The Hangman’s Ball

Prof. Taylor examines our never-ending culture of violence in this week’s Taylor Tuesday. Published in the Gainesville Times, November 29, 1988, his Crime Stories column features the career of Isaac “Hanging Judge” Parker, famous (or infamous) for his frequent use of ropes. Commentary follows the column.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Familiar then, familiar in 1988, familiar today. My father, perhaps wisely, eschewed a direct political commentary as it might not have favored the personal viewpoints of the paper’s Editors. Indeed, our culture of violence existed then as it does today. Movies have spared no imagination in the cruelty and gore splattered upon the screen. Video games have become play-per-view interactions of violent behavior, and many actually reward such behavior (Grand Theft Auto, etc). Direct comparative attributions are debatable, subjective to age and other dispositions, yet the level of civil disobedience and illegal, falsely-moralized entitlement has become a little more than notable, given the severity of recent riots, organized looting mobs, and their political puppeteers. We are as violent and desensitized as we’ve ever been.