad
thanks hank! i struggle with it too. there is something very human about the propensity for violence and our celebration of physicality and domination, the glorification of warriors and fighters, etc. i don't think all of it is bad — so many cultures around the world have traditions of martial arts that honor this quality. but it is so easily distorted and weaponized to dehumanize people instead of revering something fundamentally human.