I have launched my Remembrance Day polls. The best cinematic portrayal of a soldier and the most effective military offensive of the last 200 years. There are two Canadian options, Vimy Ridge and Normandy. I know that Canadians will gravitate to their fallen relatives and that 80% of my traffic is Canadian. I hope that this does not diminish the significance and success of the other nominees. Remembrance Day is about more than just the original war to end all wars that did not end all wars, it should be a day for people all around the world to take a moment in silence and reflect on their fallen brethren. That we might reflect why their sacrifice was important to benefit the lives of future generations. Children who are alive but not yet aware of what happened on this Planet Earth before them.
The loss of life should always be a somber occasion, and we are right to feel sorrow and remorse in the face of it. Each new generation wants to look forward and avoid the difficult choices that sometimes must be made. The fact remains that there are a lot of evil people in the world, and every so often these evil people ascend to power. Many drive themselves insane trying to figure out why evil people hate, but the only thing that defeats strength is strength. It is often said that evil prevails when good people fail to act, and it takes the most courageous people to make the most difficult choices.
On this November 11th, I take a moment of silence to remember the fallen of past wars. May they rest in peace.
"You cannot simultaneously prevent and prepare for war"
-Albert Einstein
I voted for Patton and Vimy Ridge.
ReplyDeleteI have to disagree with Albert Einstein's quote. I prefer to quote Vegetius Epitoma Rei Militaris.
ReplyDelete"Let him who desires peace, prepare for war."
And I can't vote in your poll. I would have to say Damian Lewis playing Richard Winters in Band of Brothers is the best.
TangoJuliette sez:
ReplyDeleteFull Metal Jacket? Galipoli? The Devil's Brigade? I'm really partial to the last item. Joint Canada/USA First Special Service Force [BlackDevils to the Nazzies] Tons of little known Canadian Heroes like Manitoba Aboriginal, Tommy Prince, Ontario depression era kid, Charley Mann.
Operation Mincemeat: The Man who never was.
Churchills code-breaking Boffins of Bletchley Park? Anzio, Monte Cassino, Operation Market Garden - Nijmegen?
tj
t.e. & o.e
I'm sorry that your favourite soldier performance did not make the poll, but if I was to include one of everyone's favourites, I would be running a poll with 40 nominees. It doesn't work that way. It is my poll, it is unscientific, and I have to place boundaries.
ReplyDeleteThis is for people's pleasure, if you can't vote for any, don't vote, but making a special statement about it on the message board is not necessary. I didn't post your guy. Deal with it. I put it to a nomination process and you never gave me a case why he should knock someone off the list. Jesse Ventura made the list because of my nephews, and Stallone made the list because I watched those movies 400 times in my formative years.
You can't vote for Patton because I didn't add the guy from Band of Brothers (a series I loved by the way, but not a FILM)????
Grow up.
I can't post EVERYTHING! Even 11 are too many.
Mel Gibson- Gallipoli, is the best protrayal
ReplyDeleteWow, a little cranky this morning, Iceman?
ReplyDeleteJust letting you know who I WOULD vote for. Sorry I didn't notice the nomination process.
Of the ones available, I have to say Braveheart, now that I think about it.
ReplyDeleteTangoJuliette sez:
ReplyDeleteTo clarify: I come in peace. My question-mark filled post was not intended as any sort of rebuke, nor any kind of second guessing of your site.
Having served in the early sixties, knowing what I learned then, I found that your great selections were impossible for me to make just one choice. Please be assured that My list was nothing other than situations that stick out in my mind as still more items I cannot pare down to one selection.
My Depot Training, with 2BN Queen's Own Rifles, had many instructors who were no more than kids themselves when they hit the beaches at Normandy.
I look foreward to the ultimate "reveal" of the choices made, by people who are still blessed with decision making abilities.
I'll just keep trying to reduce the number of my "senior moments" which seem to crop up with alarmingly ever-growing frequency.
There was, however, a time . . .when . .
tj
t.e.&o.e.
Don't hassle the Hoff! I was just a trifle miffed that you were making a public boycott of my best actor poll on my message board. No harm, no foul. Remember Rambo II? I had to include Stallone.
ReplyDeleteJude Law could not be nominated because he was a Russian soldier with a British accent. That ruined the whole movie for me.
ReplyDeleteIceman... do you happen to be a sixteen year old girl living in Britain? Cause that's the only other person to say that to me, lol!
ReplyDelete"Don't hassle the Hoff!"
That's it, I'm adding that to my subtitle.