per·spec·tive n.

  1. A view or vista.
  2. A mental view or outlook
  3. The appearance of objects in depth as perceived by normal binocular vision.
  4. The relationship of aspects of a subject to each other and to a whole
  5. Subjective evaluation of relative significance; a point of view
  6. The ability to perceive things in their actual interrelations or comparative importance
  7. The technique of representing three-dimensional objects and depth relationships on a two-dimensional surface.

— from www.dictionary.com

Jess and I saw Black Hawk Down yesterday. It was an incredible film. It also was interesting to me on a number of different levels:

  • Jess served a five-month tour of duty in Somalia; it ended three to four weeks before the events described in the movie. This brought back memories of her time there. For me, it was seeing events that had played out over CNN and Fox News and the local stations from an up-front point of view.
  • While sitting in the theatre, I thought about how odd it seemed to be watching this movie on a day set aside to commemorate peace and civil rights. Then I thought about it again. It was not odd. In fact, I found it rather appropriate. It was nice to be reminded of just what we have. Yes, there are still injustices and inequalities in America, but we do have a rather high quality of life.
  • It was also encouraging to see the dedication and determination of people trying to carry out their mission in the face of oppressive and overwhelming odds. Some were scared. Some weren’t sure how to react. But they had a common bond: Duty. Their will to not only survive, but to see to it that no one was left behind. It was interesting to consider how many people are willing to simply give in to things in their lives rather than persevere and attempt to see things to fruition… or even failure. For the soldiers in this campaign, failure was not an option: No one was to be left behind. After falling back and regrouping, they went back to finish what they had set out to do. That is the kind of determination, devotion and dedication to which I aspire in my day-to-day living. I may not be there yet, and I may not get there soon or easily, but I will get there.

The movie was quite intense. And powerful. And it did not pull any punches. It reminded me of Saving Private Ryan in the way that it not only showed you the war, but it immersed you in it. While it may not be a fare for everyone, I recommend it with high marks.

Peace.