I was watching "Gods and General" with my history class. This is a powerful movie (bias and inaccuracies notwithstanding). I was touched as I watched a rendition of the Irish troops charging the Confederate positions in the battle at Richmond. In the movie, the writer added a part: those firing on the Irish were also Irish. I did a bit of research to find if this truly happened, but have not been able to confirm or deny this.
Nevertheless, this was a powerful scene and got me thinking about war and about people. The older I get, the more real people become to me. I felt a mixture of emotions: grief, gratitude, admiration, and sadness. To think of all the men and boys that lost their lives in the Civil War. Then, stepping back further, to think of all those who have lost their lives in countless wars. How sad.
God bless those that are serving their country. May they be comforted and know that they are loved.
Now, I didn't lose it in front of the class while I watched the movie. But I made the mistake of talking to the students after I turned the TV off. I began to explain that scene to theme, making sure they understood the significance of what was portrayed.
"The confederates began to cheer for their Irishmen on the other side as they retreated," I told them.
"Who were they cheering for?" a student asked.
"The people they had just been shooting at, and in honor of the people they had just killed." I responded.
That's when I lost it.
By the way, it's a great movie; I own a copy and I am happy to lend it out.
Nevertheless, this was a powerful scene and got me thinking about war and about people. The older I get, the more real people become to me. I felt a mixture of emotions: grief, gratitude, admiration, and sadness. To think of all the men and boys that lost their lives in the Civil War. Then, stepping back further, to think of all those who have lost their lives in countless wars. How sad.
God bless those that are serving their country. May they be comforted and know that they are loved.
Now, I didn't lose it in front of the class while I watched the movie. But I made the mistake of talking to the students after I turned the TV off. I began to explain that scene to theme, making sure they understood the significance of what was portrayed.
"The confederates began to cheer for their Irishmen on the other side as they retreated," I told them.
"Who were they cheering for?" a student asked.
"The people they had just been shooting at, and in honor of the people they had just killed." I responded.
That's when I lost it.
By the way, it's a great movie; I own a copy and I am happy to lend it out.
1 Comment:
I've never read Gods and Generals, but The Killer Angels is one of my favorite books.
Let me say this in the defense of men who cry: Tears say a great deal about a man's capacity to understand the sublime. More often than not, I get teary when I read Tennyson, and I almost always cite the "allergy defense" at the end Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Here's one: The Caps fought their way back from the basement of the league and into playoff contention, sealing the deal on my birthday. After experiencing such bitter disappointment at the hands of my beloved Caps for such a long time, the sight of our players racing off the bench and into the arms of our netminder was too much: Finally, we were going to do battle in the postseason.
All of these things -- Tennyson's poetry, the heartbreaking and beautiful end to the greatest work in cinema history, and my genuine love for Hockey -- are things greater than I. Sometimes, words are not enough.
Congrats to your Cougars, by the way. I love an old fashioned beatdown.
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