The Matrix
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Matrix soundtrack

The opening scene to 'The Matrix' has Keanu Reeve's character reading a certain book. What was that book? What was it all about? The book was 'Will to Power' by Friedrich Nietszche, about nihilism, art, morality, criticisms of religion, and the theory of knowledge, among others. Themes from the book are spread throughout the movie--the Superman, who can will his own law and create his own nature, without regard to established values and government.

For many, Nietzsche paints a bleak picture of the world, like his peer Schopenhauer, calling for anarchy in the end. "God is Dead" he declared. Many have written of his profound influence on Hitler, Stalin and other monsters of the twentieth century, who viewed themselves as Supermen.

Some have also commented on the Nietszche connection in Marylin Manson's and Nine Inch Nails' lyrics, both audibly full of great talent and energy, but such hate. Nietzsche, a talented, haunting piano composer himself and onetime friend of Wagner, ended up inflicting himself purposefully with degenerative syphillis at brothels. He was quite jealous of Wagner's success with women and music. Wagner was mercilessly dismissive toward's Nietszche's music.

Upon first hearing, Nietzsche's music is quite accomplished and beautiful, reflecting the true genius and soul-stretched agony of the man. It is hard not to pity a man lacking appreciation from his society of his observational talent and looks. His was a tortured, lonely world. Perhaps he took out his frustrations upon the cold world, blaming people, blaming religion, as all people tend to do in varying degrees and forms sometimes.

However, there is some truth in every hate--that people are concerned only about themself. Their priority is to "have" things, more than their neighbor--souped-up cars and debt-ridden homes. In Church, people continually ask for great music, but scoff at the idea of paying a professional musician his due. Tithing is a "thing of the past". They want great music for free.

This is the same complaint raised by Mozart and Bach, now worked out to great rage from Nietzsche and Wagner on. The greats have asked, "Do I not deserve to get paid for my labor, for what I give to the world?" Well, it's a "labor of love" the people reply. Perhaps the attitudes of people towards higher art & music should be examined before judging why Nietzsche then spoke such violence.

The way in which one approaches the ficklenes of Man is what makes the difference between a Nietzche and an Aquinas. One has to wonder if we inflict our seflish egos by disregarding the valued labor of others, by abandoning God while pretending to profess a just Christianity.

Thus Nietzsche died in a madhouse, cursing God to the end. It reminds one of that closing scene of 'Quills', in which the dying Marquis du Sade, lying chained in his own fecal writing, bites off the Crucifix from the Priest's Rosary. He then swallows and chokes on it...his last middle finger to God.

Hence, with 'The Matrix' plugging this suicidal Nietzsche rambunctiously all over the place, especially the end, one has to wonder what it is trying to tell us: Law, or no law? A godless Superman state (brutal Communism), or one favoring religious freedom and tolerance?

'The Dumb Ox: Saint Thomas Aquinas' by G.K. Chesterton

A short, quickly readable bio and overview of Thomas Aquinas, "The Angelic Doctor", who was considered "dumb" by his fellow seminarians. The compactness of this book makes it an attractive read for those wanting to see the remarkable life of this genius saint who changed the world, and how cruicially relevant his "common sense" still is to modern times.

'The Everlasting Man' is considered to be amongst Chesterton's very best. C.S. Lewis, literary peer and author of 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' derived much inspiration from this same book. Here, Chesterton comments on one of his primary literary opponents, H.G. Wells, along with various events at the time (1933). He surveys much of ancient to modern history, debunking the myth of Nietzsche's nihilistic Superman. Instead he offers up a much more positive role model grounded upon Aquinas' common sense, observable reality, and love.