Clint Eastwoods Gran Torino and the Heart of Prejudice
Posted: Sunday, January 25, 2009
by Jon Searles
Clint Eastwood is an iconic figure in Hollywood since his days on the television series Rawhide. Most of his characters were molded as the same decent man, haunted by a past, with a sixth sense in determining the character of others and standing up for the victims of any wrong he may encounter. Despite the fact he occasionally found himself out manned, and out gunned he somehow prevailed.
Walt Kowalski is a man who speaks his mind in a way that results in nervous laughter in the theater. He continually shares his less than politically correct thoughts in a way that is not offensive in the sense the audience knows he needs to sell the character and can only be shared by a man of his history and age. Walt Kowalski is a white man of Polish heritage who is not at all sensitive to the offensive monikers he calls those around him. The writers may have picked a man of Polish heritage to subliminally hit the audience with Polish jokes that we may have all heard and are embarrassed to recall. The characters in the film that are the direct targets of the remarks seem to have the ability to see Walt's heart despite the words that flow from his mouth.
We find that the heart of the man is much different than the mouth. His language seems to be seasoned in prejudice but centered on opening his eyes to other races and cultures. If the audience gets caught up in trying to be offended or take the stance of righteous indignation at the racial slurs that seem to endlessly flow from Walt's mouth they will miss the opening in this man's heart. We realize that although the words gush with degrading terms of racial stereotypes and less than complimentary comparisons his heart is open to change and loving those that may not be like him.
If everyone is honest with themselves they will acknowledge a level of prejudice for those they do not understand and that are different. You may be able to love and honor all those that live around you with your words and heart and find my justification offensive. But what does your heart, as an American, feel when you hear Taliban? Please be honest before you condemn my words. We have all been in conversation with people of our own race and background and discussed those of other races and backgrounds. Sometimes these conversations of been less than complimentary, peppered with the same language from men and women capable of loving others from a difference races and cultures but unable to shake the words used within their race to describe those that are different. The same language and words used by those with real irrational hate in their hearts.
Walt Kowalski seems to be the representation of what I find with most people willing to share with me their opinion of other races and cultures. Many are able to stomach racial slurs aimed at them by those within their own race but do not offer the license to those outside their race. Though their mouths show a prejudice their hearts are willing to love those around them. Sometimes there love may start one man or one woman at a time and cannot completely embrace an entire race or culture, it is a start. Walt gave his life for the two young Vietnamese children who entered his heart. If we all had the capacity to look beyond the words and into the hearts of those that may offend us with their words and see a light of love. The fires of prejudice would be without fuel if the words were not so easily able to inflame those to which they are directed.
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Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)Well put! We absolutely love Clint Eastwood. You're right, our society is too easily offended by racial comments. Immigration and travel have opened the "blinds" of prejudice. With understanding comes the ability to make informed opinions and comments. p.s. ("There" should be "their" in the third last sentence.)Please log in to respond to this comment.Valerie,I only wish spell check could completely understand my intentions. Thank you for reading and understanding the spirit of what was written. I am going to sit back this afternoon and watch The Outlaw Josey Wales!Please log in to respond to this comment.
hi jon,this was a great article. very interesting and thought provoking. i watched josey wales with my partner. thanks for sharing with us,best regards,suePlease log in to respond to this comment.Sue,Thanks for reading.take careJonPlease log in to respond to this comment.
Clint Eastwood is an appendage. He is nothing more than a Republican advertisement. There is little else to say about him. Nothing that he has ever done deserves anything but cursory attention. I grew up watching Wagon Train and always thought that he was great. When I saw who he endorsed year after year for elections I was completely devastated.
He, and Charlton Heston, marked the same names on all of the ballets. Not unlike some of some of the other not so good actors of the day. Eastwood had the ability to rise above all of the political connections and really say something and instead he chose to be a puppet of the Republican guard.Please log in to respond to this comment.
I don't believe I've cried so hard at a movie anytime in the last 15 years as I did at Gran Torino. It took me by surprise what a huge heart this man had - even though - as you say, he started out just an angry, belligerent, racist. That's how he started. What I loved about the movie was that they showed him change. It was slow, but when it was over, it was a Complete Change to a man willing to go to amazing lengths to love his neighbors. Devastatingly beautiful. Thank you for this article and for reminding me of one of the most powerful movies I have ever seen!Please log in to respond to this comment.
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