Everyone knows Kobe loves to shoot

Just for the record, I don't like Kobe Bryant.

That said, I may as well weigh in on this Kobe thing. For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, click on this link:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/commentary/news/story?page=keown/101116

Let me first say I've never had anyone close to me killed with a gun. I don't know what it feels like to lose someone close to me in a violent fashion. And I don't know what it's like to be in a gang or live around gangs or whatever. I don't know a lot of things about the culture of violence, but I do know this: Kobe Bryant being in a commercial for Call of Duty isn't going to make me want to buy a gun and go on a killing spree.

OK, I get that the video game is violent. And I do agree that we have, to a great degree, become desensitized to violence through media. I get that part. What I don't get is how people continue to blame video games and rock bands and movies for young people being violent. To me, it sounds like the same people who blame McDonald's for making people fat. I know I'm old, but I remember a time when you took some personal responsibility for your actions. And parents used to take responsibility for raising their kids. But it's easier to blame someone else. It's easier to blame fast food for being overweight. It's easier to blame TV for your kids' rotten behavior. It's easier to blame the internet for your addiction to porn. It's easier to blame the bartender for your DUI. It's easier to blame your frustrations at work for the bruises on your wife's face. And it's easier to blame Kobe for failing society than to take responsibility to sit down with my kids and talk with them about the violent content of these games. Hey, I'm not letting the media off the hook. I hate some of the stuff they put on TV. But if I don't pay attention to what my kids watch, play and pick up at school, then I'm failing as a parent.

I heard something the other day on the radio as the hosts of a show were talking about Columbine, and the horrific events of that day. And, of course, Marilyn Manson was responsible for that. But when Manson was interviewed in the movie "Bowling For Columbine" about the shooting and how the kids who did it idolized him, they asked him what he would have said to the two teens who did this. Manson replied, "I wouldn't say a single word to them. I would listen to what they have to say, and that's what no one did."

And just for the record, I don't like Marilyn Manson either.