The Jack Bull

The Jack Bull is a movie about much more important matters than the happenings within the storyline. The commitment to principle that John Cusack's character, Myrl Redding, holds to is founded upon knowledge of Natural Law that is exemplified throughout the movie.

After the initial confrontation with Henry Ballard in the town of Rawlins, Wyoming, in the months just prior to statehood being granted, and the second confrontation of being forced to pay a toll to cross Ballard's newly acquired land, Meryl Redding is riding to Casper with his horses for sale in tow. As they were riding through a pass, they come upon a scenic view of the mountains glistening by the bright sunshine of early afternoon; Woody (Myrl's trusted friend and hired hand) says to Myrl, "what do ya' make of all this" (the mountains). Myrl responds, "a church with no roof... the almighty's bragging his head off." Woody then asks, "what do you suppose God is saying?" Mryl insightfully responds, "remember who did this...don't get too big for your britches." Woody's only words are, "fair enough."

This simple and basic discourse gives us the insights that help us understand the basis for why Myrl Redding is so committed to his sense of justice. When Myrl and Woody, along with Billy Redwood, another of Myrl's trusted friends hired to help raise horses for sale (and not incidentally a Crow Indian) approach the toll gate that Henry Ballard has built on his land, Myrl is forced to leave two of his prized stallions as collateral, along with Billy, for the money he doesn't have for the toll. What happens while Myrl is gone is unspeakable: the horses, and Billy, are abused and almost killed by Ballard and his men. As if the toll gate wasn't enough to rile a good man, the abuse of his friend, animals, integrity and pride certainly is.

You can tell evolution wasn't an influence among the men of the Wyoming territory: In an effort to hire a lawyer to make the law work on his behalf against the crimes against his horses and friend, Myrl Redding said, "I believe God is to man as man is to animal, you treat ‘em with respect...the law upholds these ideas." However, just like today, there are judges who are corrupted by their loyalties to other than the people they are sworn to serve, whose judgments are bought and paid for. Such was the case in this movie. Clearly, in Myrl Redding's eye, there was going to be no justice from the system in the matter; and just like "a Jack Russell Terrier when it sinks its jaws into you, you'd have to saw its jaw in two to get it loose" (according to Woody's assessment of Myrl Redding's way) this can't end good.

Sure enough, at a point that the system of law plainly favors one man over another there was only one thing to do: "In a town where there is no law a man is obliged to make his own law." When Myrl Redding was finally able to have his day in court, he testified, "I took the law into my own hands. I did it because there was none in Rawlins. I wrote my own law but I didn't create it. I used what was there all along. In my mind, that law was there before we were born."

That law was written and posted on Henry Ballard's door, accompanied by the firm warning that it was serious and that the issue wasn't going away until justice would be done, as plainly stated in the order, as follows:

"I, Myrl Redding, by the authority inborn in me - as a free man living in a free territory - demand that HENRY BALLARD within seven days of having received this notice, bring to my stable the horses taken from me - you must groom and fatten them with your own hands, returning them to the condition I left them. For causing injuries to Billy Redwood pay him fifty dollars ($50.00). Myrl Redding - Owner of the horses - Rawlins, Wyoming"

I won't give any more of the movie away, but couldn't write this review/expose without revealing less than this. I highly recommend that you go and get this movie The Jack Bull and watch it. Prepare to be moved to thought and when the Jack Bull in you rises up, understand that the "law was there before we were born."

Today is no different than 120 years ago. The law is still based on our Creator's supremacy, and men are still insistent on being God and usurping what is not theirs - power. Anytime a judiciary grabs power, given the powerful place of authority they hold, corruption and injustice will result. It is this sort of corruption that brings me to what has been happening in the state of Minnesota.

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