Women: take a leaf out of the page of Mattie Ross

copyright 1968

When I'm sick or tired, I turn to westerns like some people swallow chicken soup. Let's not overly examine this.

I love the John Wayne version of True Grit and I probably love the new one but I can't remember or make a comparison because I only watched it once and before I had seen the John Wayne one.

This was my first reading of the book and I was amazed at how the movie so closely followed the book. The creators of the film did an incredible job of staying true to the text.

This read, in the context of national whining about feminine oppression, abuse, and harassment etc. (I am a woman so I can speak on this) (acknowledging that there can always be room for improvement in how we treat each other as humans) is kind of hysterical. Little Mattie Ross insists on being treated with dignity despite sexual harassment and discrimination. Now, you might ask, could Mattie Ross really have existed or exist even now? After all she is a fictional creation of Charles Portis? She could've gone to the papers and screamed or she could've chosen to sign a silence contract (you don't have to sign right? Those women chose to take money and be silent and then years later decide to jump on the bandwagon and cry when it suits them, when they have the crowd on their side. Who is going to want to hire a woman now? Excuse this tirade. One can only listen so long without speaking. "man UP!' ooops - "Woman up" people. 

I really can empathize. I have never been in the corporate world or the film industry. I am sure it would be very frustrating to realize that you can't advance without offering favors. However, I can't stand the notion that people don't have choices. They can punch the guy. Quit. Work for someone else. Choose to not take the money and stay silent. Start your own corporation. Or like Mattie Ross show up and insist that you go along on your terms and don't give up until you get your man even if you get thrown into a pit of rattlesnakes and discover that the brutal man who so harassed you ends up saving your life.

Rooster Cogburn isn't a sleaze ball, like some corporate film industry head honchos. He has some questionable approaches and a shadowy past, but one never gets that slimy chill up your spine clammy handshake ewk feeling about him. Ladies, you know what I'm talking about here. LaBoeuf is a little creepy. He threatens to kiss her (She's fourteen) and tries to spank her - which Cogburn prevents. But little Mattie holds her own and eventually LaBoeuf admits she has "earned her spurs."

The book is totally charming. Written in the first person from the perspective of no nonsense Mattie Ross. Full of humorous tidbits, real danger, characters and subtales that ring true to the time. The trail lore strikes one as accurate - down to the rope around Rooster's bedroll and the surplus of corn dodgers for trail grub.

Ladies, let's take a leaf out of the page of Mattie Ross. Plunge your horse into the river if they won't let you get on the ferry and come out the other side with your revolver by your side. Stop whining and complaining and earn your spurs and don't make it harder for the rest of us to get a job. If you want to be treated honorably, treat others honorably. Don't emasculate the men too much or you'll regret it. 

Men: don't be sleazeballs. Be honorable. Focus on your character. Pretend like your five year old son is in the office watching you. Treat every woman fellow employee like she's your sister or mother.