Act of Valor

My hubby is a man who loves to go to the movies. I'm not exactly sure why he likes it so much, but he does. He will often ask me if I want to go with him. Unless it's a movie I really want to see, I tend to feel like it's wasted money and I tell him "no." The look of disappointment on his face always makes me feel bad. This weekend, he tried a new tactic. "Want to go get popcorn with me?" he asked. This time I just couldn't turn him down.

We went to see "Act of Valor." It's a movie that incorporates real Navy Seals doing the type of work they do, but fictionalized to protect national security. There are actors in the movie, but real Navy Seals (identified only by first names) play the roles of the Navy Seals.

Part of my interest in this movie was because one of my brothers is in the Air Force. When he was deployed to Afghanistan for six months, I spent every day wondering how he was doing. He kept us as updated as he could and I learned that the view from inside the military efforts was wildly different from what we hear in media reports.

I underestimated the emotional impact of this movie. Maybe it was just because of my connection to the military. Still, I heard a lot of sniffles around the end of the movie and it wasn't just the ladies getting emotional.  For those who like to sit back in their comfortable living rooms and protest "the war," claiming that our military shouldn't be overseas, GO SEE THIS MOVIE! Remember that our soldiers are actual people trying to do their jobs and protect our country. The motives and goals are much more complicated than protests that claim the fight is for oil.

One of the things I really enjoyed about "Act of Valor" was how the Seals talked. I get tired of over-the-top acting and rally speeches people shouldn't have time for when they're under fire. The way the Seals talked reminded me of how my brother talks when he describes stuff in his military jargon. Information is shared; instructions are given. No cries of "Kill them all!" and no speeches that remind you of a political candidate.  I'm glad I didn't check out the movie reviews before I went. They all criticize the acting as "flat." I guess after being exposed to "Rambo" movies and the constant overacting and exaggeration of reality television, watching soldiers skilfully do their jobs probably seems lackluster.

Watching "Act of Valor" may be our only chance to see the reality of being a Navy Seal. I don't know how my sister-in-law copes with being a military wife, letting her husband go and hoping he will return in six months. She's as much of a hero as my brother is. I remember how my brother once explained that his wife thinks of him as her "Air Force Ken doll," looking good in a uniform but not doing anything dangerous. I couldn't resist that comment and I managed to find an actual Air Force Ken to give her.  When a friend's son deployed to the most dangerous area of Afghanistan a year ago, I saw the anguish he went through. In the first two weeks in Afghanistan, his military unit had a dozen deaths and many injuries. They were unable to communicate regularly with their families, making the worry even more intense.

I share this because I see people protesting and using catchy slogans without having any personal connection. Until you have experience with the military, I don't think you can fully appreciate what they go through. War/combat is ugly and mistakes do happen. It has always been that way, but modern times have brought us more instant news coverage. We have to remember that the soldiers themselves are doing the best they can with the instructions they're given and the knowledge available at the moment. I am eternally grateful for the many sacrifices they're making on my behalf.