I think to healthy, liberal (in the original sense) sensibilities, the concept of lynching or imagery of violent death is still principally unpalatable. Fundamentally, violence should be considered undesirable.
Pragmatically, we may consider it acceptable or even necessary in some cases. In those cases, conscious judgement will overrule that fundamental conviction.
But that doesn’t mean the gut reaction can’t be one of distaste. Both sentiments can exist at once, and the weight each of them carries in your mind doesn’t have to be absolute.
For me personally, every death – no matter how justified – evokes at least a faint sense of regret: “Shame they couldn’t become a better person.” It may be very faint in some cases, but I aim to preserve that ideal in myself: never to treat life without respect, never to treat deaths without compassion.
I think to healthy, liberal (in the original sense) sensibilities, the concept of lynching or imagery of violent death is still principally unpalatable. Fundamentally, violence should be considered undesirable.
Pragmatically, we may consider it acceptable or even necessary in some cases. In those cases, conscious judgement will overrule that fundamental conviction.
But that doesn’t mean the gut reaction can’t be one of distaste. Both sentiments can exist at once, and the weight each of them carries in your mind doesn’t have to be absolute.
For me personally, every death – no matter how justified – evokes at least a faint sense of regret: “Shame they couldn’t become a better person.” It may be very faint in some cases, but I aim to preserve that ideal in myself: never to treat life without respect, never to treat deaths without compassion.