I sat down with Darryl and the boys to watch the WWII movie Saving Private Ryan last night. I couldn't do it! I've watched war movies before: Band of Brothers- in it's entirety. But the opening of Private Ryan is our American troops storming one of the beaches at Normandy-- getting slaughtered!
I've watched war movies before! But I guess not since one of my boys has signed on to the military.
I've never watched one gleefully--they're always difficult to see--but I've watched to understand. To respect.
As I left the room to "read something lighter" I couldn't get away from my thoughts. I woke this morning thinking I knew why men joined and fought back in the '40s, but why would they today!
I watched Darryl, unseeing, as he sat on the floor stretching, putting on his shoes, getting ready for work.
"We as a Country aren't WORTHY of that kind of sacrifice anymore." I murmured. It sounded bad to say even to my own ears.
A guy must be either in love with Hollywood's version of War or the recruiter has flashed a lot of money in front of the his nose, but I could only think of Americans --noses in our phones, only concerned by and large about #1.
"He'd have to want to do it just for a few...those Sarah and Megan's of the world...."
(the next shoe, laces being tightened) " I think you'll find," he said, "that's pretty much always why men serve. For their families....to keep them safe...and the buddy in the foxhole next to them."
That simple comment sunk in deeply. All the time I've veared our little boys toward thinking of doing something else besides being a soldier because soldiers get killed. But when they're 18...they KNOW soldiers get killed...sometimes. And when they're 18 they also know guns are interesting, shooting is fun, it's a job, don't want more school right now...but at least they know the risks.
The thought of one of mine really having to put themselves on the line...not so unlike when Hitler was stomping across Europe... for me, Fiona,Sarah and Megan.
