Comments on: “I Killed The General With My Camera.” http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2008/02/02/i-killed-the-general-with-my-camera/ Summum nec metuas diem, nec optes - Marcus Valerius Martialis Mon, 28 Dec 2009 19:15:36 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Mark Tanberg http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2008/02/02/i-killed-the-general-with-my-camera/comment-page-1/#comment-74830 Mark Tanberg Sat, 02 Feb 2008 23:27:15 +0000 http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2008/02/02/i-killed-the-general-with-my-camera/#comment-74830 Maggie Ditto x 2 Maggie

Ditto x 2

]]> By: Maggie http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2008/02/02/i-killed-the-general-with-my-camera/comment-page-1/#comment-74827 Maggie Sat, 02 Feb 2008 22:04:44 +0000 http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2008/02/02/i-killed-the-general-with-my-camera/#comment-74827 We "comfortable" people who can sit safely and cleanly at home who so willingly, and at time some spitefully, criticize all too often forget just how ugly war really is ... always has been ... ALWAYS will be. You can arm-chair-quarterback sports, even politics ... but that cannot be said for war (IMHO). Rob Reiner's and Aaron Sorkin's attempt to [brutalize] and criticize military effort and duty in our daily lives was put on display in the scene in "A Few Good Men" where Col. Nathan Jessep (Jack Nicholson) is testifying under oath: "Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Whose gonna do it? You? ... I have a greater responsibility than you could possibly fathom. You weep for [Santiago], and you curse the marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know ... And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall, you need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said thank you, and went on your way, Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon, and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to." I believe the director's and writer's intent was to repulse the viewer to this mindless, heartless cog in our killing machine ... Actually, it always had the opposite effect on me ... and in discussing the movie and scene with many others over the years, they felt the same as I did about the fictional Colonel's frank speech. We “comfortable” people who can sit safely and cleanly at home who so willingly, and at time some spitefully, criticize all too often forget just how ugly war really is … always has been … ALWAYS will be. You can arm-chair-quarterback sports, even politics … but that cannot be said for war (IMHO).

Rob Reiner’s and Aaron Sorkin’s attempt to [brutalize] and criticize military effort and duty in our daily lives was put on display in the scene in “A Few Good Men” where Col. Nathan Jessep (Jack Nicholson) is testifying under oath:

“Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Whose gonna do it? You? … I have a greater responsibility than you could possibly fathom. You weep for [Santiago], and you curse the marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know … And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. You don’t want the truth because deep down in places you don’t talk about at parties, you want me on that wall, you need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said thank you, and went on your way, Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon, and stand a post. Either way, I don’t give a damn what you think you are entitled to.”

I believe the director’s and writer’s intent was to repulse the viewer to this mindless, heartless cog in our killing machine …

Actually, it always had the opposite effect on me … and in discussing the movie and scene with many others over the years, they felt the same as I did about the fictional Colonel’s frank speech.

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