Valkyrie with Tom Cruise and blind loyalty

[kev]

My wife and I went to go see valkyrie with tom cruise this past saturday. I thought the movie was pretty good. In my opinion, more political movies of our history need to be made.

Saturday afternoon I was putting some thought into the movie and doing some comparisons. There is a lot of differences between the USA of today and Nazi Germany, but one thing is the same - blind loyalty.

In the movie Valkyrie, it was clear that the people had a blind loyalty to the Nazi government. In todays political system, its still the same. You have people that will only vote democratic or republican - no matter what happens, those people are loyal to that party.

Just as blind loyalty resulted in the destruction of Germany and the Nazi party, so will that same loyalty destroy the USA.

If you want real change, the two major parties have to be removed from office. The only way to do that is to vote for another political party.

[Duncan]

I've heard good reviews of that movie, been considering it myself whenever it hits the theaters here.

But like all powerful nations, they will eventually fall if history does indeed repeat itself.

[Vergeltung]

Did they make any mention of the fact that Von Staufenberg was a Catholic? just wondering...

[Swamp Shuck]

Originally Posted by Vergeltung

Did they make any mention of the fact that Von Staufenberg was a Catholic? just wondering...

He was shown in church, his cross was shown often and while it wasn't in your face, he was visually shown to be Catholic.

blt

[Swamp Shuck]

I went with friends to see the movie on Sunday. I liked it. It showed not only free thinking brave people, it also showed where they made their mistakes. Like, he should have checked to make certain the meeting was going to be held in the bunker. They should have made certain Hitler was dead before they went on with the rest of the plan. There had to be that moment when he broke the vials in the first bomb and he looked over to see the second bomb gone that the panic began to set in. When he found out the meeting wasn't in the bunker, that would have scared me all the more, knowing that there was no going back but that there was a good chance the mission wouldn't succeed.

It was a good movie and even more so when you think that these people did all of this knowing that if they were caught, they would be put to death. Looking at every new face, wondering if this was a Nazi spy. Willing to put not only their life but their reputation on the line because they were commiting treason. These weren't angels bent on saving the world from Hitler, they only wanted to save what was left of Germany and it's reputation.

I have read many of the trials of the different people who helped in Hitler's mad plan. Many of them were sadists but others were just people who got caught up in the fervor of the Nazi's. It always frighten me that people could be so easily led not to just do nothing but to actively participate in so much torture and killing for power. It was refreshing to know that even in the midst of all that hate, there were people who stood up for what was right.

It reminds me of the fall of the Soviet Union, how normal people stood up to the lies of their government and changed the world.

YOU DID NOT BEAR THE SHAME
YOU RESISTED
SACRIFICING YOUR LIFE
FOR FREEDOM, JUSTICE, AND HONOR

- FROM THE GERMAN RESISTANCE MEMORIAL, BERLIN

[Vergeltung]

Originally Posted by Swamp Shuck

He was shown in church, his cross was shown often and while it wasn't in your face, he was visually shown to be Catholic.

blt

that's cool. from what I know it was a big part in his life, and I was hoping hollywood would acknowledge at least a bit of it. sounds like they did.

[cadethepagan]

One thing about Nazi Germany I profess is that I do not blame the people. Yes they were misled, lied to and all. They were starving for change and they got it. When one nutjob gets power he appoints more nutjobs around him. German Generals and military officers were very respectable and honorable men. It's the strange offices and powers created by the Nazi party that put crazy evil men above those honorable.

So when you look at the problems today. Understand that the people that voted for the idiots in office were "misled" they don't understand what is going on. They want something better and cannot think very far out of the box. It is all deserving that they suffer like the rest of us to the problems ahead. But do not outright blame them. We are in this together and when it comes down to the nuts and bolts we need to work together to keep this ship aflout even if there are people wasting their effort on the wrong decisions.

It's our job to enlighten people. The Propaganda machine is strong and will take great effort to defeat.


-Cade

[Georgian]

I saw it not too long after it came out, and I too thought it was portrayed extremely well. Its different when soldiers don't want to fight for you, but when members of your own command begin to question their leader, something is wrong. I hope things turn up for the U.S. in the upcoming months. I hope Mr. Obama will step up and really make things better, as he proposes to do. Although extremely optomistic, I doubt it will happen. I just hope that if something goes wrong in the upcoming months, that we all have the strength, will, and fortitude to anty up, and give 'em hell.

[Wright B. Hindya]

Stauffenberg was a national socialist to the end. In his farewell letter to his family he states that he wants to kill Hitler for treason to Germany and the national socialist idea.
What is served in the movie is a myth based on the need for a "german hero" to stand up to the national socialists.

Don't believe me? Well, its all there in the bundesarchive in Berlin.

Too bad he missed though.

[kajunman1]

I've been a registered Republican since 1983. When I get around to it, in the next few weeks that will no longer be true. I will be an independent.

[Vergeltung]

Originally Posted by Wright B. Hindya

Stauffenberg was a national socialist to the end. In his farewell letter to his family he states that he wants to kill Hitler for treason to Germany and the national socialist idea.
What is served in the movie is a myth based on the need for a "german hero" to stand up to the national socialists.
Don't believe me? Well, its all there in the bundesarchive in Berlin.
Too bad he missed though.

oh jeebus that is so off. you learn that on the internetz?

[ROADKING1]

I for one will never go see a Tom Cruise movie, that is one weird mixed up little dude. He must not have his tin foil hat on right or something.

Kev - you are correct sir, we need to remove the two controlling parties that dominate or political system. I have been a hard core, far right voter all of my voting life. After this past election, I went straight to the voter registry office, and change to Libertarian.

[texjen]

Took our two sons to see this. Now that they are older and able to "undrestand" the complexities of films like this. I thought it was very good. I don't know everything there is to know about history and the Nazi party....but in my opinion, Cruise was perfect for this part. This was a huge part of history that never made it to any history books. None that my kids have read anyhow- I was happy to take them to see this movie.

[Wright B. Hindya]

Originally Posted by Vergeltung

oh jeebus that is so off. you learn that on the internetz?

No. From the document itself.
As I said; the letter is available at the bundesarchive in Berlin..

[stonewall222003]

I have seen and watched many things in my short life on this world. From Reagon on up. I was glad to see that hollywood did this movie but for those that said it was resent history, no. WWII movies have always been out there. What I found sad about this movie is like most things I find sad is that. So many children today watch movies like this and in their minds they believe it to be fantasy when they were based on facts. Later, you walk up and tell someone that this indeed did happen they look at you as though you were insane and say no it was just a movie. It just points to the failing education system in the end. Another thing is that if we don't remember the history then we are willing to repeat it in the end. I am a democrat and i have been my entire life. Even before I fully understood what the democratic party stood for. But by no means am I a blind follower. In fact, I believe it is the sworn duty of every American citizen to watch and question every move that their elected official makes. Even, if they themselves did not elect them. In the past people were elected to office because they were believed to be Honorable and decent people. The cream of the crop so to speak. Those that best showed what we as a people wanted. But in todays political environment most of those elected to office are only there because they could raise more money and get their name out there more or could come up with more dirt on the other person. It is sad that we as Americans have come to the point in history when we elect not because of their ideas but because of who puts on a better show. I am, what most would call, a backwoods redneck. I live in a rural community filled with mostly farmers and horse traders and people that can track their family tree in this "neck of the woods" as far back as the revolutionary war. And the one thing that we hold true is that no matter how bad things get, we are Americans. And that this country is our country and it is our sworn duty to protect it from "ALL" enemies. Even if that enemies is the dishonorable people in office themselves. This is the reason i have hope in our current President. He was elected to office and has many good ideas. Most of his ideas are so different that they shake the very foundation for which our current government is standing on. I don't think that changing political parties is the answer. In fact I think reaching down deep within yourself and pulling up what guts u have left and demanding a better government not only for yourself, not just for the world but for our children's children. Is the first and foremost issue. So no matter what party you choice at the polls. A true American doesn't worry about the party "BS" they worry about the important issue. Which is our future. And the future that so many have died for.

God bless America and God bless the world for in the end we are all humans and all must seek the betterment of both ourselves and our way of life.

[Dwind]

c'mon man- make paragraphs