Gabrielle stronger than Xena

Hello all,

Just wanted to throw this out there.

If we use the terms "warrior" and "combat" as I understand them, then Gabrielle kicks Xena's ass. A true warrior, a true martial artist, goes beyond the physical aspects of combat. If "combat" is the word we use to define an attempt at solving a problem or conflict, then there are ways to engage in "combat" that do not involve physical violence (or any form of violence) that will solve the problem, and in a much more efficient and effective manner.

There is no questioning Xena's physical, mental and emotional ability to deal with physical combat and violence. But Gabrielle is the true warrior. Xena's a thug. Male or female, people that act like her are still thugs. She may be trying to atone for her sins but she's doing it using thug methodology. I guess it'd be harsh to ask more from such a "child" of the spirit. I feel her pain. I honestly do. But I cannot condone her behavior. It is EASY to use violence. It is very hard to try to work at finding the alternatives. It takes a strong person to fight one's own impulses.

Gabrielle "kicks Xena's butt" (to use thuggish terminology) because she is an INCREDIBLY strong individual. People label her naïve, saintly, unrealistic, whiny, a pest, goody-goody, and assorted other names that clearly indicate a lack of understanding of who she is. Her strength is seen as a weakness.
This is to be understood, given the current paradigm in which we live in. Gabrielle is perhaps too much of a visionary and revolutionary to be understood by the people of this time. The majority of people I mean. I know a lot of you know what I'm getting at.

Gabrielle is a young, impressionable woman, with a strong set of values. Values that revere life. Values, that I would say, were based on the greatest of all laws: Love. Love as Agape. Love in its higher form. Non-sexual. Non-romantic. Her values are tough to stick to. At any time in history. Yet despite the fact that she is physically vulnerable, she has the bravery of a lion. She'll place her life in jeopardy to help others. Just 'cause. It's what she does. Xena helps others to gain attonement. She helps others to help herself. A selfish act. Gabby just kicked Xena's butt in that department. In the Herk episode where Xena stays bad, there you have Gabby, still the revolutionary, fighting for good (gets her crucified). She's still Gabby. So we know it's not Xena's influence on her that makes her brave. She is her own woman.

Gabrielle kills her own daughter…what more can I say. Would Xena have the strength to kill Solan, based on some circumstancial evidence and the word of Gabrielle? Here Gabby has had the strength to not only suppress her supreme value, reverence for life, but also to kill herself her very own child! That's stronger than the freakin' gods! And THEN! Get this! She is devastated, she can't take it, so she's going to poison herself too…does she? NO! She has the STRENGTH, the COURAGE, the WILL, to face her problems and go on living!!! Holy s…! Pardon me, that just came out. I'm too impressed. Xena's been used to mop the floor here. I don't need to get into this one.

And THEN, Gabrielle forgives Xena! EXCUSE ME?! Oh boy, I am beginning to wonder what is wrong with Gabby! But I calm down and see again. See that here we have a shining example of what WE can become. What our potential is. No, she ain't a saint. She's just a very strong, courageous woman. She makes mistakes, like the rest of us. And then she keeps on going, and here some of us differ. To label her a saint invalidates her because it's saying: "Bah, she ain't normal. It's probably easy for her to do that. She's a saint for Pete's sake! I could never do that, I'm not a saint." What a cop out. What cowardice. Who said life was easy. If it were easy I wouldn't want it thank youverymuch. How boring.

Time and again. Episode after episode we see Gabby struggling to find a solution that is worthy of a true martial artist, a true warrior of the soul: A peaceful, effective solution. And then Xena barges in and kicks people's heads in. Poor Gabby. What pain she must be bearing.

Gabrielle is a true warrior because she is fighting the toughest opponent any of us will EVER face: ourselves. Where Xena runs, Gabby stands and fights. Gabby faces her demons. Xena runs away and tries to hide them, tries to bury them. This is why, I believe, that Gabby is stronger than Xena.

I salute Gabrielle as the supreme warrior here. The show's title should be changed to "Gabrielle: Warrior Bard" or perhaps "Gabrielle and Xena", or some such.

Disclaimers:

I don't particularly care for "rankings". Gabby, Xena, Joxer, who's number one, it's irrelevant. They are all individuals trying to do and live as best they can. I salute all of them and enjoy the show lots. The writers, actors, producers, crew, EVERYONE, is doing a marvelous job. I just wanted to add a topic of conversation.

And…

I'm writing this under duress so please forgive typos, grammatical errors, flaws in logic and general damage to the English language.

AND…

I realize we are talking about fictitious characters here. No need to get too riled up. Nevertheless…MY LOVE FOR GABBY WILL LAST FOREV…M-Minya, I didn't realize you…