“Gladiator” is un-American

So “Gladiator” actually won an Oscar. How disappointing. Unlike Mel Gibson’s “Braveheart,” the film did not deserve to win “Best Picture.”

Although it represents a huge improvement over the “American Beauty” rubbish that won last year’s Oscar, “Gladiator” did not deserve to win an Academy Award. It did not deserve the Oscar because it was a film that subverted fundamental notions of individual liberty. Films that glorify forms of slavery and oppression should never be rewarded.

In fact, from the first reel onwards, the film glorified “Rome”–the Holy Roman Empire. In other words, the film glorified and celebrated Big Government itself. If you like paternalistic Big Brother, you will love “Gladiator.”

But the Russel Crowe gladiator was against the tyrant, Charles. How could you possibly claim that “Gladiator” was against liberty?

Easy. From the very opening scene, we see an imperial, colonial Roman Army slaughtering the “savage barbarians.” The “Gladiator” Crowe character very eagerly took part. He was a general loyally serving his Roman master, who had no business invading another territory in the name of “civilization.” Our hero, the great general-gladiator character, had absolutely no qualms invading a sovereign territory–violating its sacred sovereignty and local self-government.

Should the United States have invaded central and South America in order to have brought about a so-called “civilizing effect”? Heck, no. That would have been un-American. Manifest destiny only went so far.

Here is the other point to consider: In the film, the Roman soldiers had no right to refuse to fight. This was no all-volunteer army. They were probably drafted into, in Al Stayman’s words, indentured servitude at best and slavery at worst.

But consider Mel Gibson’s “Braveheart” by sharp contrast. Gibson’s William Wallace character did not force any man to fight for him. His men were free to fight or leave, according to his own conscience.

Of course, America once had a military draft too. But that should have been declared unconstitutional. No man should ever be made into a slave. Slavery is decidedly un-American. As a great American patriot (Patrick Henry, I believe) once said, “Give me liberty or give me death!”

By classical liberal principles, Big Government is decidedly un-American. The Federal Government should not be all-powerful. As the 10th Amendment of the US Constitution declares, “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

The trouble with “Gladiator” is that it ultimately promotes a big centralized Federal government–so long as the ruling executive is not too much of a fascist tyrant.

To be sure, we need government because men are not angels. But who do you think is running the government–men or angels?

Strictly a personal view. Charles Reyes Jr. is a regular columnist of Saipan Tribune. Mr. Reyes may be reached at charlesraves@hotmail.com