So, we tried to watch Gangs of New York last night. When I say tried, what I mean is that we turned it on and watched the grotesque opening slasher flght scene, through several scenes of knifings, beatings, random violence, American Patriotism, swaggering arrogance, and love scenes in which the girl nearly opens our handsome young romeo’s jugular with her hidden knife before they passionately embrace. When the swaggering arrogant butcher was about to torture the young hero in a crowded dancehall, I had to stop watching.

Now, maybe I’m just squeamish and lily-livered. Maybe I’m too innocent, too much of a chicken girly-girl to really appreciate this movie. Maybe I’m just too far removed from American gang-culture to really appreciate the deeper meaning of the different kind of stabbings (“this is a wound” *stab* “this is a kill” *stab* “Now you try it”). However, I am starting to get really, really worried about the state of the world as we know it.

I know that this could all be the result of my own perception of American culture right now, but it’s starting to get more than a little nauseating. The propaganda machine is in full swing, and it’s saying “get out your knife, the enemy is just over your shoulder. Don’t be afraid to die for your country.”

I even caught hints of this in the Lord of the Rings – the noble death of the warrior fighting for what he knows is right. (I know, I know. It was part of the original story, and fighting for what you believe in is nothing new. But they sure made joining the army seem noble and glamourous) And what about poor old Samwise Gamgee anyway? He sure got the short end of the stick, after all that being doubted and having to carry Frodo and save his life and all. I guess it’s just a dog-eat-dog world out there, and the truly noble don’t get adequate recognition. They probably wouldn’t have wanted the attention anyway.

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