Three Minute National Guard Movie Theater Ad Is Too Much!
Remember a time when there weren't ads before movies? It used to be that people were excited just for the previews and previews were all you got. Times were simpler then. People actually showed up early to see previews because previews were considered a perk of going to the theater. After paying $10 per seat and the same for refreshments, most people expect a certain level of comfort and service for their money. The TV-style ads have been annoying to say the least but recently I hit a new limit.
At first you may say to yourself, "So What? Deal with it." Ok, let's put this to the test. Imagine watching this whole video on the big screen every time you go to a movie. Can you stand to sit and watch the whole thing on Youtube right now? I'm sure I sound like I'm whining too much, but It's much worse when you paid good money to watch something you really want and have this forced in front of you with no x to click on to stop it.
Sixty seconds of this would have been plenty. I could put up with that, but as the video goes on and on, you can look around the theater and see wear and tear on everyone's faces. In one of the theaters I was at, people started openly mocking the whole thing and you could hear complaints all around.
Disclaimer: I support freedom. I don't support terrorism. I also don't support needless killing. I think most wars are needless. I also accept that sometimes there is no simple diplomatic resolution and actions must be taken. I'm not an idealist, but I'm not quick to opt for the trigger either. Got it?
It's one thing for the National Guard to buy an ad spot. Every organization should be able to do that, right? My problem is partially with the content and partially the fact that's it's almost four minutes of awful music. Awful is a subjective term, of course. You may love the song. That's fine. I wouldn't like that ad even if it was my favorite song. In fact, it'd probably make my favorite song one of my lease favorites just because of the placement and context.
If any theater executive is reading this, please stop that ad campaign. It makes people not want to go to theaters anymore. I'm fearing the barrage of car, movie ticket and war ads every time I go now. That's just gotta be plain and simple bad business to make your customers sit through that. Charge $10 for a ticket, fine. Charge $9 more for a small bag of popcorn and a soda, fine. Pile war-promoting music videos on top of that? There's my line. Enough already.
Stumble It!
Suck it up or rent dvd's. I'm not a a big fan of ignorant americans that are not "war" supporters, but I let you live here anyway. How in the world did you get to live in such a great country? We fought for it dumbass.
It is not a video glorifying war, but a video showing support for the many women and men who serve our country. Perhaps you should go live in another country if you do not feel that our soldiers deserve all of our support whether we are war supporters or not. You are ignorant and simple minded. Quit going to the movies.
The war debate is well beyond the intended scope here so I'm not going to get into it.
I also never said I didn't support the soldiers. I simply don't like long music videos pushing national guard enrollment at the beginning of films I paid to go see! Is that so difficult? It's more spam IMO.
I realize now why I'm normally careful to leave politics alone.... The flames burn hot and fast!
Yeah, geez, heaven forbid we give 3 minutes of our time to watch a song that commemorates the bravery of our soldiers and national guard. Those men and women that commit years and years of service, and you can't even sit through 3 minutes, or 6 minutes, or 9. That's pathetic.
I loved the ad.. I made me want to go back!!
The person who wrote the negative comments is ignorant and anti-American.
Not only did it show the sacrifices these men and women have made for this country in the time of war(Revolutionary, WW1, WW11,etc.), but it also showed what they have done in the time of emergencies and natural disasters. Get your head of the sand and wake up.
Thank God for those brave men and women who sacrificed so much, so that I could enjoy the freedoms that many people around the world only dream of.
If it wasn't for these wars and soldier fought for us and supported us that we are able to go to these movies and see this. You ought to be thanking them, not complain about it. Its okay to sit a watch tons of movie previews but one that shows support for our troops oh no thats just terrible. You just better thank you lucky stars that they are here supporting your sorry ass.
Yeah, I'm sure glad we're fighting a war in Iraq to protect our right to go to movies. Oh, wait, the two are totally unrelated. I don't think Saddam was trying to burn down any movie theaters or bomb Hollywood.
I agree with Bill that the National Guard has provided a lot of good for the United States, especially in times of emergency, but it's too bad that the war in Iraq has stretched them so thin that they were severely lacking in resources during crises like Katrina.
More importantly, I think a primary problem I have with this is the insane amount of advertising that is now being shown before movies. It seems like these days you have to watch the TV previews ("First Look" I think AMC calls it) followed by standard commercials, followed by movie previews. The movie doesn't even start until almost 20 minutes after the published time.
I'm w/ jazz. if Soldiers(me being one of them) can even go through tough training for u to be able to have the liberty to go to the movies whenever u want then you can sit through a music vidio. I happen to love it. National guard is currently the largest branch in the military and on top of that 4 Doors Down wanted to do the music video because they support the troops. Yea i don't think anyone likes the war and I know it's not fair that innocent people have to die but you know what? If this country wasn't so great we wouldn't have so many people leaving everything in their countries to come over here.
I'm in the Texas Army National Guard and it's the best decision i've ever made. I love every minute of it and if one day i get called up to go fish your ass out of your flooded city i'd get up and go right away whether your ignorant or not and i wouldn't have it any other way. Freedom of speach is great as long as you have something meaningful and useful or helpful to say. In your case all you are doing is whining because you have nothing better to do while your alone.
I think the really funny thing here is that the person who wrote at the top is complaining about advertising for an organization that gives him the right to sit on his ass several nights in a row and waste 6 hours of his life watching movies that probably glorify violence, sex, vulgarity, and vice, and gets offended about a few minutes of remembering the real heroes. It is also rather disturbing that you never wrote this piece until you saw something that was military related, you never took the time to complain about the endless coke ads that you are forced to look at while you are waiting for the movie to start.
And by the way, you can come 10 minutes late to the movie and skip the previews if you want to, nobody chained you to the chair. Even better, come get your seat and then walk out on the part you don't like and take ten minutes to the ads that don't offend you and by you coke. Some people...
Like it or not, war is a part of mankind's history on this earth and always will be because because there is evil in the heart of man. So, you can be an idealist and sit in your computer room and criticize and complain all you want, but somebody died for the freedom that you have to vomit out your ignorance. And any of you that think that the war in the Middle East isn't related to or connected to the rest of our world are living in fantasy land and you should move to Hollywood with the rest of the idiots.
I believe this video was to honor the soldiers. I think if you have a problem with it then you don't deserve to be in this country. We all owe alot to the men and women who are willing to stand and defend this country and if you don't like the various ways that we honor our troops then you can just leave. Another thing, perhaps you should try playing paintball in the woods, where there are two teams and extermination is the rule. then maybe you'll get a VERY small taste of what these people go through. War is hell, but its even worse to not honor the people that are willing to stand and defend us.
MANY THANKS TO ALL OF YOU WHO ARE WILLING TO SERVE,
GOD BLESS YOU AND GOD BLESS AMERICA.
I agree with you wholeheartedly. This National Guard ad is nothing but propaganda and I applaud you for speaking up about it. The jingoists who have been making hateful remarks here need to realize that not all of us view warfare and violence as a solution to the world's problems.
It's obnoxious enough that we have to sit through almost 30 minutes of commercials nowadays when going to the movies, but I resent having this propaganda shoved down my throat, too. I'm a paying customer and I shouldn't have to put up with this garbage. I damn near walked out of a theater today and asked for my money back.
Let the cries of "traitor" begin.......
OK, sure, honoring the soldiers. But I didn't go to the movies because I wanted to honor soldiers. And this wasn't to honor soldiers, it was to recruit people to the military. I recommend protesting by standing and facing the rear of the theatre for anyone who wishes to express protest to the rest of the audience and possibly the projectionist. That is what I did at my college graduation when some Republican was lecturing, until my mom told me to sit down. The meaning this has for me is that my girlfriend is the one who dragged me to the movies. Maybe if I had joined the National Guard then I would have stronger manhood, and would not even get dragged to such movies and their odious previews. But in fact I am now too old to join the National Guard, and my knee is sore, and I simply do not want to waste three minutes or three and a half watching a National Guard ad after I have paid money to sit in the theater. I am not in their target demographic, so I wish they would show the movie to somebody else. Or perhaps their *stated* purpose is to recruit people but their 'shadow' purpose is to spread propaganda about how great the military is and how we should be a kick-ass country of Eagles and destroy the earth by digging up bitumen all over the place, etc. instead of the noble, incorruptable Turkey that Ben Franklin proposed as our Mascot. P. S. the ad was somewhat painful to watch!!!!!
I just think it is ironic that someone wrote 'You are ignorant and simple minded. Quit going to the movies.' Isn't it mostly ignorant and simple minded people who go to the movies for entertainment, instead of reading a book, or writing an essay, or other more productive, creative, intellectual endeavors? If you were recommending I improve myself in that way, then I thank you for it!
The infomusic video felt much longer than 3 minutes.I was so irritated by it. Sometimes watching 5 movie previews can be irritating as well. If I wanted to watch commercials I'd stay home and watch t.v.
The National Guard music video is misleading and targets a definite type. Holding a guitar and holding a gun is like, the same thing? I can just see Bruce Springsteen with a machine gun on stage.
blah blah blah......I ain't watchin commercials at the movie. just home
How dare you mock the sacrifices made by our brave soldiers! I'm praying for your terrorism-loving soul, Mr. Robert Green.
If you had paid attention to the video you would have seen the guard in more than war role. They also showed what it took to win our freedom and free Europe durinng WW2. The last person to want to go to war is a soldier, but folks like enjoy the privledge we give to you without so much as a thank you. Sit down and shut up, or serve your country and earn the right to complain.
Wow, Robert, It's lovely that you have an audience that is so quick to call you names and say you don't support the troops etc. The video in question was straightforward propaganda, supporting a war that was immoral and illegal. It's a shame that these posters have their heads so far up their ass that they don't understand that.
As for the video itself. It was incredibly offensive. The images of 9/11 were over the top (I was in fucking 9/11, so before you say anything, go fuck yourself.) The national guard is a great organization that has been tapped to fight wars it shouldn't be. Support the troops and bring them home. Stop wasting our money on videomercials at the movies.
If the video was about supporting the national guard, I'd be fine with that. It was glorifying war, plain and simple. It showed people looking good throwing grenades. Didn't show the dead people on the other end. WTF.
I share your irritation with this same war ad. I had to sit through this the other day. War is murder.
I think you'll appreciate this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X78CYn_F6b8
Well I can see that there are quite a few different opinions on the subject of adds at the movies. I just returned from supporting the freedom to voice an opinion last month and have served our country for more than 15 years proudly. I wonder if the voices would be so loud against the National Guard add if they, the National Guard, were outside your home protecting your right to speak against them from any opposing force, be it a foreign country, or a wild fire. I am proud to serve our Great Nation in time of Peace or War. I, by nature of my position, am a-political and do not publicly voice any opinion about the currant conflicts in Iraq of Afghanistan but I support my fellow Warriors and the efforts they are putting forth to defend mine and my families freedom to live the way we see fit. Imagine what this country would be like without the support of the military and the disrespect you voice toward 3 min. of you life being effected. It sounds to me like you are just ashamed to call yourself American or maybe you haven't done enough to support the country you call home.
Mr. Green,
The great thing about this country is the right to say what you want to when you want to. Unfortunately, there are just too many people like yourself that use that right in an attempt to get attention. Many of us have to endure three minutes of many things we don't like. Some example of things I don't like are the incessant whining by some Americans about prayor in schools, having to say the Pledge of Allegiance in our schools, having "In God We Trust" on our coins, display of the nativity scene at Christmas. The list goes on and on. Now we can ad Mr. Green's whining about having to endure a three minute patriotic song to the list as well.
I didn't hear you say anything about "Turn off your cell phone during the movie", "get hot popcorn at your concession stand" How about those ads? ,.... Ho Hum.
I agree with all of our supporters above. I happen to love the video because it is a dedication to those of us who serve and fight for this country every day. Whether it be a natural disaster or fighting in the War overseas. You can go to the theatre and put up with a 3 minute dedication music video for those of us that fight for this country. It's not that hard to ask especially if you already have to put up with those stupid coco cola ads or like soomebody said above ( just show up a little later so you don't have to watch the video.)
As a former NCO in the United States Marine Corps I wonder if any of these ass-munches are in the National Guard or ever served in the Military. They look to be healthy and of age. How about not pulling a Dick Chaney and actually serving instead of just profiting off wars.
Unbelieveable... I don't look at my one weekend a month as a waste of my time protecting your movie-watching butt! That's 16 hours a month I could be spending with my kids instead of deploying in places like New Orleans.
You obviously know very little about what the guard does! Maybe after the third time watching it, you will drop the "war" blinders and see what we really do.
My Brother is in Jordan as an Arabic Linguist and A-10 pilot. He has given 13 years of his life to denfend your freedom to write this ungrateful crap.
Senior Airman Kennerson
I think many people missed the point of the article. Yes, I was complaining. It's a first amendment right. Thank you for protecting it, those of you who do.
First off, I think the National Guard provides a fantastic service. I really appreciate them and any of you who have served for them.
Second, I do have problems with certain wars the US has been involved in. That does not mean I don't appreciate efforts and risks that servicemen have put forth. It's a political issue. That is all.
Understand this: If this was a four-minute long ad for Exxon with some music video I consider awful, I would have written the exact same article. I'm not back-peddling here, either. I will stand by my statement that the whole concept of a 4 minute long music video which represents war is just plain inappropriate in movie theaters.
Can I add that it was shown at the beginning of the film Southland Tales, which is a predominately anti-war or at least anti-bush movie? I found that ironic.
Look, you guys are great. Seriously. I just don't want to see that music video ever again. Ok?
for war against war i dont care I do not need to see this with my 5 and 9 year old prior to the chipmunks movie, thats all i have to say.
Propaganda Indeed. The ad which I also am tired of seeing is clearly a recruiting tool. It's not honoring anybody. It also fails to show the darker side of war. You don't see anybody actually die in the ad and you certainly don't see any of the horrific injuries like those coming home from Iraq. Tonight you could clearly see the majority of the movie goers in the theatre I was in were offended by the glorification of war by the video. There's a subtle message in the video and that is if you're a citizen it's your honorable duty to serve. That's the underlying deceptive theme of this video.
First off to all of you that say you support us but bitch about having to whatch a video....u do not support us, but hey thats ur right. As for those of you that feel the National Guard wasted 3 minutes of your preciuos lifes by showing that video, then ponder this, you and your wife are getting ready to leave for you wedding annivrsary, airline tickets/hotel reservations are bought and paid for. You live 2000 miles from New Orleans, so you think to yourself those poor people but your thankful that you live so far away they wont call you up. WRONG, 11pm the call comes in to report at 7am and be ready to deploy, your kids wake up and see daddy in his uniform, you have to explain to them whats going on and say goodbye and you dont know how long your going to be gone. Your civilian employer doesnt now why you didnt show up to work until you get that chance at 10am to call and say hey I am going to new orleans. Your wife has to fight with airlines/resorts so you dont lose money because airlines/resorts dont consider natural disasters as a valid reason to reshedule unless the disaster happened at your final destination. That is the life a National guard soldier and their spouse live, we do it because we love it, our families support us even when we cant be there for them because we have to help YOU. We dont ask for thanks from anyone, we treat you with respect as we accomplish our mission..why? Becasue thats our job. We dont ask for much and rather you care about the above rant or not just remember if you want to protest and turn and face the back of the theater, go ahead...WE will still be there to put the fire out at your doorstep, pull you out of a snow storm, search for you when your city or town has been leveled by a natural disaster, and yes fight this countries enemies on their land instead of our own. So next time that video comes on think about the sacrifices ANY member of YOUR armed forces makes so you can live the life where u can go to a movie, speak your mind and for the most part bad mouth everything this country stands for.
It is the brave people who volunteer in our United States Military who give us/ you the freedom to sit on you fat ass and watch a movie. These people give their lives for you and you can't give them 3 minutes, ashameon on you.
The ad is a completely irresponsible
glorification of war. Jennie put it well:
"I agree with you wholeheartedly. This National Guard ad is nothing but propaganda and I applaud you for speaking up about it. The jingoists who have been making hateful remarks here need to realize that not all of us view warfare and violence as a solution to the world's problems."
The glorification of young testosteroned kicking-ass actors in the ad is an insult to the professional soldiers who serve in the National Guard and other services. Let the young actors go spill some blood and guts and murder some women and children in Blackwater. Our soldiers wouldn't kill 400,000 innocent people in Iraq, would they?
Preach on. I hate this ad more than anything I've seen in a long time.
Nothing against the Guard...my dad was in it, but this video is way off the mark. The Katrina bit (all 2 seconds of it is the only part that seems positive).
And the music is garbage!
This was the coolest music video I have EVER seen. EVERY SINGLE AMERICAN should have to see this video every single time they watch a movie.
It's about time Americans learn to appreciate exactly all of the sacrifices that have been made for them every single day throughout our history.
Yo, Its your responsibility that you risk going to the movies, so don't whine about something on the moviescreen. you can just not go to the movies.
Damn i love this song
if people had any patriotism left in them thed appriacite the sacrifices of our young men and woman 3.5 minites in a theatre is fine if you dont like it walk out noone tying you down and making you watch it
that song riles my blood and makes me glad there are those out there who have courage and honor to defend not only our land but others who seek our aid
show some respect or shut up
anyone have a download link for the vid
Don't like wars eh? No one does! But hmmm, if we hadn't gone to war against England, we wouldn't be the United States now would we? If we hadn't stormed Normandy we'd have a different world than you enjoy now. Others have shed their blood and lives so fools can whine and cling to idealistic "let's all just get along" notions. That's not the real world. Would you have fought with the resistance in France? Pope John Paul did and he was a man of peace but he understood that you have to sometimes fight for peace. We have someone near and dear going off for a second round of duty in Iraq in a few weeks. He is an ordinary man, a father, a husband, and he's middleaged--not the kind of soldier that used to fight a war. May God bless him and bring him home safe. Remember these are the people fighting to keep our country safe the next time you whine like a spoiled brat about wasting 3 minutes of your time watching a video honoring our citizen soldiers! I know you have the right to say what you think but you don't always have to say it.
I have rarely, if ever, have been moved to write a letter for or against something. But, this past weekend, I happened to go to an AMC theatre and saw Citizen Soldier. I just wrote to the head of AMC and copied one of my U.S. Senators and the advertising firm that made the piece.
Without getting into politics -- and there have been many meaningful and eloquent points made for and against this piece -- let's move ourselves to action and make our voice heard. As such, I've included the name and address for the Chairman of AMC, the link to find your U.S. Senator and the address for the head of the advertising firm that produced the spot.
Whether the subject, quality or volume affected you or, if as a consumer, you felt cheated or thrilled, we can and should stand up for how we feel and have our consumer dollar mean something.
Mr. Peter C. Brown
Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President
AMC Entertainment Inc.
920 Main Street
Kansas City, MO 64105
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
Doug Laughlin
President, LM&O Advertising, Inc.
2000 North 14th Street
Suite 800
Arlington, VA 22201
You know, for those that give 3 minutes of your life watching a video that represents what a lot of us do for patriotism or living, I want to thank you for doing that, is it hard to be a soldier and not be able to do things with your family on special ocassions or holidays of course those that complain dont know that, because either one of you knows the sacrifice this involves, 3 minutes of your life watching a video means a lot to us, for the men and women who have to be away from friends, family and what you people are complain the movie theather, we are gone for more than a yr watching old movies on dvd and thats if we have time, and you dont see us complaining, we are fighting for all of you to have the right to go to the movies to begin with. Maybe one day when all you grow and realize that life is not easy as weaking up and do what you want and have some responsabilities and pride in what you do you will put yourselves in our boots, and realize that good or bad we are keeping our head up for this country and the citizens in it, and whenever you walk on the street people recognized you and thank you for you hard work thats the motivation that keep us going, not the complaining for ungreatfull people that thinks their freedom is free.
your an idiot, even if you don't support the war, wait no, ESPECIALLY because you don't support the war you must at least support the people who serve in it. I don't support the war but that does not mean i don't want to help our country
the big thing your forgetting here is that we need those commercials to not miss the movie, imagine if there were no commercials at all and the movie started right on time, the only difference would be that if you got there early you would be staring at a black screen instead of watching colorful and sometimes humorous ads, also they are sort of a warning bell. If your late but on your way to the theaters a friend can call and say "hurry up man, the movies about to start." Finally, i am sure everyone has been late the the theaters at least once if not dozens of times, the commercials are what save us, they give us that extra 5-10 minutes that we need on the occasion to get to the theater, isn't it better to play it safe then ruin the movie by not seeing the beginning portion?
hey Robert Green, you notice how you say the ad is offensive and yet all of the people in the National Guards, the real heroes here(instead of the person complaining about 7 minutes of his time,) are the ones saying this ad supports the troops which is the opposite of offensive. This supports our troops and you should be glad it encourages people to join the National Guard because then your lazy ass wont have to.
Dude, are you serious? Those guys are out there doing what nobody else is willing to do and you're complaining about 3 1/2 minutes of your life. How about you stand the fuck up next time and clap your hands when you see it because if it wasn't for our military...every branch you might not be living in this country or have the option to even watch a fucking movie and if you did, it probably wouldn't be in English. So if you have a problem with the support they're giving us, how about you move out the damn country. How about you relocate to Iraq or Afghanistan, fuck it, anywhere in the Middle East, wouldn't do it, would you? Dumb ass. Sometimes I wish they would bring the draft back. I'm speaking as a former infantry Marine veteran, who served two tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. I don't even know why I bother, I've had this conversation so many times and it really does hurt me that a lot of Americans think that way. And the ones that don't, I appreciated every moment you guys stood behind us and now that I'm out of the Marine Corps, I hope you guys are still out there supporting our heroes who are still overseas putting their lives in jeopardy for the freedoms we take for granted.
Alright. Just so you know. I'm an Army Soldier who is currently serving in Afghanistan. I'm a Medic and damn proud of it!!!!! I want to tell all of you who think that the only thing that happens everyday is fighting. I've been over here for almost a year and I have only been in about 8 conflicts while I've been here. All of the times that we were attacked, we were either going to or returning from an area to provide medical treatment, clothes, and food to the public. We are over her protecting the basic human rights for the people of this country. Every person has the right to be able to live their life with out fear of being killed for doing the wrong thing, once. That's what these people over here. We are cleaning up a mess that the Soviets left behind. For instance, on March 15 2008 a young boy was brought to my facility after he was a victim of a land mine that had been placed there 2 decades ago. If it were not for the mere fact that we were around, that little boy would have survived the explosion. I've saved countless lives of the Afghan people due to incidents that we, as Americans, did not cause.
For those of you that have blinders on about the video. Actually just sit there and listen to the words of the song. It says, "Whenever you need me, I'll be right here." That is the truth! I've been in the National Guard for 4 years. I picked up and left everything behind to help at the disaster of Katrina, and if I was old enough at the time, I would've stepped up and offered my services for when the towers fell. The video does not glorify war, instead it shows the trials that our fathers, grandfather, and our founding fathers had to endure. Everything that was depicted in the movie was showing a few of the things that we do in military. For those of you who have never served, you can never understand, the meaning of the words "Brothers and Sisters" when they are not your blood relatives.
We as soldiers do not like War, but it is necessary to insure that freedom or the right to live is not only an American Dream. I moved from Indiana to South Carolina, after I graduated from my second military school, to become a medic. I was told that they were short on male medics and that they were going to Afghanistan. I didn't hesitate to sign my name. I knew deep down, that I would save a life. And I have on several occasions. It is the best feeling ever!!!!
Then I read some jerkoff's opinion about my "Brothers and Sisters" and our legacy of the National Guard. Just like the song says, "Pray you never need me, but if you do. I will not fail you."
You're right when you say that it is for a certain type of person. That person has the courage to stand up for what he/she believes in. That person loves their country so much that they will do whatever it takes to protect it and the people who live in it. That is the type of person that I want standing beside and behind me. That person does not care about glory or money. I didn't sign up for the money, I signed up so that I could be a part of a great organization and that I might be able to get a lot of life experience out of it.
Tell me. Who's life have saved recently, sitting there on your fat ass complaining about every little thing. Do you know that if it wasn't a 3 and 1/2 minutes music video then it would've been a preview. You still would've been sitting there for those 3 and 1/2 minutes.
Oh and for those of you who said that the movie didn't show what happened after the guy threw the grenade, wouldn't you have just complained about that too?
WHY DON'T YOU ALL THINK BEFORE YOU TYPE OR TALK!!!!!!!!!!! This is a person who has earned his right to call himself an American!
Boys,
I think you're misunderstanding what Robert is saying. He's not talking about REAL soldiers, just the national guard.
Think, people, think.
Anyone who enjoyed the video is a douche bag.
What is wrong with recognizing those who serve. What is wrong with you? It was nice to see a rock band (Three Doors Down) that recognized those who serve are good people.
This is exactly why I arrive at the movie theatre 10 minutes late. I miss the commercials. I agree with Robert on the commercial thing. If we pay good money to see a movie, we should not have to endure the commercials.
Thank you! I was disgusted by the theater video! I have a thirteen year old daughter, who started to sing along to this brainwashing! Luckily, she is smart, and rolled her eyes at me and said, "Don't worry, Mom. I'm not signing up." The concern is not about recognizing those who "serve our country", but about a history of recruitment tactics that minimizes the horrors of war, and glorifies it to our youth.
I agree with you only in the sense that no commercial should be shoved down our throat. However, you see it in DVD rentals and most of them will not allow you to fast foward through them. You're stuck watching previews. War is not glorious by any stretch of the imagination, but our troops are. They're keeping you and your family safe. The National Guard has taken on a role of more than just homeland defense, and also are there when your house floods or rescues you from a rooftop when there's no one else around. We continously are called to depress forest fires .... I hope you get the point. The US National Guard deserves the praise of all our citizens. By the way, it's real simple to go get some popcorn during the commercials and previews. Proud to be part of the oldest military organization in the nation!
Jerry
I hated the video just as much as you did; it's trashy propaganda that sucks in the unintelligent (as you can tell from the comments after your essay). The next time it comes on I will certainly stand up and turn my back to the screen. This crap glorifying killing and random death isn't something I want to watch and it isn't something I want my son watching.