Americans Sure Do Love Criminals - Selectively

I think I first noticed how much Americans love criminals when I saw Death Wish at the theater in 1974. In that movie, the lead character is played by the legendary Charles Bronson. Bronson's wife and daughter are brutalized, sexually assaulted and beaten during a home invasion. His wife dies, and his daughter has a complete breakdown, sending her permanently into an almost comatose state. Bronson waits for the police to catch the bad guys and justice to be served, but that doesn't happen. Bronson then gets a gun and starts patrolling the streets as a solo judge, jury and executioner.

Nobody liked what happened to Bronson's family in Death Wish. I understand that. I didn't like it. But what Bronson does to get justice is, in legal parlance, premeditated murder. Not only does Bronson commit premeditated murder, he does it over and over again. And here's the kicker - the audience loved it! In fact, audiences liked Bronson's murderous style of justice so much that multiple sequels to Death Wish were produced.

In the movie First Blood we are introduced to Rambo, played by Sylvester Stallone. Rambo had a hard time in Vietnam, and he didn't like the disrespect shown to him upon his return home. I don't blame him. And I agree that the sheriff was discourteous to him and even unreasonable with him. And the sheriff's deputies, well, they were even worse. So Rambo escapes and retaliates by seriously injuring countless people and destroying a town. Again, we see audiences thrilling to the utterly illegal and destructive exploits of Rambo, and cheering him on.

One of the things that makes the Rambo example so compelling is all the harm caused to innocent people. For example, the people who owned the sporting goods store and the gas station had done nothing wrong to Rambo, yet their businesses were totally destroyed.

A currently popular TV series is called simply Dexter. As a 3 year old, Dexter saw his mother murdered with a chain saw and then had to remain sitting in her blood for three days before being found by police. Dexter was then raised by the cop who found him. He grows up to be a forensic blood spatter analyst for the Miami police. Dexter is also a serial killer. He's a smart, cold, calculating, brutal, methodical and magnificently efficient killer who truly loves what he does. And audiences love him for it!

Now Dexter only kills people he believes to be guilty of murder - it's part of 'the code' taught to him by his adopted policeman father. Of course, to err is human - and Dexter isn't perfect (duh - he's a sociopath and a serial killer). He does make mistakes. Still, audiences tune into Dexter in ever increasing numbers. He is, as the ads for the show say, the serial killer people love.

So why is it that Americans so dearly love these and other criminals they see on TV, in the movies and read about in books? Could it be that some dark place inside of each of us is sated by vicariously relating to the actions of these criminals? Is it that while Americans preach the rule of law, they don't really believe in it? I don't really think it's either of these.

I think Americans love criminals who appear to achieve a just result: justice. I think people are tired of murderers, rapists, politicians and power brokers getting away with their crimes because of their status or some absurd legal technicality. I think Americans are fed up with the way our once magnificent justice system has eroded into the mess it is today. I think people are tired of so much legalese and so little justice. I believe people are frustrated by the growing number of cases that clearly demonstrate that if you have money or power or both - you'll fair well in court. Can you say OJ Simpson?

FULL DISCLOSURE: Dexter is my favorite TV show. I have First Blood and Death Wish on DVD. Mea culpa...