I was watching Apocalypse Now for the first time in a few years...

[Mike03]

Lately I just feel so powerless and apathetic regarding the status of the United States, and the hideous toll that our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are taking on all of us. Last week I bought the new special edition of "Apocalypse Now". That movie was my introduction to war. I was about fifteen years old when it came out, I guess, but seeing it again now made me understand it in a whole new way and crave the advice or counsel of people who had been alive and active during Viet Nam.

My raw emotions at this moment: This is a hideous time for us, and for the world. I've never felt so powerless, so frustrated, so confused and so angry. I am so torn between action and capitulation. It's hard to explain. Maybe this post makes no sense. Does anyone have any advice for how to cope with these feelings of being totally overwhelmed? How do we win? How do we overcome this?

[Drum]

1. America-wise, I'd say to look to nobler times in US history,

a la the Revolutionary years. I enjoyed "Founding Brothers" by Joseph J. Ellis and there are many other books that will re-introduce our country's founders and foundation, and their speeches, documents and letters have a positive kind of prayerbook effect on me. Though I don't know very much about it, I think that there was a lot of our American best at play when FDR re-built after the Great Depression. went to the FDR Memorial in DC last year, and it was an amazing place, quite different from the others but just as inspiring. Of course try Abraham Lincoln, his amazing writings show a better way.
When I want to remind myself that my country has an amazing legal system, fair and evolving, I dip into a book co-authored by Ellen Alderman and Caroline Kennedy: "In Our Defense: The Bill of Rights in Action."

Truly, these things give me strength and hope, for a return to better governance and better lives for us all. However, there are always breaks from the struggle that are needed...every soldier gets some time under cover, to rest and regroup, right? Pop in a copy of "Zoolander" for instance, go out and laugh with dear ones, or get out for some time near natural things...let the dust settle and the noise fall away.

Hang in there.

[Mike03]

2. Thanks for the reply

It means a lot to me. (No one ever seems to reply to my posts anymore--lol.) I will try to keep the faith up. Thanks again!

[Drum]

3. You bet.

We truly are all in this together.
:toast:

[RagAss]

4. Great film....there is a scene in the Redux with the French mercenaries

that is especially poignant when viewed today.....we never learn from our mistakes or the mistakes of other nations....

[razors edge]

5. bush is

the errand boy, sent by the grocery clerk... to collect a debt.

just remember, don't get out of the boat, unless you are ready to go all the way.

[Mike03]

6. Right. Never get out of the goddamm boat...

But do we fight or not?

Is Kurtz the genius? Or is it Captain Williard (which I always assumed as a youth)?

[razors edge]

9. there is a dual 50 caliber BMG on deck.

kurtz to me was the tired old mind set of the american conscience, kill as needed and don't ask why.

Williard was the youth being indoctrinated into the old school and after graduation, decided to go back to farming.

[zulchzulu]

7. Watch Blackhawk Down after that...

Yeah, there is some jingoism in the cracks, but that flick shows a lot of what it's like to fight in conditions similar to Iraq.....and Iran....

[rman]

8. But war is about more than fighting;

it's also about what war does to people's lives and to people's sanity.
There's no comparing Apocalypse Now and Blackhawk Down.