I don’t blame the dog.
If you like to go to movies where you leave with only the highest respect for everyone involved, and during quiet times every person in the packed theatre is on the edge of their seats dead silent anxiously awaiting the next line; I have the movie you must see. This weekend I went to see one of the greatest stories of stories to hit theatres in some time. When I say stories of stories I don’t mean to sound like a movie announcer saying this will be “the movie of all movies” or “an epic adventure to dwarf all other adventures” no, I truly mean that this is a story of stories. Most definitely the best way that this particular event in history could ever be shown. When thinking about WWII some of the biggest thoughts that come to mind are atrocities, and heroism. It’s peculiar how those to go hand in hand, but when you think about it, how can we have any heroes without others atrocity? In order to save a life it must first be in danger.
The Japanese believed that when we landed on their homeland we would rule them as the British had during their colonization days. It was because of this that even after being defeated they still dug in, and they still fought to the last man, the last round, often even ending their own life in avoidance of an uncertain future. What makes a hero?  I’ll never forget the words of Clarion who first put into perspective for me four years ago what it was to be a patriot. “You know, in the end treason is a matter of dates, I shall be the patriot and you the traitor when the Emperor returns.” I’m sure that most of you automatically assume that the heroes of WWII would be the American Rangers who willingly put themselves in danger to save people from countries that they had never seen before. Letters From Iwo Jima puts a different spin on things, not saying that the efforts of American soldiers who fought and died to save a world in turmoil were fruitless, but there is always another side to battle. One of the more prominent characters in Letters From Iwo Jima said at one point in time “I always believed that the American soldiers were savages, cold, without care for others, I believed these things because I was taught to, but hearing the words of that soldiers mother they’re just like my mothers words. Maybe we’ve been fighting for the wrong reasons, maybe everything we’ve been told is a lie. What if they’re just fighting to defend their families as well.” This was said by one of the Japanese soldiers after their captain read a letter from an American soldiers mother the soldier had been wounded and cared for, though, ended up dying.  Letters From Iwo Jima is actually a compilation of stories from letters found on the island of Iwo Jima many years after the fact, stories written by the Japanese soldiers who bravely fought to defend their families. The “main” story is of one of the 1,000 surviving Japanese soldiers who was sent off to war as a duty to his country, not meeting his daughter until she was a year old and the war was over. Of the 21,000 Japanese soldiers defending the small island only 1,000 survived, if only it could be communicated another way that we were not there to conquer.
Have you ever fought for the wrong reasons? Even unknowingly so, when you came to the realization that your fight was fruitless, or you were hindering the success of those that fought for freedom did you let stuborness get in the way? Have you ever been your own worst enemy? What would you feel like if you knew that the one you saw as a threat was actually trying to set you free?
Originally this was simply supposed to be a post about the new movie Letters From Iwo Jima, but I can’t help but pull amazing life lessons from the situation. My main reason for writing this post in fact was to tell the story of one of the soldiers, and his struggles. That is where the title comes from, I’ve gone on long enough so I won’t tell the story, you’ll have to watch the movie for yourself. I will say to you though, that the underlying theme of the entire movie, most impacting of myself this particular story is the idea of “Doing what is right, because it is right.” Remember that even under extreme circumstances, in extreme ways, with pressure from all sides you still have the choice to do what is right among atrocities.