In case you missed it, this is what happened:
Ron Artest fouls Ben Wallace hard from behind with less than a minute to go and the Pacers up comfortably. Wallace takes exception and pushes him. The two teams get in each other's grill, but it looks like nothing too big is gonna come of it.
Then, some dumb Detroit fan throws a beer (complete w/ bottle!) at Artest, who is lying on the scorer's table. Artest gets up, runs into the stands, and basically beats the crap out of the guy. Then some other Pacers run into the crowd to pull Artest out, and other Detroit fans attack them!
They call the game, and as the Pacers are running off the court, the asshole Detroit fans (and at this point, there is no other word to adaquately describe them) are either pouring beer on the Indianapolis players or all out attacking them.
I think it's indicative of something the prevades American Society...this whole "In your face, screw everyone but me" attitude. You know what I'm talking about. We buy big huge trucks so we can drive like assholes and everyone on the road will be scared of us. We go to sports games and scream and swear at opposing players (it's one thing in college sports, but you're supposed to be able to take your family to a pro sporting event).
I worked at a movie theater for over a year, and almost every weekend there was at least one fight. At a movie theater! Who goes to the movies to get into a fight?
We've completely lost any sense of community in this country...there is no desire for people to make any kind of effort to improve the attitude of their surroundings. It is really sad...like we took all the lessons we learned from 9/11 and tossed them out the window. So depressing.
That's why we didn't give a shit about the world community and barged into Iraq for (in hindsight) no reason. That's why we use religion to hate "fags" and ignore Christ's teachings about how you treat "the least of [his] bretheren". That's why conservatives can get away with attacking anyone who dares suggest that Amercians ought to look at their own actions more critically as the "Blame America First Crowd." It's why nobody cared when the President let the assault weapons ban pass.
In short, it's why the Republicans are winning.
What's the answer?
I've already been on record as saying the Debacle in Iraq is what is going to turn this around. As we realize that the rest of the world was right, we're going to start paying more attention to what other people think. As Democrats, we need to sell a message of community. I think that people are as tired of this whole "every-man-for-himself" culture as I am. And if that's the message we sell in '06, folks will buy.