Comments on: Love Thy Enemy: Opposing Heroes http://blog.richmond.edu/heroes/2012/03/07/love-thy-enemy-opposing-heroes/ A Commentary on Today's Heroes Tue, 21 May 2013 18:04:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Jessica Partlow http://blog.richmond.edu/heroes/2012/03/07/love-thy-enemy-opposing-heroes/comment-page-1/#comment-192386 Jessica Partlow Tue, 24 Apr 2012 02:11:03 +0000 http://blog.richmond.edu/heroes/?p=1702#comment-192386 I am especially struck by the example you gave of Sitting Bull. I think it's interesting that now, long after the fact, most American's are sympathetic to the plight of Native Americans. Admiring someone like Sitting Bull may be a result of this sort of 'guilt' that I know I feel on behalf of settlers who barged in and took forcibly what wasn't theirs. I agree that another likely reason for this admiration is simply that these men just had inherently admirable qualities, and were unlikely heroes which we almost always root for. I am especially struck by the example you gave of Sitting Bull. I think it’s interesting that now, long after the fact, most American’s are sympathetic to the plight of Native Americans. Admiring someone like Sitting Bull may be a result of this sort of ‘guilt’ that I know I feel on behalf of settlers who barged in and took forcibly what wasn’t theirs. I agree that another likely reason for this admiration is simply that these men just had inherently admirable qualities, and were unlikely heroes which we almost always root for.

]]> By: Torrie Williams http://blog.richmond.edu/heroes/2012/03/07/love-thy-enemy-opposing-heroes/comment-page-1/#comment-192376 Torrie Williams Tue, 24 Apr 2012 01:17:59 +0000 http://blog.richmond.edu/heroes/?p=1702#comment-192376 It is interesting that sometimes a leader is so captivating and respectable in their conquests that we admire them despite our personal position on the matter. Perhaps we respect opposing heroes most when the victories seem unlikely or unexpected, like the case of the Indian chief against the American side. It is interesting that sometimes a leader is so captivating and respectable in their conquests that we admire them despite our personal position on the matter. Perhaps we respect opposing heroes most when the victories seem unlikely or unexpected, like the case of the Indian chief against the American side.

]]> By: RJDiogenes http://blog.richmond.edu/heroes/2012/03/07/love-thy-enemy-opposing-heroes/comment-page-1/#comment-182537 RJDiogenes Thu, 08 Mar 2012 00:11:30 +0000 http://blog.richmond.edu/heroes/?p=1702#comment-182537 Ah, the respect of the worthy opponent-- a very interesting phenomenon. "In another life, I might have called you friend," as the Romulan said to Kirk. I think you're right that it comes from understanding the other guy, and even seeing a reflection of oneself-- he's just doing what I'm doing, and doing it <i>almost</i> as well. You don't see much of that in these days of ideological extremism. The world is full of hateful monsters, not honored foes. The idea of mutual admiration, of saluting one's enemy, seems almost a quaint notion in this dark age. Ah, the respect of the worthy opponent– a very interesting phenomenon. “In another life, I might have called you friend,” as the Romulan said to Kirk. I think you’re right that it comes from understanding the other guy, and even seeing a reflection of oneself– he’s just doing what I’m doing, and doing it almost as well.

You don’t see much of that in these days of ideological extremism. The world is full of hateful monsters, not honored foes. The idea of mutual admiration, of saluting one’s enemy, seems almost a quaint notion in this dark age.

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