Posted on 03/26/2007 6:36:58 AM PDT by RDTF
A society that does not value its warriors will be destroyed by one that does.
A low-budget movie with no recognized stars that presents a cartoonish version of an event that happened long ago and far away is a surprising box office hit.
The movie is "The 300," about the battle in 480 B.C. at Thermopylae between Greeks and Persians. Its opening grossed more than $70 million, more than the next 10 highest grossing movies playing that weekend combined.
"The 300" has been denounced by the government of Iran, and the battle it describes was cited by former Vice President Al Gore in his congressional testimony Wednesday as inspiration for Americans to fight global warming. That's a lot of buzz.
"The 300" has plenty of violence, sex and the largest number of ripped abdomens ever seen on the silver screen, which doubtless counts for much of its appeal. But there is more to it than that.
"The 300" is a simple story of good versus evil. A handful of valiant Spartan warriors, inspired by love of country and love of liberty, fight to the death against a foreign oppressor. (Go tell the Spartans, stranger passing by, that here, obedient to their laws, we lie.)
-snip-
"300" is soaked with the masculine virtues of courage, honor, patriotism and self-sacrifice, and the camaraderie that exists among fighting men who have been through a shared ordeal. These are little valued in Hollywood or contemporary society, and there is a hunger for them. This, I think, is the key to the movie's appeal.
We need to rediscover these virtues. At once the most preposterous and the most dangerous of contemporary beliefs is "nothing was ever settled by violence."
-snip-
(Excerpt) Read more at post-gazette.com ...
I think the original '300 Spartans' movie from the 50s or 60s was more essence capturing.
How else can you go to heaven if your sins are not forgiven?
It was in technicolor if I recall. and I agree - way better movie in terms of satisfying all senses. '300' is like eating fast food while that movie you mentioned was more of a meal.
yes, the Persians employed killer rhinos!
"I think you need to reread's RDTF's sentence. RDTF stated "heroic underdog." There is nothing heroic in putting children in front of you while advancing, blowing up families, murdering children and women, etc. "
Ah, but to millions of muslims, terrorists and insurgents who do these despicable acts ARE heroic. They even will send their own children to these violent deaths. You and I value life more highly than the scum of the earth, but to much of the world, the insurgents and terrorists are the heroes fighting the evils of democracy.
Also, admiration of heroic underdogs is trumped soundly by the concept of good vs evil. I will take the side of good no matter if they are a force a million strong or a single person. Why should a large, well-trained army be any less admirable than a small elite force as long as they are capable of beating the crap out of evil? I know most libs laugh at the concept of good vs evil, but most of these people don't seem to have the ability to see things for what they really are.
And, elephants all the way from India.
"What a freakin' 6th grader."
Thanks to publik skooling, we have *become* a nation of sixth graders. Gore is in his element.
This is opinion, not facts. The facts are that the Jews were slaves in Persia for many years and were freed by Cyrus, and not all went back to Israel. There were many Jews in Persia at the time of Jesus' birth that would know of the prophesies.
The point I was making was, as a Christian, would I travel to the ME to see the 13th Imam come out of a well? How about some Buddha coming out of the closet in India? Zoroastrians would probably not been interested in the birth of Jesus, so why come to the ME to worship someone from another race/religion? Someone's opinion on a website means little.
A soldier can both protect and take your freedoms.
No he cannot...
Luke 3:14 (Whole Chapter)
And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.
Just as many are called but few are chosen...
Many wear the trappings of a Soldier few are.
But Christ knows the difference and he said so long ago.
W
That's if a soldier is a good Christian. Plenty of coups by military men in Christian countries tell me otherwise. In America the citizen is the defender of freedom - in and out of uniform. In fact the Founding Fathers were hostile to the notion of a standing army.
The New Testament called those men 'magi' - a title only applied to Zoroastrian priests. They can be no other.
Why would they magi care about Jesus? Because the Persians were in a Cold War with Rome and they may have known of elements in Israel in opposition to the current regime.
Jesus came from a family which claimed royal roots - the line of David both from Joseph and Mary's families. Jews living in Babylon would have informed the Shah that a potential enemy to Herod's regime was born and the Zoroastrians were dispatched as a delegation.
The border with Rome and Persia was not an open one - we assume that because it was ancient times there was no border control but that is not the case. The Zoroastrians magi were in all likelyhood a diplomatic delegation from Persia to a Jewish faction - Herod found out about this crossing from the border guards - the magi were protected by their diplomatic immunity - and it is probably why they went to see Herod first - the killing of the innocents makes more sense in this context because Herod was eliminating a sect which claimed royalty. This explains the exile of Jesus into Egypt no Persia. Persia would have been the natural place to go to because of its Jewish population and because the Magi presented his family with gifts.
But that was were the border was with Persia and where they were expecting Jesus' family to cross.
If you understand the context of Roman/Persian history then the visit of the magi to a Jewish family that claimed royal heritage makes sense from a political standpoint.
It was a series of attacks and counterattacks.
Here:
http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/comment-madden110201.shtml
Julian the revert-pagan's attacks were first to qwell a Christian revolt about tax status. Then he moved on to the Zoroastrians.
Source?
There are ten lessons to 300:
1. A small force of dedicated men who swear to fight to the death and never retreat...can likely take on a force three times their quantity of regular soldiers...and defeat them...if the will is there.
2. Leaders are men who are willing to take a stand based on the reality of the situation and what there is to lose...rather than taking a poll to see how everyone "feels".
3. Courage amongst men...in time of despair...merely doubles the faith of those around them.
4. There are talkers and there are doer's. A talker can write the constitution...but he can't defend it. You need both in sufficient quantity...but never allow a talker to take arms then suggest a long debate.
5. Anyone coming to your front door...suggesting you simply give in to their will...is asking for more than your smiling agreement.
6. People remember dead warriors of courage. They don't remember politicans except for those who name themselves after highways or streets or state-fairgrounds.
7. A true fight...is not over...until every warrior from one side has dropped. Then, and only then...is the battle finished.
8. You fight to the opposition's weakness. If they wish to fling 10,000 arrows...then shade will be your gain.
9. Madness is a state of mind. Fighting an overwhelming adversary...is madness. Defeating an ovewhelming adversary...should be impossible. Accepting no defeat...should then be your only state of mind.
10. For those visiors who come and demand your land or your cooperation...expecting it to be a simple task for you to give in....if the first thing you suggest is that "NO" cooperation...whatever comes to the visitor next...should be of no shock.
You seem to not understand the difference between secular and religious resistance as applied to Christians. You can not be a witness for Christ by taking up the sword - you can be justified in your actions but it is not a religious duty.
Thank god the Japanese lost, eh?
"How else can you go to heaven if your sins are not forgiven?"
Rewards in heaven and going to heaven are two different things. The NT talks about rewards in heaven and how some people will get more rewards in heaven than others. See 1 Cor. 13.
I've asked this noobie twice already for his Biblical source and he just keeps piling on with his opinions. He's a troll trying to stir up trouble.
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