Mass shooting at backyard party

A gunman shot 11 young people in a backyard party yesterday in South Jamaica, Queens. One of the victims is a 15 year old girl whose spine was severed by a bullet.

The party’s host explains the mass shooting:

“So he [the shooter] probably came in, seen somebody he had issues with, went home and got his gun.”

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Paul K. writes:

Stories like this remind me of an observation in a study of dueling: “Dueling is a barbarous institution in a civilized society and a civilized institution in a barbarous one.”

In Western societies two or three centuries ago, if a gentleman attended a party and “seen somebody he had issues with,” he might have words with him or even slap his face. Friends would step in and the two would be separated. The friends would then arrange a duel a day or two hence where honor might be restored with swords or pistols. The duel would be conducted under rigid conditions of fairness, and when it was concluded, even if both men survived, their “issues” were considered to be resolved.

Dueling fell into desuetude in the 19th century, regarded as a relic of barbarism. Barbaric it may have been, but it was not conducted in the presence of women and children and did not result in the wounding or killing of a dozen innocents.

Robert B. writes:

“Dueling fell into desuetude in the 19th century, regarded as a relic of barbarism. Barbaric it may have been, but it was not conducted in the presence of women and children and did not result in the wounding or killing of a dozen innocents.”

Ahh yes, but therein lies the quintessential difference between civilized men and savages—and how we once knew the difference.

Posted by Lawrence Auster at August 28, 2011 09:37 AM | Send