Monday, November 10, 2008

"Nothin's Wrong, 'cept Nothin's Wrong"

Well, that was another week gone, sans blogging. Oh well, 'nuff said.

Laid around today mostly, just resting. Watched some football and a couple movies. Started with King Arthur on Bravo network, which is one I like but I don't think they showed the Director's Cut. There was some segment missing that I seem to remember, so if you're going to watch it, get the director's cut.

WeWereSoldiers_2002_poster.jpgThen later tonight I tuned into Mel Gibson in We Were Soldiers. That is one very good movie. It shows a battle in the Vietnam War and focused on the men, their wives, and the battle on the ground and what it did to them instead of trying for any of the usual preaching or politics about the war. They simply showed it, very graphically in a long harrowing battle sequence. These were soldiers, surrounded and cut off and dying (thanks to the usual top brass incompetence) and yet they would Drive On. And yet those at home, the women, the children, and even confused cab drivers had to deal with the fallout. Never knowing when that doorbell would ring and what it would mean. Death is truly hardest on the living. The Captain at the end would say he would never forgive himself for not dying with his men. In the end, it's always about the man beside you - not politics, not race, not even religion. Just those human beings on both sides following orders and leaving those behind that are only left with the missing space.

I've always been fascinated by war stories and war history ever since I was a kid. It isn't right how those in positions of power, those suits at the top get to decide how and when wars are started and fought while those in uniform on the ground pay the price. I firmly believe there'd be a lot fewer wars if those who decided to start them had to be on the front line leading the charge at the time they gave the green light.

Comments on ""Nothin's Wrong, 'cept Nothin's Wrong""

 

Blogger Pappy said ... (November 10, 2008 7:20 AM) : 

Always good to see you pop up on my reader. I guess things are getting cooler up in the northern tier. Glad you liked the poem. Come by as often as you like. Pappy

 

Blogger Eaglewing said ... (November 11, 2008 7:37 AM) : 

Likewise, and thanks for dropping by. It is getting cooler up here too - good thing I like it that way.

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (November 12, 2008 3:43 AM) : 

I think soldiers should be able to choose the wars they want to fight in. Parliament or Congress, or these days, the President, may choose to start a war, but if 80% of the soldiers said no, that would take a lot of wind out of their sails.

The way things are now, I couldn't, in good conscience, recommend that anyone become a soldier. I don't see how anyone, in good conscience, can become a soldier these days.

Signing up to serve your country as a soldier is the same thing as promising to kill anyone the government tells you to, for now and the future, indefinitely. Who can justify such a promise, and call it good and noble? Even mercenaries have more freedom to follow their own conscience.

originallru

 

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