Although, I don't think it was actually on film... I think maybe we're done with physical records of our entertainment... Weird, that...
Anyway, we decided that after the funeral a good way to remember Amie was to go watch a movie. My wife (who skipped the activities) told her family and they were shocked - such a somber and reflective occasion shouldn't involve just going out for a movie. But, I think Amie would have approved. And I kind of think she was there with us. She did love movies. :)
We went to see the latest Captain America film. I generally liked it - maybe I would have liked it more if I hadn't just been through a funeral, but it was still quite entertaining. One of the premises of the film, and I gather it's the same premise as the Batman vs. Superman flick, is that there is a group of individuals out there who have "enhanced capabilities" and who operate outside the law, or outside any authority or sanction from any government oversight. And this gets problematic, because in the inevitable collateral damage (read: innocent bystanders who got injured or killed because they just happened to be there...) there is little or no accountability.
This is not intended to be a film critique. I don't do that - mostly because I'm not pedantic enough to be a film critic... I just go enjoy the film, or don't. And I've already said that I generally enjoyed it, so that's good enough for now. I always reserve the right to complain later. :)
What I did enjoy quite a bit, though, is that it brings up these issues. We live in a world of one major superpower. (Hint: it's us). We have technology and power that makes us nearly invincible, and we've removed ourselves so far from the actual war of combat that our side loses hundreds or thousands to the other side's hundreds of thousands. And while I'm not suggesting that we put down our technology in an effort to level the playing field (I've written about this and I believe that our people deserve the most powerful and effective weaponry and technology available), I'm wondering about the accountability. To whom are we accountable? And what happens when (God forbid) someone we disagree with gains access and control of that weaponry and technology, perhaps to use it on us?
We're in the midst of an election cycle, ostensibly to determine the Commander in Chief of our armed forces. It's a decision that should be taken very seriously.
Because here's the thing. In a very real sense, the United States (collectively) has responsibility for those we decide to kill, intentionally or as collateral damage. We are Captain America, battling the forces of evil around the world. But who decides what those forces are? And who decides what action is appropriate? Or what if no action is the appropriate response? In the film, Captain America and his team go after some folks who are looking to steal a potential biological weapon, capable of ultimately killing millions. And yet, in the course of the battle for the weapon, many were killed or injured. And this happens repeatedly in these films, so... yeah. Who is responsible?
In our current global situation, who is responsible when the US accidentally bombs a hospital? What about all the things we do that don't even make it to the news?
I don't know. I really don't. The film didn't provide any guidance, either.
When Harry Truman decided to drop the bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, he did so unilaterally - the secret was too terrible to share. When Reagan bombed the chemical weapons factory in Libya in the 80s, he did so unilaterally. At least these guys had the compunction to have struggled with the decision. Will all of our leaders have the same guilt or remorse of conscience?
I hope so. I hope that the distance we place between ourselves and the consequences of our actions is not too anesthetizing. Because I don't think we should become numb to the deaths of the few in an effort to achieve the greater good.
Anyway, we decided that after the funeral a good way to remember Amie was to go watch a movie. My wife (who skipped the activities) told her family and they were shocked - such a somber and reflective occasion shouldn't involve just going out for a movie. But, I think Amie would have approved. And I kind of think she was there with us. She did love movies. :)
We went to see the latest Captain America film. I generally liked it - maybe I would have liked it more if I hadn't just been through a funeral, but it was still quite entertaining. One of the premises of the film, and I gather it's the same premise as the Batman vs. Superman flick, is that there is a group of individuals out there who have "enhanced capabilities" and who operate outside the law, or outside any authority or sanction from any government oversight. And this gets problematic, because in the inevitable collateral damage (read: innocent bystanders who got injured or killed because they just happened to be there...) there is little or no accountability.
This is not intended to be a film critique. I don't do that - mostly because I'm not pedantic enough to be a film critic... I just go enjoy the film, or don't. And I've already said that I generally enjoyed it, so that's good enough for now. I always reserve the right to complain later. :)
What I did enjoy quite a bit, though, is that it brings up these issues. We live in a world of one major superpower. (Hint: it's us). We have technology and power that makes us nearly invincible, and we've removed ourselves so far from the actual war of combat that our side loses hundreds or thousands to the other side's hundreds of thousands. And while I'm not suggesting that we put down our technology in an effort to level the playing field (I've written about this and I believe that our people deserve the most powerful and effective weaponry and technology available), I'm wondering about the accountability. To whom are we accountable? And what happens when (God forbid) someone we disagree with gains access and control of that weaponry and technology, perhaps to use it on us?
We're in the midst of an election cycle, ostensibly to determine the Commander in Chief of our armed forces. It's a decision that should be taken very seriously.
Because here's the thing. In a very real sense, the United States (collectively) has responsibility for those we decide to kill, intentionally or as collateral damage. We are Captain America, battling the forces of evil around the world. But who decides what those forces are? And who decides what action is appropriate? Or what if no action is the appropriate response? In the film, Captain America and his team go after some folks who are looking to steal a potential biological weapon, capable of ultimately killing millions. And yet, in the course of the battle for the weapon, many were killed or injured. And this happens repeatedly in these films, so... yeah. Who is responsible?
In our current global situation, who is responsible when the US accidentally bombs a hospital? What about all the things we do that don't even make it to the news?
I don't know. I really don't. The film didn't provide any guidance, either.
When Harry Truman decided to drop the bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, he did so unilaterally - the secret was too terrible to share. When Reagan bombed the chemical weapons factory in Libya in the 80s, he did so unilaterally. At least these guys had the compunction to have struggled with the decision. Will all of our leaders have the same guilt or remorse of conscience?
I hope so. I hope that the distance we place between ourselves and the consequences of our actions is not too anesthetizing. Because I don't think we should become numb to the deaths of the few in an effort to achieve the greater good.
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