Ridley Scott’s latest film Gladiator II has reignited interest in the legendary gladiators of ancient Rome, portraying them as symbols of defiance against tyranny. Audiences cheer for their strength and resilience, seeing them as heroes who fought for justice and freedom. Yet, in today’s world, those who engage in similar resistance are often labeled as terrorists rather than freedom fighters. This contrast raises important questions about how history is framed and who gets to define the morality of rebellion.
The Roman gladiators were enslaved men forced into brutal combat for the entertainment of the ruling elite. Yet, when they revolted—most famously under Spartacus—they challenged an oppressive system, seeking liberation from subjugation. Their struggle is now romanticized as a fight for freedom, a cause worthy of admiration. But how different is their story from that of modern groups who resist oppression with force?
In contemporary conflicts, resistance movements often emerge from marginalized communities facing systemic violence. The terminology used to describe them—whether “freedom fighters” or “terrorists”—depends largely on political narratives. Governments and media shape public perception, branding some as noble revolutionaries and others as dangerous radicals, even when their struggles share striking similarities.
Hollywood has long played a role in constructing these narratives. Films like Gladiator celebrate rebellion when it fits within a historical framework that is distant and safe. But when resistance happens in the present day, the same qualities—bravery, defiance, and the willingness to fight against oppression—are met with condemnation rather than admiration.
This raises an uncomfortable reality: Is resistance only heroic in hindsight? Would the gladiators of ancient Rome have been labeled terrorists in their time? And more importantly, who decides which struggles are just? The glorification of past rebellions while vilifying contemporary ones suggests that the answer is more about power than principle.
by Sami Wakim via street art united states
