The Longest Day is based on the Normandy Landings of WWII. Personally I think it's a great film because it does not just show the heroism of the Allied men who landed on the beaches of Normandy, but also the incalculable loss that the Allied forces suffered and that always happens in war and also that bravery of some of the German soldiers and pilots. Also, the film is not biased against the Gerrys.
I think the film helps people realise how horrible wars are and the suffering of those who fight. 3 m men were unloaded on the beaches of Normandy. Very few survived. Those who died were, unfortnately, there to die, in the hope that enough men would survive the hail of German fire and hold the positions on the beach. This is exemplified in the basic military principle that you must outnumber the enemy 3:1 in order to be confident that there will be enough men to defeat it and if the enemy is entrenched, around 6:1 or 7:1. But, still you are only aiming for the same number of your own men to occupy the enemy's position. So, for example, if you attack an enemy entrenchment and outnumber the enemy 7:1, you can only be confident that 1/7 of your forces will survive. The other 6/7 is just there to increase the number of men that will survive the attack according to probability. They all don't survive.
I hope people will wake up as to the damage war causes not just to the defeated side in the war but also to the "victorious". Also, I feel that people who have actually been through wars themselves should be put in the command of the DoD, no matter what country. Also, countries should not wage wars they don't understand For example, the US has done that several times, in Vietnam and Iraq. In the Middle East, the US rushed in without understanding what was going on, who were their enemies and allies, and what was causing the conflicts there.
I know that humans will never be able to stop conflicts altogether because of our inherently evil nature. However, we should keep them to a minimum. Wars aren't fun.
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
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I am not surprised that you enjoyed this classic film. The main hero was subsequently vaulted to the prime position of President of the USA. It would be ironical if Eisenhower was of German stock (based on his name)!Were you referring to the Germans as "Gerrys"? In those times ther were labelled as "Huns"--warriors being a term not popular then. The 2nd World War and this particulr episode was renowned for its raw courage and humorngas sacrifices rather than for man's stupidities and foolishness resulting from greed, pride and historical grudges. One wonders what happened to religious beliefs and commensensical morality to cause man to inflict senseless cruelty to mankind. I fully agree that wars should be minimised--it is happening by way of Vietnam, Kashmir, Irag and Afghanistan but it is not enough. Mankind can congatulate itself only when there is total stoppage. Pesismatic optimist.
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