Originally posted by Yoda
I really don't believe he was mad at you for disliking the film. I don't see any evidence of that. This is what set him off:
As far as I can tell his anger has/had nothing to do with the movie itself, and everything to do with your assertion that heroism in war should not be praised/glorified.
Praised? Glorified? Which one do you want to use? They don't mean the same to me anyway. "Glorify" doesn't mean "praise". Don't twist my words around... And don't you think I know what made LordSlaytan upset? He even told me himself before he called me an ass.
Originally posted by LordSlaytan
That's exactly right. Piddy, I like you just fine, but that comment slapped me and other vets in the face. Perhaps if you had experience in battle you would understand better, but since you've only seen war from the comfort of your easy chair...
Not that it make any difference when it comes to who may say what on what subject, but even though I have never been to a "real" war, I have done military service for eleven months - only, as I suppose unlike you, I didn't have a choice.
Now..
Of course I think those who fought in the WWII are worth honoring and I think that if you read my posts there is nothing I've written that contradicts that. But if we go back to the real issue, the film,
Saving Private Ryan (btw, am I the only one who's more interested in discussing the film than my opinions on war?), I think it's more a "thank you" to some of the men who saved the world from Hitler than it is an attempt to make some war case study. And that makes it not so interesting for me who is more interested in things that war movies like
The Thin Red Line, Das Boot, Apocalypse Now!, Platoon, and other movies deal with: the psychology aspects; why man is doing things like these to other men; the irrationality and madness of war. That move me a hell of a lot more than what I understand as gloryfying of war heroism in "Ryan". I can understand though that the film makes people who served for their country feel good about themselves - and they should. Remember that I said I think the film is average - not bad.
I'm cool, don't worry about it. Like I said, it's a touchy subject, and I felt you were too disrespectful of people who are much more deserving of it.
I don't worry at all. I never meant no disrespect towards any WWII veteran and it's too bad that's how you read it. But perhaps you understand better now what I meant.
Remember, Generals and rulers make the decisions to go to war, not the vets who die in it. They don't deserve your obvious contempt.
I'm perfectly aware of who gives the ordes in war and I have never blamed one single foot soldier for any battle whatsoever. On the contrary, I think war is a perfect example of one area where the ruling classes still exercise their oppression of the working class.
And the only possible contempt on this thread, besides the one you're showing me, is perhaps aimed at Spielberg. Only I've allready said that I admire his skills.