Grievance and Vengeance

Mass shootings in schools, workplaces, shopping areas, entertainment venues, and public celebrations. Since the pandemic began, mass shootings–and murder in general–has increased significantly in the U.S. Defined by four or more people being shot (excluding the perpetrator), there were 417 mass shootings in 2019, 610 in 2020, 690 in 2021, and 647 last year. Less than one month into 2023, we are on a trajectory for a similar number this year.

Why do some people attempt to kill large numbers of other people? Obviously, the causes are varied, but behind most there is a grievance. A person feels cheated, left out, disrespected, victimized. And what do we do with that grievance? The common human response is to want revenge; and if society isn’t providing revenge for us, then we are tempted to carry it out ourselves.

Vengeance feels good, or at least we fantasize that it does. It feels like justice–the equaling out of the scales of fairness. And because vengeance is a cathartic experience, a release of tension and frustration, we crave it. Which is why Hollywood is so ready to deliver us an endless supply of revenge fantasies. If the bad guy doesn’t die violently in the end, we feel a bit cheated, a bit let down emotionally. I share that feeling fully.

In 2015 Leonardo DiCaprio played an early 19th century frontier explorer, Hugh Glass, in the movie The Revenant. While on an expedition, he is attacked by a grizzly bear and severely mauled. The expedition members, unable to transport him, leave two men behind to wait until Glass dies and then bury him. But the two men put him in a shallow grave while Glass is still alive and abandon him. Surprisingly, Glass recovers sufficiently that he drags himself through the wilderness, through many dangers, until he gets back to a fort and can get his revenge on those who abandoned him. I enjoyed the movie, but I was shocked to discover afterwards that it’s a true story–except Glass did not get revenge. He forgave one of the men because of his youth, and refrained from killing the other man. The true story struck me as more complex, interesting, and profound. But Hollywood knew that revenge makes for more popular entertainment.

Is that why mass killings are on the rise in this country? Is it Hollywood’s fault for nurturing revenge fantasies? Perhaps a little bit. The vast majority of people make a distinction between fiction and reality, although there are always a few troubled, impressionable persons who do not.

Another factor has been the pandemic. The social restrictions, economic disruptions, fears, illnesses and deaths caused by COVID have put everyone a bit more on edge. Just look at how people drive more aggressively these days compared to three years ago, resulting in a higher death toll on our roads.

But I think the primary fault for the rise in grievance and vengeance lies at two other doorsteps: fear-mongering politics, and the huge rise in guns (most alarmingly, assault-style weapons and extended magazine clips).

The MAGA movement (as a whole, not individually) is awash in grievance, conspiracy theories, disinformation, and the belief that Democrats are literally abusing children and destroying the country. A culture of hate and fear is stoked and let loose. Such an atmosphere justifies storming the Capitol for the purpose of overturning the election, targeting certain politicians and election workers with death threats, arming oneself against “the other” and the state, and becoming vigilantes to forcibly address one’s grievances and frustrations. Domestic terrorism is on the rise.

But the MAGA movement isn’t alone in stoking grievance and vengeance–so do some so-called progressive movements. Riots, defacement, destruction, and vilification are excused as justified responses to perceived injustices. American society and all its institutions are judged as intrinsically evil and oppressive.

Factions on both sides are being reactive, further dividing the country, increasing fear and distrust, sowing an us-versus-them mentality and sense of grievance that can too easily manifest itself in an individual deciding to kill classmates, co-workers, immigrants, or strangers.

And then we have guns. Hundreds of millions of them. The fact is, guns make killing–especially mass killing–easier. If troubled persons, intent on murder, had to rely on knives, a lot fewer people would die. Which has to be one of the reasons why the murder rate in the U.S. is so astronomically higher than in other industrialized democracies. The Constitution protects the right to keep and bear arms, so we’re not going to get rid of guns. But we can ban the ones (including the ammunition) that are designed for mass killing.

And there’s one more thing we can do that is most important: foster a culture of mutual listening, understanding, respect, and peacemaking. Who is going to do this? Hollywood is not likely to do this, nor will social media companies or many politicians. Individual entertainers might. But the ones who have an absolute duty to do this are all spiritual leaders of all faith communities. Every priest, pastor, rabbi, imam, and any other faith leader in this country should be actively fostering the attitudes and practices that make for peace and reconciliation. If they aren’t doing this, they are not doing their jobs. They are failing their communities, their nation, and their faith.