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 ...
Then I guess you won't be watching our backs so get in front of us, you can be the holier than thou shield.
If you think of things in terms of individuals rather than generations, you could also ask the question, "Can a self-made, highly ethical, industrious, noble, moral, philanthropic person be held accountable for the ingratitude of his heir?"
Although I greatly admire the WWII generation, I think the, "Greatest Generation," label is the product of boomers and overlooks the generations that fought WWI, grew the nation westward, settled a divisive internal war and established this republic. They were indeed, a great generation, but were one of several our nation has seen. I hold the counter-culture antagonists of the boom generation largely accountable for deliberately going against the grain...Their parents did everything so they would not have to undergo the privation they experienced as youths...I do not think this makes them accountable when their children rebelled against the very things they stood for.
You: Is there anything you DON'T know noobie? You spout a lot of opinions, and you back up none of it. Take a friggin' hike.
Prove me wrong - prove to me where it is Christian teaching to kill in the name of Christ to advance his religion. I don't believe in Jesus Muhammed.
"Again, I am not saying armed resistance is not justified "
That point didn't come through in your earlier posts.
"forgives a Christian of his sins - it does not - martyrdom does do that."
Cite a Biblical source for that. Martyrdom does not forgive sins.
"overlooks the generations that fought WWI, grew the nation westward, settled a divisive internal war and established this republic."
That is all true and noble, but don't forget the fact that they are responsible for bringing us the unbridled socialism we have today.
I wonder if they made a movie of Sparta vs Thebes - who would they root for? I will root for Thebes since she freed the helots.
its usually called a chevron. its often a symbol of masculinity, its been seen all thru history, in many cultures.
flip it over and it becomes a symbol of femininity.
You know what happens when you assume right?
Where is the evidence for that? Why would Zoroastrians worship the King of the Jews? How would they know about the Jewish prophesies and if they weren't Jews, why would they believe them if they knew of them? Where does the Bible even say there were 3 of them? The "3" comes from songs and legends, but we don't really know how many there were.
There were Jewish astrologers and the Magi were Jews. There were also many Jews at the period that were looking for the "Christ" to come at that time.
Thiavase (read) Herodotus The Histories, by Herodotus, Book VII.226-227
The essence of what happened at Thermopylae is in the fim and Miller has captured that essence!
Katalaves?
Yes a proper Christian dies for his faith and does not kill for it. I agree. This brings us to where we are now and perhaps during the Crusades where there is a perceived threat to our civilization. A lot of innocent people have died because we ignored a threat.
We spent 12 years exhausting diplomacy and peaceful means with Iraq. They laughed at us and didn't live by any of their agreements. We ignored the threats of radical Islam since before the first WTC bombing. This is where it brought us. nowhere good.
It was about time we used our right of self defense given the threats the Islamofacist pose to civilisation.
It is the duty of the pope and all catholics to avoid war and exhaust any peaceful means available to do so. John Paul II was leading by example. Perhaps it was his success with the help of Reagan and Thatcher in bringing down communism that gave him the optimistic view that the Iraq and al-Qaeda could be brought to check peacefully.
You are correct. The coward often rages against those who refuse to give in to fear; those who act rather than cower. The same reaction can be seen in those who irrationally oppose gun rights. Col. Jeff Cooper coined the term "Hoplophobe" to describe them. (Literally, "fear of Hoplites".)
A psychiatrist, Dr. Sarah Thompson, explored this fear in an essay titled "Raging Against Self Defense: A Psychiatrist Examines The Anti-Gun Mentality " She describes the hoplophobe as having a self-identity as a victim. Their loathing of that makes them lash out at those who refuse to be victims themselves. She writes...
(1) People who identify themselves as "victims" harbor excessive amounts of rage at other people, whom they perceive as "not victims."
(2) In order psychologically to deal with this rage, these "victims" utilize defense mechanisms that enable them to harm others in socially acceptable ways, without accepting responsibility or suffering guilt, and without having to give up their status as "victims."
(3) Gun owners are frequently the targets of professional victims because gun owners are willing and able to prevent their own victimization.
The same fearful/loathing reaction can be seen in their (Yes, it's to a large degree the same group of people) attitude towards our military. Those young men and women are putting aside their fear and acting; not cowering and "protesting".
The warrior, by his very existence, points a very large, accusing finger at the protesters' cowardice. This fills them with rage and hatred.
Actually I think I like the 60's B&W movie better although it's been years since I've seen it. As I recall more story and less glitz.
ping
Luke 6:22-23 "Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you [from their company], and shall reproach [you], and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward [is] great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets."
I repeat what I say to others who are unable to figure out 300: read Herodotus and a little Diodorus Siculus, and Ctesias.
Miller read from these sources and conceptualized his 300 animation concept of that battle...translated to the screen.
Xerces was a homo? Andre the Giant fought for Xerces? Ninja warriors fought for Xerces? Come on!
"Luke 6:22-23"
You are mis-interpreting this passage. This refers to rewards in heaven, not forgiveness of sins.
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