The movie certainly criticizes the American tendency to invade other countries, to go to war without understanding other cultures
Hi Wax: I suspect we are going to disagree on some of this.
I'm not saying we as a country are all sweetness and light or that we as a country have always done what is best for the other guy. Although it is human nature it is still wrong to do some of what has been done in the past. - Both internally and externally.- I do believe that diplomacy can be vastly improved by having a better understanding of the culture, people and person that you are dealing with.
I do however believe that it is not always necessary to understand all of this or even to have an extensive analysis of these factors before going to war. If a Bully, criminal or Some other person pulls a gun on you or suckerpunches you. You take him out of the game and then worry about his motivation. If you know a bad guy is murdering and has murdered close to a million of his own people and he gives you the opportunity to put a stop to it what do you do?
Just because we have been wrong does not mean we will always be wrong. Just because we are wrong does not mean that the other guy is right. At this point the time for talking is over and the time for action is upon you. Just as on a school yard sometimes little guys are the ones in the wrong and the big guy has to defend himself or even his interests or end up being everyones patsy. Sometimes the big guy even breaks up fights amoung the little guys because he sees one bullying another. And sometimes you've just sat on one undeserved tack too many. It is to me, much the same in the relations between nations.
What frustrates and angers me is the depiction that the majority of the Military are Rabid Baby Killers. They didn't tell you about the enemies own people strapping bombs to the babies and telling them to see the GI with Candy or about the nightmares the GIs had for years after for taking innocent life to protect himself and his mates. They didn't tell you about people throwing their children in front of convoys to stop them so they could be ambushed and about the tears in the eyes of the soldiers who ran over those children to save the lives of their comrades.
They only told you about the evil baby killers. During Vietnam the popular press wouldn't listen to that kind of talk because it disagreed with THEIR agenda. That is what has amazed me about the current events that at least the majority aren't demonizing their own servents for doing what they must. Niether do they spit upon their returning soldiers as they did with Vietnam.
Sincerely, NightOwl
