Lions For Lambs, What Do You Stand For?
From the previews of Lions For Lambs, that was released today November 9 throughout the USA, the movie cast and the director Robert Redford are in agreement that this movie doe not hold itself out to answer questions but to propose questions for you to think about.
There are several issues at play here with two being the state of education in this country and the other, the war on terrorism. However, as a refreshing breath of fresh air, you are allowed to draw you own conclusions and not told what to think. As a matter of fact, I don't see good reviews for this movie which means it is a must see for me.
Ray Bennett of The Hollywood Reporter states in his review that:
"Boxoffice response to films dealing with the U.S. government's strategies in the Middle East so far suggests that the public is not eager to grapple with the topic onscreen.
The public? Is that what we're called now? What does that say about us as Americans who live in a free country with all the liberties we've been given. Are we so lazy or indifferent that we can't think for ourselves?
Perhaps we are so self-absorbed in our own little world that we are indifferent to what happens outside of it, or maybe we think that one person cannot make a difference.
Review of Lions For Lambs
Lions For Lambs, Dud or Stud?
Keeping that in mind, I felt Lions for Lambs was excellent. Without giving away much of anything, the three arenas in which the move takes place are different as night and day. Symbolism and analogies abound, so put your thinking cap on.
This was my thinking throughout the movie, and now three hours after Lions For Lambs' conclusion. We had a major terrorist attack on our own soil on 9/11. While China (who is sucking down a vast amount of oil and helping cause oil price spikes) and France were writing letters of diplomacy to the leaders of Iraq, the United States decided that diplomacy was out the door. As a nation, we wanted not only wanted retribution for these attacks on our soil, but we were determined to bring the people responsible for the attacks to justice, dead or alive so this would never happen again. We attacked with a mentality of "whatever it takes." The USA exercised and continues to exercise our superb military muscles.
With our attack on Iraq, the implied commitment that accompanied the initial attack was to protect the innocents, the men, young boys who could be recruited or killed if they said no, plus to protect the women and children.
Given the length of time we've been in Iraq, there is a lot of noise to withdraw. So let me ask you a question. If we walk away, it's very possible that every innocent that we protected and who has achieved any form of civil liberties will be hunted down and murdered.
What does that say about the United States of America if we withdraw our troops? Do we fight until we get what we want and then say, The heck with you? If that doesn't bother you, imagine Iran going nuclear and Iraq as their neighbor. That scenario just can't give you comfort or warm fuzzies.
In conclusion, this movie affected me deeply. When it comes to making life or death decisions - such as withdrawing from Iraq - it's time to remember 9/11, how it affected us, and look within ourselves to answer the questions:
What Do I Stand For?
What Do I Fight For?
What Do I Die For?
What Do I Live For?
Every time I watch 24, I can't help but believe that those scenarios could happen on US soil and perhaps they do without our knowledge. All I know is, I am ever so grateful to be a citizen of the USA and count my blessings every single day.
