es that of Canada, Australia, or New Zealand. In addition, the rate at which rapes occur in the United States is nearly seven times higher than it is in Europe."5 This quotation suggests that we, Americans, could learn something from the other nations in the world. For example, the "anime" cartoons of Japan far exceed the violence in American media. "Anime" depicts graphic, life-like decapitations, executions at gun point, violent fist-fighting, and all types of explosive related death. However, their problems with violence in their society are also much understated, compared with the situation here, in America. Similarly, the Hong Kong director John Woo produces films which glorify violence in aesthetic choreography. In his movies, hundreds of people are killed. The copy in an advertisement promoting his film, The Killer, summarizes the movie as: "One bad hitman. One good cop. Ten thousand bullets." Likewise, Hong Kong’s violence problem remains far undersized in relation to our own. These facts cogently reinforce the reality that violence in media does not produce violence in society. Then, why does this disparity exist between ourselves and Asia? "Punches and kicks are tools to kill the ego. The tools represent the force of intuitive or instinctive directness which, unlike the intellect or the complicated ego, does not divide itself, blocking its own freedom. The tools move onward without looking back or to the side. Because of the pure-heartedness and empty-mindedness inherent in man, his tools partake of these qualities and play their role with the utmost degree of freedom. The tools stand as symbols of the invisible spirit, keeping the mind, body and limbs in full activity."6 Common to all the countries of the Pacific rim, martial arts have been deeply entrenched into the culture. Asians view violence as something which needs to be controlled and ultimately mastered. Through years of self-discipline, through exercising viole...
