All right, I have taken the high road, and offered my peace to a man who I criticized (I am avoiding the name, because of it, google has built a superhighway through my little website). Oh well, while I do not apologize for a moment on my criticism of his writings and I think my analysis of it is good, thanks to everyone who decided to leave comments without reading my posting fully. But once again, it is excellent to have people respond angrily about me attacking RW personally, which I did not, with personal attacks on myself. The FEF was not won by a popularity contest, however, so I will continue to write what I think is right. Thanks to all who have visited lately, and I hope you enjoy the site. What you will NOT see, however, is any sort of qualifying of my criticism of RW. I was insulted by his defending of the girl basketball player turning her back on the flag, and I was insulted at his seemingly intentional omission of positive comments on Cpl. Tillman.
That being said, let's put that to bed, and let’s get back to another movie moment and a Ronbo tribute. First some words from the great communicator:
Optimism comes less easily today, not because democracy is less vigorous, but because democracy's enemies have refined their instruments of repression. Yet optimism is in order because day by day democracy is proving itself to be a not at all fragile flower. From Stettin on the Baltic to Varna on the Black Sea, the regimes planted by totalitarianism have had more than thirty years to establish their legitimacy. But none -- not one regime -- has yet been able to risk free elections. Regimes planted by bayonets do not take root.
Evil Empire Speech to the House of Commons 1982
The movie moment of the day, sorry but we will detour from the 80's and hit one of the favorites in the FEF: Scent of a Woman.
Where to we just choose one scene to solidify a moment. Some would say Pacino's speech at the end…fun, but not the best. The best scene is the Thanksgiving dinner at the Slade family. LTC Slade (Pacino) spends the entire evening insulting the family, holding court as he tended to do the entire film, and them like a moment nephew Randy(Bradley Whitford) starts goading Pacino, and explains in a few moments the failures of Pacino's entire career and life. At first Pacino, chimes in with a HUAH! Until the final few biting words:
Randy: God's a funny guy.
LTC Slade: God doth have a sense of humor…
Randy: Maybe he thinks some people don't deserve to see
LTC Slade: (under his breath) hooo, ah!
My first commander was an Irishman who stated that every year he stayed in the Army, he felt more like LTC Slade every day. Especially in times when people forget about the sacrifice brave men make on the FEF, it definitely felt hard to associate with the regular world. When I would tell people I was in the Army, people's first question was, "When are you getting out?" The other question was "Why did you want to join the Army?" How exactly do you explain about duty and patriotism and looking for a place where integrity is still important. Especially when the order of business is lying and stealing in the oval office. Also the people asking were members of our infamous "Baby Boomers." Americas greatest freeloaders…
When people forget about what the Army instills, we veterans and active troopers get a little louder and louder and then you have…LTC Slade. That scene always reminds me that underneath all the bravado is a man who wanted to sacrifice all he could, and ,deep down, would appreciate some recognition for it.
I've never seen Scent of a Woman.
What is with all the misuse of words? One for won; write for right.
Sloppy, FEF...sloppy.
Posted by: The Misspent Life | June 15, 2004 at 09:06