television violence

I watched more television in the 8 months I just spent in the states then I have in the last 8 years combined. And still, averaging 2 shows a week, I didn't match the time most American's spend in front of the (now HD) tube.
Today, in Israel, I saw my first episode of Prison Break, and needless to say I was completely lost. What I didn't manage to miss though was the violence and brutality, even after shielding my eyes with the pillow in my lap.
The following scene raised lots of questions for me.
A father whose son is murdered kindly asks the official (who has finished his task) to take a walk so he can retaliate against his sons murderer. The torture consists of the use of a 5 inch medical needle, a car battery, and other devices I probably missed as I turned away.
Later in the show they show the father holding his phone up to the murderer who says, short of breath and clearly dying, "Pam, I'm sorry".
The husband takes the phone and says "Honey, it's all over. It's all over, I love you."
And a look of relief and emotion washes over her face.
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The first issue it raised:
1. Violence in the media. TV has reached a whole new level of brutality and graphic-ness in its violent scenes. What was once left to the imagination today literally made my stomach churn. We are slowly being so de-sensitized that the media needs to stay one step ahead displaying more blood, more pain, more suffering for us to see.
I'm not innocent, naive, or squirmish. I can watch doctors cutting open organs on medical shows, but I can't watch violence.
And perhaps its this desensitivity to violence that makes us apathetic, as a culture, as a nation, to genocide, to wars, and fighting...
2. The other issue it brought up was revenge and retaliation. I can't begin to imagine the pain one must feel at losing a child. But I also can't begin to imagine the misguidance one must have in believing that revenge is going to help subside the pain.
Are things really "over"? And can his wife really live with a man who premedidated the brutal torture and murder of his sons murderer?
At times people have claimed temporary insanity in the face of grief, but a clearly planned and orchestrated act of murder sends chills down my spine.

We look at many cultures (among them some of the Muslim cultures) that believe in an eye for an eye, we look at the Bedouins who believe in revenge and honor, and we judge them as being backwards, barbaric, and so on.
Yet we show such things on popular tv as if its ordinary and completely normal. As if acting this way because you've "lost control" is different than if you've "lost control" and it's the norm.

Either way, as trashy as it is, and as much body image and self-esteem issues the new 90210 creates for the younger generation, I prefer that to Prison Break anyday.