America’s white masculinity complex and the myth of the “senseless” mass shooting (Salon)--HOF

[hlthe2b]

America’s white masculinity complex and the myth of the “senseless” mass shooting
The media pegs men like John Russell Houser as "killers without a cause." The truth is more unnerving

...
If this is a troubling pattern, what’s just as disheartening is our tendency to mark these tragedies as nothing but “senseless” acts. In the past week, this has been all but the dominant theme of news coverage and Twitter commentary on the Lafayette shooting, with Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal telling the Today show that “there’s never a reason for these senseless acts of violence.” The “senseless tragedy” meme made its way into coverage on MSNBC, CNN, and the Guardian; even the CEO of Universal Pictures fell back on the phrase in a statement expressing his condolences to the victims and their families.
...
Even more alarming was the way his opinions on women’s rights colored his interactions with the opposite sex, as Houser had a history of domestic violence. In 2008, Houser’s wife and daughter filed restraining orders against him, alleging “extreme erratic behavior” and that he “perpetrated acts of family violence.” His wife was so afraid of him that she had all the guns removed from their home.

While Houser’s reported bipolar disorder should be noted, what’s just as notable here is the crowd he was firing into: a showing for the Amy Schumer movieTrainwreck. Schumer’s very popular viral videos from her TV show have earned her the label of a “feminist icon” and a “full-blown activist for gender equality.” (You may disagree.) What’s then senseless about a man with a record of violence against women and who has publicly espoused misogynistic views—on the radio, no less—who shoots up a movie theater that’s screening a movie starring a feminist icon and written by a feminist icon in an audience that was predominantly women? Nothing.
...
But a lack of initial evidence didn’t stop the Chattanooga shooter, Mohammad Youssuf Abdulazeez, from quickly being labeled a terrorist because of his Muslim heritage, ascribing a clear, fundamentalist motive to his crimes. However, we’re unwilling to make the same leap to suggest that maybe John Russell Houser’s actions weren’t so “senseless” after all.

http://www.salon.com/2015/07/31/americas_white_masculinity_complex_and_the_myth_of_the_senseless_mass_shooting_partner/