RE: O.J. Simpson and Tom Hanks In our culture, yes, in its totality it is our culture, brutality and violence are often carefully shrouded in a form of collective denial (much as we see taking place in this discussion). This denial doesnUt occur through some mysterious process, but rather occurs via the various institutions which disseminate, define and buttress our social values. The framing of the discussion about Tom Hanks as cultural icon and the O.J. Simpson case can either validate or negate this process of denial. The way O.J. Simpson was described/discussed as football hero and is now objectified as an accused murderer is remarkably consistent. We foreground some experts, like Mr. Thomas and his numbers, and then assume that weUre having a discussion. Soon there will be instant replay in the courtroom. It is far too easy to recycle cultural archetypes until their rancid banality becomes just too unbearable (it takes quite a while). Given the ideological bias of most institutions of mass communication, it is not surprising that television reporting effectively neutralizes the day to day realities of social violence (not simply physical violence) directed towards women AND CHILDREN. Maybe Mr. Thomas has some relevent statistics regarding children and acts of violence committed against parents; are these children equally responsible for child abuse? ALLAN