Things worth fighting for

Today I finally got to watch 叶问2：宗师传奇 after hearing some good reviews and jokes (specifically, how to pronounce the title). It was interesting in that it elicited similar responses from my Mum and me alike, especially feelings of injustice when Twister punch 叶问 after the bell has sounded (Mum: 哇那个洋鬼子玩臭！ Me:Wa lao, you idiot!).

I like the movie because I can identity some themes with John Elderedge's Fathered by God - the Warrior. In the book JE talked about how every male has a warrior heart, because God is a warrior God. The reason for the warrior? Because there are certain things worth fighting for. A marriage, or the institution of marriage as a whole. Children, whether they are yours or not. Our doctors fight for the lives of their patients, teachers the hearts of our future leaders. Some people believe the earth is worth fighting for. For 叶问 and 洪师父, it is their culture's integrity. For Sam, Frodo and Legolas, the fate of Middle Earth.

Me? I think I want to fight to protect and provide for my family, fight to guard the purity of my heart, fight for young men's destiny, fight for a lady's heart.

Men are all called to be warriors. So, what's the heart of a warrior like? "The warrior nature is fierce and brave, ready to confront evil, ready to go into battle. This is a time for a young man to stop saying, 'Why is life so hard?' He takes the hardness as the call to fight, to rise up, to take it on." - Fathered by God, John Eldredge (2009)

This sounds like OCS training all over again! But nah, its more than about joining the army and roughing it out. It's not just about the brawns, though it will surely help (Did i just hear the ladies heave a sigh of relief?). No, i think it is the ability to withstand hardship, to have self discipline, to go on roads less travelled, to defend those you love and the convictions you hold, not because it is macho, but just cos we are men , and that's what men do.

Another theme is that the passivity of men (as in males) has dire consequences. In the movie, 洪师父 and Fatso were collectors (albiet reluctantly) for the martial arts schools as part of a protection racket headed by Superintendent Wallace, a corrupt officer in the Hong Kong police. Even when the latter refuse to honor his word and threatens to stop 洪's and his disciples' fishing business, 洪 did not respond to the injustice.

Remember The Two Towers and the reluctance of Theoden king of Rohan to fight? "I will not risk open war", he said. Remember the Israelites refusal to fight to enter into the Promised Land after leaving Egypt, and ended up wandering for 40 years? Passivity.

What is it with us men, that refuses to fight back when there is an obvious battle? What is it with me, when I refuse to discuss and address my mother's fears when she brings me the utilities bill? What is it with me, when I dodged conflict by feigning ignorance? What is it with me that rather go jogging then engaging family members when they obviously had a hard day at work?

Passivity!

May every man recognizes that there are battles waiting to be fought. That we will not allow the bad habit of passivity to take root. I refuse, for I know there are many things worth my fighting for.

And perhaps, somewhere out there, there is a beauty waiting to be rescued, her heart to be won over.