Jun 09, 2007
Flags of Our Fathers
I purchased the movie Flags of Our Fathers a while ago and I’ve been waiting for a good time to watch it. I knew it would be tough to watch, but movies like this are always worth it.
I say “tough” without really meaning that. “Tough” was what those soldiers went through.
We need movies like this to remind us of the frailty of our situation and of the sacrifices that were made by people that we will never know. The movie’s last point was something along the lines of, “These men might have gone to war for their country, but they were fighting for their friends. They did it for their buddies. The guy behind them, and the one up ahead.”
I’d imagine that is very true. I could easily see myself simply wanting to crawl into the safest place I could find, curl up and pretend I was dead. Then when it was all over, get up and go home. The only thing that could push me forward was knowing that my brother was out there and needed my help. I couldn’t hide knowing that he needed me. I just couldn’t. Or, so I think now, warm and safe in my house.
I can’t imagine anything else that could push someone forward against horrible odds and almost certain death. Only the love of another person and the strength that camaraderie can provide.
Our soldiers do that for each other and they do that for us.
My daughter is only three years old. At this age, she really believes that her Papa can save her from anything. In fact, with her hand in mine, she will face the world without a single shred of fear crossing her mind. This is the same luxury that our soldiers have given to us - a true sense of security and peace that allows each and every one of us to wake in the morning and to go to sleep at night without ever having given a single thought to the possibility of being slaughtered by our enemies, simply because we are Americans.
After a movie like this one, or even after hearing a soldier’s story, I’m vividly reminded of those last lines in Saving Private Ryan where, with his last breath, Tom Hanks looks up at Matt Damon and says “Earn this James… Earn this.” He truly gave his life for another and he wanted it to count for something - something good.
I know it is not as direct as that, but I often wonder if I am earning the sacrifice of our soldiers, past and present. Is my life worthy of their suffering? Without those men and women I wouldn’t be - no, couldn’t be - a free man.
We owe them our lives - the lives of our sons and the lives of our daughters. Will I be able to raise my daughter to be worthy of that sacrifice? To the depths of my heart, I hope so.
The one thing I do know is this: our soldiers will protect us anyway.
And for that, I ask that God bless and protect them until they are safe at home with their sons and daughters as well.
Soldiers, US Military, Flags of our Fathers 
5 comments
You should also check out the companion film, Letters from Iwo Jima (which I felt to be superior). Letters shows the antithesis of the American military. I think the difference between the two is summed up in the following line from the movie 300 (also a great one):
Xerxes: Imagine what horrible fate awaits my enemies when I would gladly kill any of my own men for victory.
Spartan King Leonidas: And I would die for any of mine.
It fits Letters to a T.
First off, I agree Andy that I can’t imagine what soldiers in battle go through and am greatful for their sacrifices.
I’ve always been moved by good war movies, because they focus on a element of our society that so many like to ignore, and even belittle: the fact that many have had to fight and give their lives in conflicts they didn’t create, and often against foes that left unchecked, would have crushed the freedoms we enjoy today.
And Jason is right- Letters from Iwo Jima was extraordinary. (I was amazed to learn that it actually had a shoestring budget compared to Flags, but IMHO is the better of the two films).
It’s one of the only films I’ve ever seen that has even attempted to tell the story of the Pacific war from the viewpoint of the average Japanese solider. Most refreshing was that it portrays them as REAL people caught up in doing the bidding of their government and its crazy imperial objectives, rather than the usual tact of showing them all as Banzai-charging, brainwashed, Kamikaze robots.
I love the way the film is a mirror image of Flags- many events during the battle in Flags, are revealed from the opposite viewpoint in Letters.
I can’t wait to actually sit down and watch the two films back to back one weekend when I have time.
I agree bro, I also could not sit in a safe place knowing you were in trouble and I think it was a great analogy to use for the safety our soldiers give us and what they go through for us. I really liked Flag of our fathers too but I also agree with harry in the I liked letters form Iwo Jima better as FOF focused a lot on the propaganda behind the photo of the soldiers while the LFIJ focused more on the battle itself which i preferred to learn about.
Sometimes I wonder if others have the same thoughts as I do about those who have sacrificed all for our freedoms. I look around and see so much ambivalence, it seems as though most people care more for beer and football than for celebrating the lives given for our freedoms or politics for that matter. Then I stumbled upon your blog and this post…and it brought back those same feelings which arise whenever I view a movie such as “Flags” or I see an interview with one of our WWII heroes. It is nice to know that the patriotic pride, the sadness and other emotions are shared by others as well when it comes to the sacrifices of our fellow Americans. thank you for expressing in words exactly what I have trouble explaining to even my wife.
Hi Martin,
Welcome to my blog and thanks very much for the kind words! It bother’s me greatly what our country takes for granted, and I agree that it is really good to know that others are out there feeling the same way. I think its a dual sadness about the general public - one, that the soldiers go largely unappreciated and two, how few of the public it seems would stand tall in a truly bad situation.
God willing, we’ll never have to find out…
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