Mad World

The desire to pick on someone or something weaker than oneself is practically inborn. It's why, during the dust bowl, grown men cornered rabbits and clubbed them to death. It's why bigger countries invade places we've never heard of; and it's why at Abu Ghraib military personnel let prisoners around in dog collars.
Here's how it starts. One evening an older brother, mad because his mother suggested he help clean up, hits his brother. The mother, horrified, later tries to explain to her son that it's unacceptable to hit his brother, "for no reason."
"It wasn't for no reason," he contends, "it was 'cause I was mad."
The next morning at breakfast the younger brother kicks the cat.

song: Mad World • artist: Tears for Fears