For much of the country, the revelation of NFL stars such as Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson being caught abusing their family members was a sickening reminder of the dark side of human emotion. Yet, it seems, for others it is just another news story to lampoon and laugh at. This weekend, some disgusting individuals decided to attend Halloween parties dressed as Ray Rice dragging his fiancée behind him or Adrian Peterson beating his child. These costumes not only mock the victims of these heinous crimes, but the seriousness of domestic violence as a part of our aggressive culture.
This year, if you're trying to think of the most disgusting and offensive costume possible, don't bother. Some idiot has already beaten you to the punch, so to speak (via TMZ):
"You knew it would happen ... and last night in Los Angeles we got THAT guy -- you know, the one who dressed up as Adrian Peterson for Halloween and whipped a toy baby with a switch. It may seem a little over the line ... but you know every costume party this year is gonna have at least one person wearing the purple #28 jersey."
More disturbing than the ignorance of people who find it funny to mock topical news stories, no matter how depraved, is the self-perpetuating culture of violence as a means of controlling people, according to some historians (via New York Times):
"Beating in child-rearing actually has its psychological roots in slavery and even yet black parents will feel that, just as they have suffered beatings as children, so it is right that their children be so treated."
Being aware of this pattern can be a powerful first step in reversing the age-old method of subjugation, but when people continue to mock news events with impunity, the cycle will continue.
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