Epic '300' sends strong message about crucial defense of liberty

I have not seen the movie "300", but there are a lot of things wrong with this column (the first yet on this site). First and foremost, the whole concept this column is based off on, that the film has a hidden message, is a total crock. Zach Snyder, the director, has been quoted numerous times saying there is no real message about this film. There's no representation of Bush, the Middle East, etc. The purpose of the film was to sell tickets. Period.

Now, there may be a disagreement about whether or not the film is racist, sexist, homophobic, etc., but this column definately is. Calling the Middle East, not just the terrorists who happen to be from there, or American born Timothy McVeigh, barbarians is blatant racism.

Also, "leftist feminism despises the unique virtues of manhood"? Who is that offending? Is it the original femenists, who fought for the right to vote and without whom the National Federation of Republican Women wouldn't be around. Or is it the current feminists or any woman who despises the war in the Middle East, fueled by the United States or otherwise?

The comment about the leftist women makes it doubtful that Klavan actually means humans instead of males in the next sentence: "This film reminds us that without the martial virility of good men, we would all be slaves." Does Mr. Klavan not remember elementary school history classes, and the stories about Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth, as an example of more recent slavery that, contrary to what Klavan says, was not abolished thanks to only the martial virility of good men.

Maybe this isn't racist, you may say. I say, to the contrary, my good reader: "And leftist multiculturalism," Klavan writes, "that nonsensical creed - insists that successful societies like ours pay overblown homage to the failed societies that drive so many refugees to our shores" Where does one even begin with that comment? I'll just say this: German Nazis were also a failed society, Mr. Klavan. You can stop paying homage to them.

PUBLISHED IN THE OMAHA WORLD-HERALD WED. MARCH 4, 2007