Pull the Trigger; A brief history of desensitization in our military and training people to kill people.

In the spirit of the Academy Awards, I am writing on a topic that is, at least, loosely related to the big winner of the night: The Hurt Locker… (First off I am glad that this movie took home the big award. If there is one thing I like more than blue breasted woman (and there is only one thing)…it’s a character piece that delves into the psyche of an American soldier…).

During WWII the United States ran into a problem: When it became go time—and by go time I mean shoot someone’s face off time— soldiers found themselves overwhelmed by their entirely natural /innate emotions: They couldn’t pull the trigger. Killing, as it turns out, is ‘bout as easy as Pimp’n— something the powers that be in the United States took notice of rather quickly. Since WWII the U.S. has implemented some new tactics to ensure soldiers are not restricted by the fact that they are evolved from humans.

Breathe these statistics in: Only 15-20% of soldiers in WWII were willing to kill another human being. Than number rose to 50% during the Korean War and has hovered around 90% from Vietnam on…

There are many ways this numbers have been achieved, but one of the premier tactics used is videogames… Yes, the same games your little brother plays…. As a player of violent games, I am finding myself in the throes of a Kanye West like moment of inner confliction— While I think the violence in videogames can lead to terrible consequences, I love decapitating the Russians in my Cold War Era videogames and don't know how I feel about toning them down (I remember calling Hillary Clinton a 'bitter-no-fun-face' when she waged a war against grand theft auto…).

Today, I have no answers… just information mostly collected from Wikipedia, Yahoo Answers and Encylopedia Dramatica and a lingering feeling that I may one day have to face my hypocrisy like a big boy…. Until then I am going to roundhouse kick some Charlie’s in the face.