I like the movie “A few good men” (1992) quite a lot, it’s one of my favorite movies, though not as much as “Le notti di Cabiria” (1957).
There’s a quote in the movie that really moves me:
Captain Jack ROSS: Don’t you dare lump me in with Jessup and Kendrick just because we wear the same uniform. I’m your friend and I’m telling you, I don’t think your clients belong in jail but I don’t get to make that call! I represent the government of the United States without passion or prejudice and my client has a case! Now I want you to acknowledge that the Judge Advocate has made you aware of the possible consequences of accusing a Marine officer of a felony without proper evidence.
and especially this part:
Captain Jack ROSS: […] I represent the government of the United States without passion or prejudice […]!.
Why do I like it so much? Well, just like the quote from “Terminator 3: rise of the machines” (2003) that I’ve previously told you about, this quote is about principles.
Simply put, it’s just an affirmation of a man’s value on Earth. In this case, Captain Jack ROSS says he represents the Government of the United States in such a way that it really moves me: without passion or prejudice.
What’s there to like?
- First is the lack of passion; no emotions, no you; you substitute yourself to let the values, principles and morale of others run through you; you’re just a vessel; sure, you interpret, you think, you make decisions; but they’re, as much as they can be within a human condition, without any passion;
- Then there’s the lack of connections to the past; sure, as a lawyer, Jack ROSS must know the past, with its the history, but he must act without having a bias on the present through the view of the past; yes, he can use data from the past; no, he can’t start with pre-made assumptions.
This is, somehow, the essence of life: representing a set of core values, which you choose to yourself, and applying them without passion or prejudice.
My name is Olivian Breda, and in the words of Captain Jack Ross I say that I want so much to represent my inner values without passion or prejudice.
PS: have a look at the quote below, from the Bible.
You have some rules, you follow them, there’s no question about it.
There are no “But I think”, “In my opinion”, “If it were me”.
Follow the rules!
Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness
4 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted[a] by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’[b]”
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[c]”7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[d]”
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’[e]”
11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
(source – Matthew 4:1-11 NIV – Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness – Bible Gateway)
I was thinking about this comment the other day and googling it led me to this page. I’m amazed at the ways in which this statement can be interpreted. For example, it seems like you have taken this to be an affirmation of principles and core values. I, on the other hand, read it in the opposite. The man is a professional mercenary, acting against his beliefs and values.
Ross himself states ‘I don’t think your clients belong in jail but I don’t get to make that call’ – i.e. he doesn’t believe in it, but he will nevertheless act on behalf of the apparatus that seeks to put them there. In most circumstances professionalism is to be commended, but it is one of a number of facets that should govern ones code of behaviour.
I do not consider this an examplary moment for how to live my life. I consider it a cautionary tale.
Thank you, Andy, nice words.
I think my ideas could also be expressed by:
“If anyone could prove to me that Christ is outside the truth, and if the truth really did exclude Christ, I should prefer to stay with Christ and not with truth.”
Fyodor Dostoyevsky