Watching United 93

I just finished watching United 93 with my daughter. She was fine. No fits. No uncontrollable emotional outbursts. In other words, no trauma like some of the pundits forecasted and hyped.

In fact, she was interested and attentive throughout. Asking questions at times and at the end. It gave me a good opportunity to explain some things, such as the nature of the enemy we are fighting in some parts of the world--most notably, not here on our land--airline safety, and the different forms or versions of Islam: both the peaceful or at least non-threatening Muslims and the extreme Islamists (the fascistic terrorist-minded Muslims who seek the end of the Western Judeo-Christian and secular humanist ways).

As Dennis Prager wrote:

Teenage and older children in particular should see this film. If the younger teens have nightmares, comfort them. But young Americans need to know the nature of whom we are fighting. If they are attending a typical American high school or college, they probably don't know.

That said, you should see the movie and get others to see it too.

A point Dennis made this week is that if large numbers are not seeing this movie, then what message is that sending to the movie industry: not to make movies that highlight or dramatize the struggle, the war, we are in? not to make movies that inspire Americans to greater patriotism? not to make movies that promote and respectfully portray modern-day American heroes?

Is that what you want?

I hope not.

Go see the movie.

If that is not enough, read "All Americans must see 'United 93,'" Dennis Prager's column wherein he calls on all of us to

go and see "United 93," to see why some Americans still take "Home of the brave" seriously; and to see why we have to win this war more than any since World War II. That's how bad our enemy is. You have an unfortunately rare chance to see that enemy at work when you see what happened to everyone who boarded United Airlines Flight 93 that left Newark on September 11, 2001.

Then go and read this collection of excerpts of essays/articles/posts on the film: "Flight 93: Remembering Heroes."