Vote for our school to get the Dell SuperProm

Sunday, November 19, 2006

Arlington West


Which image from the “documentary” stuck with you the most? Which person would you like to further question? Is this accurate portrayal of America’s opinion of the war? Who is the intended audience for this movie?

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Watching the documentary it was clear that most of the views were directed towards anti-war however there were a few that people that expressed a positive view on the war. Those people that were pro war truly stood out to me. The two girls who were in the military stuck with me the most, one of them mentioned that there’s a war going on right now and people should be glad were the ones that are going and not them. She also said something along the lines of so deal with having overcrowded classrooms and old textbooks. I think she took it a bit to far when she said that. She doesn’t realize that cutting down money for education to put it towards a war being fought over hm, nothing? Is completely ridiculous. We invest so much money into public education so that those who aren’t as financially stable can actually have a future with out having to resort to serving four years in Iraq. Oh but of course, they’ll give you money for college when you come back (THAT IS, if you make it back alive). Watching this documentary truly opened my eyes to what is going on with the war and how important it is for us to end this fight and bring our soldiers back in one piece. Seeing all of the crosses accumulate on the beach over the series of weeks really broke my heart and hearing people’s stories brought tears to my eyes. Another story which stuck out to me was the twin who lost his brother, it seemed as though he went into Iraq not realizing that chances were he’d never see his brother again but reality hit and now he stands alone. If I could further question anyone it would be him, I’d ask what his intentions were going into the military at first and how this experience has changed his view on the war. I kind of agree that this is an accurate portrayal of America’s opinion of the war, I think that a lot of us have realized that this is going to far and the war that was once intended to ensure our safety is killing our soldiers by the hundreds. I believe in “fighting for your country” to a certain extent but things are getting out of hand and were not fighting for our country anymore, were fighting for oil.

I think the intended audience for this movie is for people who are against the war and others who want to be educated on what this war is doing to our people.

W Brown said...

Excellent post Carolina. Those two girls stuck in my memory too.

Anonymous said...

The person who stuck out most was the guy who lost his twin brother. It was really depressing, I guess the reality di not hit him until he realized he would never see his twin brother again. I would have to agree with Carolina that one of the female marines said that public schools getting their funds cut is something they should deal with has said to much. It also sounded very disrespectful. Without proper funding the schools will have a much harder time trying to teach students the very basics of learning. Also like Carolina said they do fail to mention if you do come back alive. This movie is very much against war even though their were a couple of pro war people in their. If I coul further question anybody it would be the woman who was saying peace in a different language, even thouhg her statement was very powerful, I believe there was more she could have said.
The intent of this movie is to educate others of the pain of war. It is here to show that you may not come back and you may be a totally different person if you do live.
Michelle Asciote

Anonymous said...

After watching the documentary all the people were anti-war. But they all made a good point. That they should just bring the troops home because we lost to many young people and never lived a long life. I know they did it to fight for the protection of terrorist. If we were not there right now there would have been another terrorist group who took over and for Saddam. With us there we are preventing that from happening. Even thought some of the viewers said we were there for the oil. I think they should have a better reason for that answer. I feel sorry for all those family’s who lost some one because of the war.

Anonymous said...

The image that stuck out the most to me in the film that we watched was the part when the two dumb blondes decided they needed to put in their two cents about being marines and for educators and students to stop whining about school funds and not having a good place to learn in because they are sacrificing their time to be over seas and fighting in a war. There are so many things wrong with what they said, and it made them look like idiots. Many young teens ran away to the army because they wanted to further their education, what’s the point of them going to war and coming back to further their education in a crappy classroom and get into a program that might not even be available if there aren’t funds for it. I don’t think war is important that an education because wars are simply pointless. I agree with Carolina that this video was an eye opener to the war. It made me question analyze and want to know more about what others thought because I wasn’t given enough opinions to create a solid one of my own. I usually hate talking about the war because its pointless to talk about something that’s so hard to change. I can only voice my opinion so much about how much it sucks that its sad when you see no change. I think that human suffering is universal no matter who you are or where you live. I think that, the memorial was a good example that hit home to many even if they weren’t familiar with the war or know of anyone who is in it. All you see is a cross that represents a dead body and it brings a solemn feeling to any human being who sees it and can sympathize for those families of the lost ones. I don’t understand people who support war at this point because its been going on for a while. All what’s left of this war to me, are just a few more 1,000’s of bodies that are marked for death until someone realizes that this madness needs to stop. If I could ask one person a further question, it would be the jerk who said he would send his daughter to war. I would ask him why would he risk the life of his daughter just to withhold family tradition of joining the army. Just because he was lucky enough and his generations before to make it out alive, whose to say that luck will last a few more generations. What would it take to break family tradition of sending your daughter to war?, a coffin wrapped in an American flag with your daughters name marked on it saying that she died for her country instead of living her life. I think that this movie wasn’t an accurate portrayal of Americas opinion of the war, because it was only the opinions of people in a certain region of America. If this memorial was held throughout the country and had interviewed people from each state, then we would be able to come up with a gist of what the actual opinion of the war is through the American eye.

PS: I agree with you Mr. Brown, Carolinas comment is amazing and really well written. Good job my economics partner.

W Brown said...

Zorha,

Do you think people in Califonia think differently about war than people in New York?

Great post!

See you Tuesday

Anonymous said...

most of them where very made a good points. they should just bring the troops home because it doesnt make any sense of the families and there lost and to the many young people and never lived a long life. The brother spoken in the documentary really hit me hard and it hurted because he lost his twin that you you share so many things with and then you lose them in a war fighting for there the u.s . and that i dont think that if the crosses will be allowed in new york, but for some reason it will be a big thing and that no one will agree on it un less you lost some one you loved in the war or a best friend. and the young lady that was speaking about over crowded class rooms and old text book what does that have to do with the war? i think she was thinking when she was speaking and was just speaking at the tip of her tongue.

Anonymous said...

I think that people in California and in New York have similar views on the war because there are diverse people living there, so you will always have a difference of opinions. I think that these two states are probably the only ones or one of the few that have such a great difference in opinions due to the difference in minorities that makes them alike. I think that if you were to interview people from different states such as the western states you’d have a general idea of what the public thinks about the war. The western states aren’t as diverse and minority based that you’d have a solid opinion on the war, which is probably to support it., I figured this because when I watched the 2004 elections I saw that many of the western states were for the President Bush, which means that they support him, if it didn’t mean they supported the war then I don’t know why they would have end voted for him and his cabinet.

Anonymous said...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9A_vxIOB-I

War is so pointless, there’s much more behind the "weapons of mass destruction", and trying to fight suspicions. That you tube video is a freaking prime example of the younger generation suffering. They are the ones being hit the hardest, and not the ones who are passing away. These children have the rest of their lives to live, and their childhood is the stepping stone to the future. With such a grim childhood having to worry about starvation, and thirst these children have so much on their plate, growing old before their time. These innocent minds are being hit so vast when they see these soldiers in their hometowns. I think its enough that the soldiers are there, but taunting them and getting joy out of watching them suffer is inhumane and disrespectful no matter whom it is whether it be a little Iraqi boy or a little American boy. Children are a universal race and people that shouldn’t be ones to be bias against because they all are innocent. With our solders in their countries you'd think they at least set a decent example towards the kids because they haven’t done anything to them. This war is ridiculous and it’s sad to say, we have such inhumane soldiers over there that get kicks out of taunting such little children, where has the inner human nature gone?



sry for the random rant post, but this video was one that needs to be seen, its so sad and really lets reality sink in about how the war touches everyone.

W Brown said...

Zohra

I will bring the video for class disscussion on Tues.....tough to watch though...

What can we do about it?

~RitaMarie~ said...

The image in the video that stuck out to me the most was the girl who was pretty much pleading for people to stop looking at all the minor differences between Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. It's true. People really do need to stop looking at the little differences that seperate each religion and look at what brings them together as a whole. They all believe in the same God but people fail to see that. Although even if people even took the time to see that it I doubt it would result in the peace that this girl hoped it would. I also agree with Zorah in reference to the two blonde girls who were Marines for reasons that I don't even think they, themselves understood. Clearly, by serving your country you should jump at the chance to tell the world your views and opinions. These girls could barely formulate their sentences much less prove a valid point to back up the stupidity that came with their fishing for words.

Anonymous said...

The image that stuck with me the most was the most showed image. All the crosses in the sand on the beach, It really made me realize how many of our soldiers are over there dying. For the reason am still not sure of until this day. I feel that image was important because when looking at that you have no choice but to realize. Well lets really start looking at the numbers we are making. The parents, the children, the wives, the soon to be wives. Its a lot to take in because watching the film at first its like I know this is going on. That’s not the shock but then hearing the interviews and listening to all the heart acing people, it really makes me want to start asking questions. If I could get another word with somebody in the film it would be. The man who had a leg taken from him and still would advise his children to have that experience. I really do understand that people do feel that strongly about their country, but I don’t understand why you would want that for your children. Is there not another way that you could explain why your country is so important, I personally would rather show my children by letting them know how much this country has to offer them. After they receive their education and have a career. Not after they go to the army and get a leg blown off or something worst. I really would just want him to seat down and tell me why he wouldn’t want his children to enjoy life to the fullest. I feel the target audience was America as a whole. I don’t feel they were looking for a certain age, and I really don’t feel they should block this from a younger age group. They have the right to know what their country Is trying to get them into. I just feel they try to show you the truth of what’s going on and what could be going on. I cant support the war simply because usually when I give my support, I respect and agree with the idea. But with the war they cant even let you know what the cause is. So ask your self if you don’t know what you are supporting then how can you?

Anonymous said...

After watching the documentary Arlington West I can say that I am more informed and educated about the war in Iraq. The documentary was very touching, moving, and opened my eyes because I realized how a war can tear up or ruin a family. Yes I know that we (USA) are in war and the outcomes and damages of being in war but I didn't know or refused to know the true feelings of missing loved ones (soliders) who might not come back due to war. War is not fun or games. War is not a game where you could have multiple life lines and die and come back, you have one life and that's it. In the documentary the majority of the people interviewed were anti- war as many people said before. Which is good becasue I am also against the war and do not have the slighest clue to what we are still doing there. I just hope the troops come home soon. But in the documentary there were also people pro war. The people who were pro war stuck in my mind the most mainly because we have different views. But the people who I remember the most are the girl in the marinees and the guy who got injured by a bomb or grenade. After the girl in the marinees had her interview I felt like punching her in the face. I was very upset by her comment. I think she was disrespectful, rude, and just wrong. She talked about how what's going on over seas is important and needs to get done and so what if you have to be in an overcrowded classroom or use an old text book. Like Carolina said she was wrong for saying that because peoples tax money and education funds and all types of other money are going into this war when instead of going to the war it can go to other programs that need it. Send the money to charity or schools or Katrina victims atleast that is a positive cause. And the guy who got injured also stayed in my mind because he got injured from the war and believes that people should go over there to fight. That is surprising to me cause if I would have got injured from war I would tell people not to go to war so they can learn from my mistakes. I just hope the war ends and the troops and soliders come home safe and sound.


Corrie R *