F all to do with the way boys are raised in the "US", - it goes
way back to our roots as cavemen, (including Cunta Kinte).
Mike L.
60A,67E,59Bug
----- Original Message -----
From: <yd3@nvc.net>
To: <WSpohn4@aol.com>
Cc: <mgs@autox.team.net>
Sent: July 29, 2000 2:47 PM
Subject: Re: What's the Fascination with Guns and Cars?
> Bill:
>
> I think it has mosly to do with the way boys are raised in the
US. The are
> taught to be "manly". They should never show weakness,
emotions, cry, etc.,
> but must be agressive, competive, independent, I can do it now
(impatience), or
> in today's terms; "macho."
>
> Another, is the American attitude that bigger is better and
finese doesn't count
> as it means you're a wimp. Everything has to be NOW.
>
> This has manifested itsef in the current trend of owning "huge"
SUV's and vans.
> These are designed to be aggressive. I (the vehicle and hence
the driver) can
> go anywhere when I want, I can do anything, nothing can stop me,
"damn the
> torpedoes full steam ahead concept", etc. It can be done NOW, I
don't need to
> wait.
>
> Look at what American manufactures build, or have built, for
"sports cars":
> Corvettes, Cobras, Thunderbirds, Camaros, Mustangs, TansAms,
etc. HUGE
> thunderous, and many times ill handling, automobiles. If they
started small,
> they soon grew in size: Thunderbirds, Mustangs, etc. They even
forced some
> foreign sports cars to "grow up": i.e. Datsun 240Z. Notice the
names used for
> US "sports cars." "Thunder"bird, "Mustang" evoke wild untamed
things. Consider
> also what has happened to America's military Jeep which is now
the HUMVEE.
>
> This also shows up in the stock market and business. I can may
lots of money,
> NOW, to heck with the future or working my way up. Me first.
>
> IMO most people don't need HUGE SUVs as the vehicles attributes
are seldom used.
> But, as I have been told many times, the driver just MIGHT need
that SUV's
> capabilites sometimes because they can't wait until later after
the snow, rain,
> etc.
>
> This aggressiveness also shows itself in regards to firearms.
The mountain man
> taking on the wild world, the cowboy facing the untamed west
alone, etc.
>
> I hunt and own firearms. I also decry the image American media
portrays that
> guns main purpose are for assaulting people. I enjoy the out of
doors, the
> skill involved in hunting, and the flavor of the meat. I also
like to tinker
> with firearms: clean and adjust, admire the craftsmanship,
reload, etc. It is,
> I suppose, a feeling of self sufficiency, but you don't have to
be agressive,
> "in your face" about it.
>
> My SUV is a small pickup, and I like small nible economical
vehicles. If I am
> cautious and think about it, I can go just about anywhere most
SUV's can most of
> the time. However it does take some planning and forthought,
and I can't always
> do something NOW.
>
> Blake
>
> BTW, I like the original jeep concept and would like to have one
of the early
> simple flat head four KISS examples.
>
>
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