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What's Your Favorite War Movie ?
C'mon now, we're 'Murcans, most of us, and 'Murcans loves us some war. I grew up on a steady diet of war movies. I still remember watching John Wayne in Flying Tigers and Sands of Iwo Jima. What makes America exceptional is that, in this country, we like wars, especially WWII. Of course, very few Americans have ever experienced war. By an accident of geography our country has been untouched by war. Sure a few servicemen were killed in the Second World War, but no cities were bombed and there were no battles in North America. No American families had to flee the front lines with their belongings in a cart, no civilians were killed, robbed or raped by an enemy army. We only know war from movies and TV. On the other hand, WWII created lot of jobs for 'Murcans and made millions for investors. Not only that, the war began an era of unprecedented prosperity since German and Japanese industry was bombed to smithereens and our manufacturers had no competition for a very long time. So it's only natural that we have been treated to a stream of movies about The Good War that continues even to this day. Two more, Fury and Unbroken, are in theaters right now.
The invasion of Normandy in June of 1944 is considered 'Murca's greatest triumph, no matter that the German army was already beaten by the time it happened. D-Day is featured in two classic war films. The Longest Day is a dramatization of the landing itself and the much-ballyhooed Saving Private Ryan begins with what is said to be a very "realistic" depiction of the amphibious assault. The Vietnam War was more problematic. The country was divided about just how good that war was. This moral ambiguity spawned several pretty good war movies including Platoon, Full Metal Jacket, The Deer Hunter and Apocalypse Now. Oh the horror, indeed. Modern wars, if that's even the right term, have been even more difficult to glorify. Clint Eastwood made a turd about the 1983 invasion of Granada called, laughably, Heartbreak Ridge and there's one out now, also directed by Eastwood, called American Sniper. American Sniper is about a high-scoring sniper named Chris Kyle. Kyle survived four tours in Iraq. He was shot dead last February by a fellow veteran.
Politics doesn't happen in a vacuum. It takes place in a cultural matrix of ideas, legends, and folklore. WWII occupies an important place, still, in popular culture, that is movies and TV. Politicians often appeal to it. Ronald Reagan often invoked 'Murcan triumphalism in his 1980 campaign and many who voted for him were members of what has been called the Greatest Generation, as was Reagan himself. Here's Dick Cheney selling the invasion of Iraq in a speech to a VFW convention on Aug.27, 2002:
We will profit as well from a review of our own history. There are a lot of World War II veterans in the hall today. To the United States, that war began on December 7th 1941 with the attack on Pearl Harbor and the near total destruction our Pacific fleet. Only then, did we recognize the magnitude of the danger to our country. Only then, did the Axis powers fully declare their intentions against us. By that point, many countries had fallen; many millions had died; and out nation was plunged into a two-front war resulting in more than a million American casualties. To this day, historians continue to analyze that war, speculating on how we might have prevented Pearl Harbor and asking what actions might have averted the tragedies that rate among the worst in human history.
Arizona has elected a nonentity named Diane Douglas as Superintendent of Public instruction. Here's what she has to say on the subjects of civics, history and, unknowingly, American Exceptionalism. You can bet she hasn't read much Chomsky.
But while wanting to place a greater emphasis on civics, including history, Douglas said that timing is everything.
“We have to be honest with our children,” Douglas said. “But we have to be honest with them at the appropriate place at the appropriate time.”
Sometimes, she said, youngsters are not prepared for the whole truth.
“If we tell our children the worst things when they’re young, look at what it does,” Douglas said.
“Have we made mistakes as a country? No doubt about it,” she continued. “But have we spread more freedom and prosperity and freed more countries and saved more people in my opinion? Yes we have.”
Douglas, 58, who grew up in New Jersey, acknowledged that in the 1950s and early 1960s there was a big emphasis in schools on patriotism. And she said she’s not proposing that sort of one-sided approach to teaching history and civics.
“But has the pendulum swung too far the other way?” she asked. “Have we gone from being too positive to being too negative?”
AZ Daily Star
Commie that I am, I read a lot of Russian history and my favorite war movies are about the Battle of Stalingrad in 1942. Russians commemorate Stalingrad like we do D-Day, but with better reason.
Stalingrad really
was the turning point in the Great Patriotic War and it was the Red Army that defeated Germany. The
most popular film in Russia in 2013 was
Stalingrad. It was an inferior film, in my opinion, shot to resemble a video game. A
German Stalingrad movie came out in 1993. I thought it was pretty good. The best though, and my all-time favorite war movie is the Soviet epic
The Battle of Stalingrad produced in 1949 while Stalin was still alive. I like movies with the correct period equipment.
Sahara, for example, made in 1943 and starring Humphrey Bogart, is the only film I know of that features the
M3 Lee tank. The Mosfilm Stalingrad movie has plenty of authenticity. The tanks are T-34/85s instead of the correct original models with the 76mm gun, but still, they
are T-34s and there are tons of 'em. All the small arms are correct as is the German equipment. The only gripe I have about the movie is that
Marshal Zhukov does not appear. Zhukov was the best the General the Red Army had, and maybe the best of the entire war, from any army, but he was being repressed at the time. Stalin didn't want him getting too popular. The producers made sure, for their own safety no doubt, to portray Stalin, and not Zhukov, as the mastermind behind the Red Army's victories.
OK, that's this Tuesday's content. What's your favorite war movie ? You do like war movies don't you, or are you Un-American ?
Latest Updates on Regional Meet-Up News Can Be Found Below the Orange Group Hug.
Let's Build Communities!
Our team is here to provide support and guidance to new and existing volunteer leaders of each regional and state group, helping them with recruiting, organizing and executing social and action events.
We invite you to join in this effort to build our community. There are many ways to pitch in.
If there isn't a group to join near you, please start one.
Instructions on HOW TO FORM A NEW DAILY KOS GROUP
List of All Existing Meatspace Groups
Where the Kogs Are: Index/Directory of the 130+ Localized Daily Kos Groups
THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY
by Thinking Fella ♥ for Four Corners Kossacks
There are meet-ups and then, there are EPIC meet-ups. The current designate always upstages the previous one. And that is precisely what Thinking Fella has done with this event. We were all green with envy when he announced it with just a few short weeks notice. He had a fantastic turnout anyway. Try to top this event. With 58 scenic photos of gorgeous Colorado and wonderful Kossacks, Thinking Fella showed us who's boss when it comes to meet-ups. He holds the trophy now. Who wants to take it away from him? Throw your gauntlet down at any time.
It's important to note that this terrific diary inspired 8 more people to join the Four Corners Kossacks. Again, Thinking Fella knows what he's doing. High five, buddy!
Here's one photo:
L-R: Mr. & Mrs. Unknown, Mr. & Mrs. unfangus, Lucytooners with her hands on Mr. Lucytooners shoulders, Tom Morrissey, Allison Morrissey, Thinking Fella (rear), HeroMachine (kneeling), Kim (in hat) & her partner Nan (in train), Darcy (in front of Kim) ERRN & Mr. ERRN (kneeling), and Dr. lurker & Dr. lurker (both standing)
Please visit Thinking Fella's diary for a zillion MORE photos! Enjoy! You can still REC it. You can join Four Corners Kossacks by sending a Kosmail to Thinking Fella.
Event Organizers! Please contact wink from Netrootsradio.com by KosMail to schedule airtime with them to live broadcast the date of your Event. Wink & Justice will then promote it on The After Show radio program!
Saturday, January 17th
Denver Kossacks! Come Meet Other Progressives!
TIME: 9:00 AM
LOCATION: Common Grounds
44th & Vallejo • Denver
ORGANIZER: Send Leftcandid a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. Leftcandid
2.
3.
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: DENVER: Join Us At Caffeinating Liberally, January 17
Saturday & Sunday, January 17-18, 2015
Dkos Asheville 24-hour Meet-up
This is what community is about; sharing, giving, creating together. And this is what being a progressive is about; working for social, economic, and environmental justice.
Each day we start from where we are now; and we move forward from here. -davehouck
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...we have built ourselves a network of like minded brothers and sisters who are in this fight for life. A place we can come to find inspiration, power, solace and community.
-randallt |
TIME: 1:00 pm Saturday till 1:00 pm Sunday
LOCATION: Crown Plaza Resort Asheville
One Resort Drive • Asheville
ORGANIZER: Send randallt a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. randallt
2. davehouck
3. Joieau
4. Gordon20024
5. SteelerGrrl
6. SteelerGuy
7. LamontCranston
8. Otteray Scribe
9. raincrow
10. raincrow guest
11. raincrow guest
12. raincrow guest
13. raincrow guest
14. raincrow guest
15.
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Maybees:
Joy of Fishes
IamGumby
smiley7
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Latest diary: DKos Asheville: Open Thread
Saturday, January 17th
Seattle & Puget Sound Kos Meet-up with Meteor Blades, Joan McCarter & navajo to Connect, Unite and help plan Action for 2015!
TIME: 12:30 - 3:00 PM
LOCATION: Pyramid Alehouse, Brewery & Restaurant Executive Room
1201 First Avenue South • Seattle
Private room reserved with a set menu at $20 (cash only) per person. Drinks extra. MAX OCCUPANCY: 40
ORGANIZER: Send John Crapper a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. John Crapper
2. Joan McCarter
3. Meteor Blades
4. Eagle Of Freedom
5. PennyGC
6. Momomia
7. Momomia's friend
8. doingbusinessas
9. Smrichmond
10. capt snagger
11. bleeding blue
12. John Crapper's SO
13. Ryan P - guest of JC
14. Kitsap River
15. Charles Curtis Stanley
16. jessical
17. seabos84
18. Basilia
19. mharges
20. LarisaW
21. N in Seattle
22. Creosote
23. eagle keeper
24. Piren
25. jgoodfri
26. ratcityreprobate
27. Flamingogrrl
28. Assaf
29. cinnamon68
30. Gemini13
31. Linds S. (Protect Olympic Peninsula)
32. navajo
33. Grey Fedora
34. James Wells
MAX OCCUPANCY: 40
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Maybees:
Angie in WA State
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Latest diary: S&PS Kos Welcomes Meteor Blades & Navajo to Seattle 1/17/15 for Pep Talk!
Saturday, February 28th
Texas State Daily Kos Meet-up
Lunch and dinner/party compliments of Daily Kos. Please come for an afternoon of camaraderie and progressive strategizing with Big Orange flavor!
TIME: Noon
LOCATION: TBD
[Address] • Austin
ORGANIZER: Send nomandates a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. nomandates
2. Chrislove
3. navajo
4. johnatx
5. mrs johnatx
6. Blood
7. cosette
8. anotherdemocrat
9. bastrop
10. Warren Pease
11. Patience John
12. noteaforme
13. blue armadillo
14. RLMAC
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Maybees:
1. politik
2. Mr Pea
3. texasmom
4. texasdad
5. BlueMississippi
6. MargaretPOA
7. suesue
8. BlackSheep1
9. PDiddie
10. scott5js
11. TexMex
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Latest diary: Planning for TexKos Spring Meet-Up 2.0: We need your input!
navajo maintains the above event list. Kosmail her if you have any diaries
about your event or if you have changes or additions.
EVERYONE is welcome, tell us what you're working on,
share your show and tell, vent, whatever you want.
This is an open thread. Nothing is off topic.