Predators

     

On our ride to JFK airport on a Sunday afternoon two weeks ago to begin our visit to Italy, we encountered more than the usual traffic. First, there was a tremendous backup at the Whitestone Bridge toll plaza because a new system had been put in place to eliminate congestion. Now there was no longer any need to stop or slow down. You just had to keep moving and overhead cameras would record your passage and add the toll to your EX Pass bill or bill you at home. However, on this first day of operation many drivers did not know what to do and the traffic backed up for miles.

Finally, we got through and proceeded onto the heavily congested Van Wyck Expressway.  At least the traffic was moving. But at one point a group of about 50 motorcyclists driving all sorts of two and three wheeled vehicles entered the highway and proceeded to drive in an extremely dangerous and provocative manner. They drove in and out of lanes, or through cars, and many even did “wheelies.” These riders were not middle-aged and overweight Hell’s Angels but mainly young black men.

It was a frightening experience but our experienced limo driver kept his distance from the reckless riders. No police were in sight although I suppose many drivers used their phones to call 911. Fortunately, the gang departed on the next exit and we made it to JFK in time to catch our flight. It was my first experience with these urban street riders but when we returned home a quick google search indicated that what we experienced was becoming common and even violent.

These riders seem to be the beginning of an American ISIS. We worry about isolated acts of terrorism but in the years to come I wonder if urban gangs will see the potential to control parts of American cities. Already, they control or intimidated neighborhoods in places like nearby Bridgeport or notorious Chicago.

Speaking about predators, the day after we arrived in Italy we heard about the terrible shooting in Las Vegas. In this case the predator was a white, 64-year-old accountant who used a small arsenal of high tech weapons to gun down concert goers from a thirty second story hotel window. It seems that predators come in all shapes and sizes.  Authorities are still trying to determine the motive of the deceased assassin.

Finally, during our stay in Italy the local news was full of the charges of sexual predation levelled against Harvey Weinstein, the head of one of Hollywood’s biggest and most profitable movie companies. Weinstein has been charged with preying on young actresses for years and some of his victims are now famous stars. In addition, many claim that they knew that Weinstein was a predator but kept it to themselves for various reasons.  Moreover, many in Hollywood now claim that Weinstein’s behavior has been the norm in Hollywood for years despite the movie industry’s long time support for women’s rights.

It turns out that Hollywood is one of the centers of sexism in this country. It also seems obvious that Hollywood is also one of the centers of violence in this country. While Hollywood moguls and stars support liberal causes like gun control, they continually make movies that are full of graphic gun violence. 

Where do reckless motorcycle riders get their ideas? How did a 64-year-old accountant dream up his shooting scheme? Just the other day I read a story about plastic guns that could not be detected by airport scanners. Such a gun was used by an assassin long ago in a film with Clint Eastwood about an attempt to murder a President. Predatory violence and sexual behavior has long been featured and applauded in the movie industry. It is all well and good to talk about gun control but no one has ever found a way to get guns out of the hands of street gangs, or prevent a solitary madman from preying on innocent people.

But Hollywood could take steps to clean up its own act. Critics today bemoan the Hollywood production code of the 1930s that sought to limit excessive sex and violence in movies. Turner Classic Movies likes to feature these pre-code films but most of them are so poorly made that they are virtually unwatchable. The other day TCM featured Madam Satan, a movie that I defy anyone to watch for more than five minutes.

Only with the restraint imposed on Hollywood by the censorship of the Production Code did the “Golden Age” of film really begin. Instead of relying on blatant sex and violence, movie-makers had to employ all their skills to produce classics like Gone With the Wind, Stagecoach, Casablanca, and The Maltese Falcon. They even created a whole new film style that today is known as film noir that dealt with serious and even dark issues in a powerful, effective, and adult way.

It is time for Hollywood and the whole entertainment industry not only to out and condemn its sexual predators, but also to cease to feature and often glorify predatory sex and violence in films and TV shows.

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