Results tagged “iraqwar”

I'll be honest. I normally have a little trouble with war movies. When I say trouble, it's not some big moralistic debate, it's more like a bizarre phenomena in my brain that causes me to nod off whenever the subject is depicted on screen. It took me five tries to get through Braveheart without falling asleep and I don't think I've ever successfully seen Saving Private Ryan all in one sitting. Unless Jake Gyllenhaal is taking his shirt off (thank you, Jarhead), I simply have a hard time paying attention to films with bombs and guns. Well, at least when the bombs and guns are in the hands of actual soldiers. When they're in the hands of Bruce Willis as John McClane, I'm totally on board.

We’ve talked before here about personal connections to the Iraq War, but frankly, for me personally: I had none. I don’t agree with it, I’ve stomped my feet about it plenty of times, written my senators and signed some petitions. But it was all very abstract. Despite deep reservations about the military I am staunchly pro-soldier, for many reasons; perhaps the most important and obvious is they are fighting, putting themselves in danger, so I don’t have to do so myself. The ideals that remain so abstract to me most of the time are very real to them, and they appreciate more than I the cost of things like freedom and liberty and all that patriotic jazz being spouted loudly around this holiday time.

Editor's note: updated with Thom Cardwell's corrected title.

In recent weeks, the slumping American economy in the fallout of the sub-prime lending crisis has usurped the role of the war in Iraq as the hot issue in our national discourse. What short memories we have. Well, here’s an update:

What's new and/or interesting in Philly theaters this weekend. Finishing the Game - We posted the preview for this one a ways back. It's a mockumentary about director Robert Clouse's attempt to finish the film Game of Death after the untimely death of its star, Bruce Lee. In Finishing the Game, Clouse starts a frantic search for an impersonator to replace Lee, and much wackiness and Hollywood satire ensue. Sounds like fun, but keep in...

What's new and/or interesting on TV this week.

Performances: A Twilight Performance of Spoon River Anthology (The Late Laureates of Laurel Hill ) (No Future Showtimes.)

Happy first weekend of September - and happy Labor Day weekend, too, for our American cities! Let's take a look at what's been happening around the Ist-a-verse.

What's new and/or interesting on TV this week.

What's new and/or interesting on TV this week.

NBC News tells the truth about the Iraq violence

There is a Congressman who has gained no small notoriety in the past year. The NRA has given his voting record an A+, NARAL an F. The left-leaning Committee for Reform and Ethics in Washington called him “one of the most unethical members in Congress.” Perhaps that’s why he raised more money from lobbyists than almost any other candidate for the House of Representatives; why he consistently opposes lobbying reform and disclosure requirements; why he...

What's new and/or interesting in Philly theaters this weekend.

If you'll be around Ridge Avenue or Kelly Drive today, look sharp. Danny Lasko, a former Marine corporal who hails from near Easton, will be cycling in the area as part of the Soldier Ride National Tour. Lasko lost part of his left leg during a grenade attack in Afghanistan in April 2004. The Tour began in Los Angeles on May 21 and will end July 19 in Montauk.