Divided We Stood
If it is the “brother against brother” issue found in the Civil War that people find lacking in the American Revolution, it is probably because of the simplistic, romanticized way that war is taught (“The Battle Plan Behind ‘The Patriot,’ ” by Bill Desowitz, June 27).
Many people learn that the war was about the big bad British sweeping in to make us pay unfair taxes, but we, though the lesser force, prevailed against tyranny. Besides the fact that we were only the lesser force until we called in the French to kick British butt for us, what many people forget is who called in the British in the first place: the Loyalists--citizens born and raised in the colonies who were simply defending the established government. When the two sides later formed militias, they were literally fighting their neighbors. And in cases where Loyalist and Patriot ties split apart families, fighting became “brother against brother.” Ben Franklin himself disowned his own son for strongly supporting the British. The lieutenant colonel that Tavington in “The Patriot” is based on--Tarleton--was a commander of solely provincial troops (i.e., Loyalists). In Westchester County, N.Y., civilians not even a part of the army took the war as an excuse to raid and destroy farms mercilessly, sometimes regardless of what side the hapless farmers supported. Was this not civil war?
By the way, Desowitz must have had a nasty elementary school teacher when learning about the American Revolution for him to consider powdered wigs and quill pens “period trappings” that spoiled Revolutionary War movies. I suppose top hats and gigantic hoop skirts are completely different, right? Right.
CARRICK BARTLE
Lake Balboa
It is important to teach people ways they can promote peaceful relations. Uniforms, guns, soldiers and cannons promote war, killing, aggression and violence. It is cruel to encourage people to escape reality, create imaginary people and live in fantasy worlds. People benefit from articles that encourage them to feel at ease with themselves naturally, be at peace in their immediate environment, and learn to care about and help others around them (instead of escaping reality and using others for entertainment).
It is wrong to encourage people to dress up in costumes and pretend to be someone they are not, grieve about and live in the past; it is important to encourage people to have happy memories and be happy and joyful in their lives!
SHIRLEY JEANETTE SHEPHERD
Burlingame
I was looking forward to seeing “The Patriot” until I read the parental guidelines in June 29’s Family Filmgoer (thank you, L.A. Times--I don’t read them for my kids, who are grown, but for myself): “Musketballs rip into people, beheading by cannonball, bloody combat, townsfolk burned alive in church, suicide, horse killed graphically. . . .”
Is this supposed to be entertaining? I’m sure the argument is to show “realism,” which might be fine in a documentary, but when I go to the movies, I want to be entertained, not nauseated.
MANDY BAKER
Whittier