I watched Gran Torino the other night and Clint Eastwood's character was toting guns all round the place, beating people up, swearing, shooting and being racist as anything and yet while I was watching, there's no question that he's the guy you're cheering for. So many filmic heroes that we cheer for are people that use violence-for example killing the person that beats up their wife (Con Air).
Today's question is when is violence acceptable? The Bible tells us to live peaceful lives, to shun violent people and yet it's filled with fighting and battles. How about self-defence? How about coming to the defence of someone else, someone weaker? Culturally, it's acceptable to defend yourself against some idiot that trying to grope you. Sometimes, that's the only way to get their attention. Remember, just S.I.N.G- solar plexus, instep, nose and groin (Miss Congeniality).
One night out in Northbridge is enough to convince me that violence is never an option. Guys come to girls' "aid" all the time and often- it's an overblown excuse to pick a fight using the girl as an excuse to brawl. Yes, I do realise that there are a few generalisations here. I'm going to say that being able to take you away from danger and being able to resolve the issue without coming to blows is a sign of true manliness. Having said that, I can't explain my predilection for slightly biffo (stuff like Star Wars etc where there's no graphic blood etc, just awful dialogue) to highly stylised violent films like 300, Gladiator, Tarantino's entire filmography and Starship Troopers. Perhaps it's a cathartic thing where I'd never lift a finger but would happily watch someone else chop off a head (LotR) and feel better afterward. That's little better though.
Are human being inherently violent beings? Most probably. Do we have loads of better stuff to do, greater things to aim for and higher places to be? Yup. Thank God for grace- that a people such as us, brazen, uncouth, violent and raw can come into the presence of God through something called grace.
So what do you think? Is violence ever justified?
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
"We're Cultured!" Thursdays: Violence
Posted by sodabug at 11:05 PM
Labels: "We're cultured" Thursdays
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3 comments:
and you told me you didn't want to watch it :(
In an ideal world, I'd unswervingly say never.
Unfortunately the cold, hard reality leads us to say yes. If you saw a family member being raped, then wouldn't you physically act to prevent it?
In using violence we must remember to always hate it and to shun its use whenever possible.
And that posits an interesting question. It's always easy to say "I will die for this or for that". But what would you kill for?
P.S. Sometimes the act of forgiveness can be so much more powerful. Let us continue to learn how to overcome evil with good.
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