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Okay, so I know that this launches me fully into Nerd territory, really I was already there now I'm fully out of the closet.
I saw Return of the King a couple days ago. I've read the books, but it just hits me more when I get to see it.
What I love about Lord of the Rings: Yes, yes, neat costuming special effects, and lots of action scenes, but the movie is about friends and strangers coming together and doing what must be done against all odds. The bickering and foolish mistakes are overcome for the cause. The first to fall from grace (Boromir) is forgiven and his body ceremoniously given an honorable farewell. Over and over and over Pippin screws up and receives great objurgation from Gandalf, and over and over again Pippin perseveres. He remains with the group with the honest intent to help, even if not appreciated.
Then there is Sam and Frodo. Though Sam is rough and quick to jump to conclusion, Frodo has great love (-sigh-platonic) for him. As the story goes on, Sam sees Frodo turn farther and farther from him and still he remains his friend until a moment of rejection causes a moment of retreat only to turn and find his good friend again.
Lastly, and very well illustrated in the most recent movie, there is a time of seemingly eminent destruction. All members are faced with rediculous opposition and yet they keep going with what they believe in. Sam believes Fordo will destroy the ring; Frodo redeemed only by Golum. The rest of the group believing that Fr
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I once received a business card belonging to a martial arts instructor which read (among other things) ‘conflict resolution' and I thought it was humorous in an ironic sort of way. This has gotten me thinking though; do we as individuals, I mean those of us who choose a path training in the martial arts, choose it because of a possible need to resolve conflict? Whether it is real physical conflict, psychological conflict, or emotional conflict, or some sort of irresolvable spiritual conflict; is there a need to resolve? I think it is in me. I think I dislike conflict. I think it is normal for all people to dislike conflict, but there is so much superfluous conflict, I mean there is so much bunk that is needlessly created in life.
So what I wonder is that there are reasons that firefighters and police officers and lawyers and counselors become who they are. There is a psychological root to why we choose our path. Is it that we are in great need for control, do we want to express ourselves through cruel acts, or are we attempting to resolve conflict? Many of us didn't choose baseball, dancing, drumming, swimming, diving, or sailing. We chose a martial art.
So if it -=is=- conflict resolution; could there also be an underlying want/need to create or perpetuate conflict in order to have the psychological satisfaction of ‘winning' or resolving the conflict? Could we be unconsciously seeking the neurotransmitter reward by finding ways to manifest then resolve conflict?
01-25-2004 10:20 AM 
