Lion for lambs

Doris and I went to see R. Redford's new film Lion for Lambs on Sat. While I have not seen one favorable review for the movie, there were some good things about it.

Robert Redford, for example! It is, knowing his politics, an anti-war film and an anti-Bush film as well. And that Tom Cruise is handsome in a three piece suit.! ( I find it hard to believe that he would take the role of a Congressman supporting the war and aiming for the Presidency) Merle Streep has a small part as a jaded journalist. It was also good to see the actor who played the title role in Antone Fisher (don't know his name). He and his Mexican-American friend who play soldiers caught by the enemy performing a task their commanding officers knew would fail are very good in the film. Of course, as the good guys, they are killed seconds before being rescued. As a retired college prof, it was fun to see Prof. Redford try to persuade one of his students with great potential to join the human race and find something to do besides party.

I do not support this war, but I do feel great empathy and sympathy for those who are called to serve and for their parents and spouses who wait. On this Veteran's Day, I am thinking of all those who have served from the Minutemen on the Concord Bridge to those who survived D-Day, and those who fought another failed war in Korea, and those who braved the steaming jungles and streams of Viet Nam (including my Navy brother who served on a mine-sweeper) and those who got caught in Desert Storm and now Iraq, plus the millions of others who served without going to battle (like my Air Force brother). And I wonder at the same time if I have done enough to serve my country and give back its blessings. As a teacher, I tried.....

Celebration

I went to the post office in Nolensville yesterday. The town was lining up the Veteran's Day Parade across the street. It was fun to watch the little vignettes:

The high school band was warming up with the brass showing off as usual. Lots of kids were sitting on flatbed trailers waiting. Boy Scouts in uniform were tucking in shirts. Mothers were fluffing the hair of their little girls in the dance club (or ballet class?). An old man sat in a vintage car labeled D-Day Veteran. The sheriff was there with his paunch and star. Horses patrolled the street--some wearing more silver than Uncle Sam. Beautiful vintage cars were joining the procession--saw one tomato colored 30's Chevy that was really sleek. Insurance salesmen with appropriate signs on their cars were carrying beautiful girls in convertables. Flags were flying in the breeze. Old vets holding little American flags sat on a trailer.. I felt like saying the pledge of allegiance.

It made me a little homesick for those days when we left Brandon off at the gathering place and then took our spot on Pine Street waiting for the Wylie Band to make its appearance in the parade. However, I think that parade was most always the West Texas Fair Parade.