Posted on 01/19/2014 11:00:24 PM PST by Impala64ssa
I saw Lone Survivor today. I wept. I’m a female, I can do that sort of thing in public.
Here’s why I wept.
In the first few minutes of the film, watching the Navy SEALS train, I turned to my friends and said what a travesty it would be if the physical requirements were ever adjusted downwards to accommodate women – or anyone who could not meet them for that matter, regardless of gender or orientation. These men, these warriors, are elite for a reason. They are capable of doing things very few can. That’s the way we want and need them to be.
I wept for the mothers, wives, sisters, fathers, brothers and friends of the beautiful, strong and healthy warriors who gave everything to defend the freedoms of this nation, and of others they would never know.
I wept for the people of Afghanistan who are not supporters of the Taliban. Those who can only dream of a different life. Who even in the best of times must eke out their existence in the harshest of conditions. Who will never know the comfort and liberty we do. For the women who will never have the choices I have, and the freedom to chart their own course. Perhaps it is an accident of birth. In some respects, I felt that about Marcus Luttrell himself. It was an accident of fate that he survived and others did not. Such is life, and only God knows the plan for each of us.
But most of all, I wept in anger. I am overcome with rage at the elected politicians who have never served their country in uniform, never seen battle and yet make decisions that affect the life and death of their fellow citizens.
I am so angry that our rules of engagement, made in courtrooms by people whose personal agenda has nothing to do with victory, restrict the ability of our military to do the thing we send them into battle to do: fight.
I am disgusted that budgets for military equipment and training get shaved away and shaved away so much that lives are lost because we cannot adequately equip the men and women we send into the most terrifying situations.
I have no words to be spoken in polite company to express my frustration that this administration seems more focused on the sexual orientation of our warriors than their fighting readiness or following up on the promises made to them in their retirement.
I am however thankful this film was made, and somewhat surprised Hollywood allowed it. Pardon my candor, but I hope every candy-ass liberal can take a few minutes away from the exertions of Kanye West and Lady Gaga, look beyond themselves and their concern for polar bears and baby harp seals, and understand what real sacrifice, real pain, real effort and real honor truly is.
I hope she’ll also find out that this congress voted to decrease the retirement benefits of those who have already served. I hope all Americans know this. Will it make a difference? Good essay nonetheless.
>> The libs hate this movie.
Yeah, well those scumbags can rot in Hell.
We watched it the other night.
The both of us were just gutted by it.
From the second he says “If we kill them, CNN will....”, I don’t think my blood pressure went below 120.
It was almost impossible to watch.
It’s more a documentary than a “movie” and a scathing indictment of the liberals who would spit upon any soldier who must act to effect the greater good by any means necessary.
Even though I knew the story and how it ended, it was the hardest movie to watch, ever.
My family and I saw it Saturday. It is an awesome and heartbreaking movie. We saw people in that theater who probably hadn’t been to see a movie in a decade at least. Now Ive got my fingers crossed that they will make a movie about Chris Kyle. I bought his book American Sniper when it was released and convinced my wife to read it and she agreed that it was one of the best books she had ever read. We were heartbroken when we heard of his death.
Kanye West and lady Gaga aren’t fit to launder these guys socks.
I saw a repeat of SIXTY MINUTES tonight about Seal Team Six saving the aid worker in the Sudan. She said she heard a
“scratching” sound and looked into one of her captors’ faces and saw fear in his eyes. Within a few seconds the captors were dead and the Seals told the woman they were there to save her. She said one of them picked her up and ran with her for about two miles. She was put on a chopper, the Seals put on another, and she never saw them again.
I found her description of the Seals very telling. She said they were so kind and gentle. I thought, “If they’re on your side, they’re kind and gentle. If not, they’re deadly.” It’s all in their job description.
Then on Dateline was a story bout a woman with two kids pinned in an auto hanging off of a bridge. Some Seabees rolled up and told the first responders that they had a piece of equipment that they could use to help them out. The bees said it was like nobody heard them and they didn’t want to be in the way so they started directing traffic.
After an hour the first responders were going to give up because the car was going to fall. Again, the Seabees came to them and this time got their attention. They rushed the forklift down to the scene and the forks on this thing would telescope. So they used it to reach across the ravine from the other bridge and slid the forks in under the car and held it there. This allowed the first responders to climb out onto the forks and pull the victims free.
The Seabees had loaded the forklift at the beginning of their trip but had to take it off and re-load it and this put them behind schedule. Had that not happened they would have crossed the bridge before the accident happened.
Personally, I think the Seals’ missions are being put in jeopardy because the press tells everything the Seals do. But I don’t believe the Seabees get enough credit for what they do. For instance, a decade or so back a plane crashed up in the mountains on Guam. The Seabees built a road up to the crash site and rescued a bunch of survivors.
My advice to anyone is if you’re in a precarious situation and some Seabees show up, ask the cops to ask the Seabees if they have any advice. If Seals show up it’ll be a different situation so just sit back and relax.
I salute the SEALS! I salute the Seabees! I salute all men and women who wear the uniform of the United States.
tomorrow
I can also say I had an emotional reaction similar to what she expresses in this article- when I read of what happened in Benghazi, and then the disgusting way the families of the fallen were treated by the current administration.
Must-Read Bump
BTTT
Terrific commentary!!! The wife and I saw this flick last Thursday, and this film, “Lone Survivor” is a “MUST SEE” for all Americans. It is a history and educational experience that most Americans, especially our younger folks, do not have a clue!!! Our liberal, Democrat low lifes have stopped teaching American history and most of our young folks have no idea of the sacrifice, bravery, dedication, love and loyalty our military men & women bring forth to protect our country, keeping it safe from attack and invasion.
Our politicians of all stripes are mostly human trash, that have no regard for our military or our country!!!. Yep.....Rome became that way.....and Rome is no more!!! Obama is to America what Nero, Caligula & Caesar were to Rome, useless and anti-American!!! We need to demonstrate our support of our military personnel, by turning out by the millions to view this important movie!!! That alone....will send a clear message to the Washington military haters in politics and the left-wing media that the massive majority of the American people stand behind our military 100%!!!
Just get out with the wife, the hubby, the family, friends, everyone, and see this wonderful film. Thanks to Mark Walhberg, the entire cast of the film, the production crew, the stunt men and especially, Mark Luttrell and all the dedicated people that made this magnificent film happen!!! Bravo!!!
And barrack and hootlery admitted to making decisions on troops in combat zones depending on how it affected their political careers. If their luck holds out a SEAL team won’t make a decision about who lives or dies based on the lives of their brothers in arms. Just the thought of the CiC sending men to fight and then withholding support based on whether or not it will cost him votes makes my head explode.
hate people who talk when I go to see a film.
“I am so angry that our rules of engagement, made in courtrooms by people whose personal agenda has nothing to do with victory, restrict the ability of our military to do the thing we send them into battle to do: fight.”
AMEN! Having served in the military for 26 years and been to the Middle East and Somalia, I can say that stupid rules of engagement have gotten too many of our brave troops killed. I understand Geneva Convention rules and agree with them, but when some A-hole (like Obama) says our troops cannot fire until fired upon it makes my blood boil. If we ever go to war, it should be with overwhelming force until the objective is achieved. Otherwise, we will lose too many good men and women for some stupid politician’s political desires.
Bttt
We are not compatible with the left... our Constitution and way of life are not compatible with the left... the American Dream is not compatible with the left... Freedom, Liberty and the Bill of Rights are not compatible with the left... does anyone see a pattern and possible solution?
Amen!
I saw Lone Survivor, yesterday, with my 15 y/o daughter. Wow, intense! The training, the bravery, the commitment and determination of the men and women involved with these missions is off the charts, indescribable.
It was a good movie, but a warning for those who might consider taking younger teens.
The f-bomb is used VERY liberally and the blood and gore is very graphic.
Ping for later
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