“We Were Soldiers is a fine movie but too much realism for a 8th grade class.”
Disagree. These kids are only four years away from joining the military. We coddle our children too damn much as it is, might as well give them some reality to think about instead of sex-ed, diversity training, or basket weaving.
I think more schools should offer hunting classes.
My son, 16, for whatever reason is an excellant reader who hates to read, but loves watching the livelink videos of what’s going on in Iraq and Afghanistan. He had planned on joining the Marines, but now has a girlfriend, and is thinking about college. His favorite movie is “Flags of Our Fathers”. Mine are Black Hawk Down, and Gettysburg. None of the movies tell you WHY WE ARE THERE. That you have to learn in class. He did have an excellent history teacher last year. Mothers need to remember that we are very empathetic, and our boys and husbands are not. Men will suffer when their buddies are hurt, but not feel it because of the pain, but because of the love.
My 7th grade son and I watched We were Soldiers together awhile ago - I had taped it off the T.V. so the violence was lessened I’m sure - but enough was still there. I did ask him a few times if it was too rough on him. He said no (of course it was just a movie to him). I told him “Well - it sure is giving your old man some moist eyes...”. Then explained to him how young men are still sacrificing their lives for our freedom, and that while this is “just a movie” - it portrays the reality of war and not the glorified versions on video games.
God bless our troops.
By the way, when I was a kid we watched TORA, TORA, TORA in our World History class!