I just finished watching “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence.” The simple courage of Ransom Stoddard to fight his own battles for the rule of law. This courage inspired a large chunk of a western territory to vote against the bully.

Not good. The bully calls Ransom out, “Leave or die.” Of course Ransom chose to stay. He held no chance against the hardened, cruel Liberty. Liberty played with Ransom, shooting him in the arm. Liberty lifted his pistol for the kill shot. Ransom lurched his pistol at the other gunman. Shots shouted, Liberty Valence crumpled and died.

Courage based on the rule of law so animated this fictional character that he carried the entire plot. So what? You and I might ask. It’s a piece of early sixties fiction. Does fiction shape society or vice versa?  The answer is possibly.

Do we have such insulation arising from our speaking to our current culture