Short word...big meaning. Valor.
The new movie "Flags of our Fathers" opened up last weekend, and is one I have placed on my "must-see" list. Reviews are great, but attendance is not.
Why? People today younger than 30 apparently have little interest in going to see a movie about the unbelievable valor displayed by US Marines at Iwo Jima during February-March 1945. Based on media reports about last weekend's opening movie attendance, our younger generation was much more interested in seeing movies about magic and crime solving. Sad, but true.
I read James Bradley's book about the Iwo Jima flag raising, and it is one of the best I've read. Another book he wrote, "Flyboys" is equally good. Both of his books are full of examples of the highest level of valor, displayed by men from what is called "our greatest generation".
It's a shame that more of our youth today, who are of the same age as those who fought at Iwo Jima, have such little interest in our nation's military history. I don't include today's men and women in uniform in this category...they fully understand military valor and sacrifice.
If you go to a movie-plex where "Flags" is being shown along with other current movies, why not point one of the younger people walking out from just having been dazzled by magic, to the door marked "Flags of our Fathers". It will do them some good to learn what military valor really means.
