White Hat or Black Hat?
In my young days, the American Western movie reigned supreme on the cinema circuit. Actors such as John Wayne and Alan Ladd rode into town and out again later into the sunset, leaving behind simplistic images of the heroic ideal Man (with a capital "M"). The bad guys invariably wore the black Stetson hats, the good guys wore white. In this Hollywood world of the imagination, wearing the correct color hat was of great consequence, establishing, as it did, that although Right equaled Might, it didn't hurt that the wearer could swing a good right hook and draw his six-gun unbelievably quickly.
A bullet in the shoulder, a blow on the head - mere trifles to the indomitable wearer of the white hat! The real world was not quite so straightforward, however, and the real wounded heroes from the second World War were also there to remind us in their memoirs and the films recounting their bravery that life was a little more vivid and painful than its celluloid counterpart.
It came as a worrisome dawning that just being in the right was no guarantee of winning through in life's vicissitudes. It became all too obvious that in the real world, being bigger, stronger, richer, luckier... all were frequently the factors which seemed to hold sway!History seldom records the heroic and valiant efforts of those who fail anyway. True, some characters have made indelible images in the fabric of history, the larger-than-life impact upon the imaginations of millions has made even their final failure worthy of note and respect.
The intensity of the love between Romeo and Juliet, the overwhelming ambition of Richard III, the crumbling of the age of chivalry and Camelot, the sacrifices of the 300 Spartans, these and so many more examples spring to mind of wonderful images of the zenith of achievement. Magnificent even in their defeat, downfall and decay, they still serve to establish heights to be scaled by those who simply look on. more...
