Quote:
Originally Posted by FurnaceFace
I appreciated two things the most: they didn't build the guys up to being supermen, because they didn't have to. By using the real accounts of what happened the soldiers they followed seemed easier to connect with while at the same time their bravery, determination and sheer will came through. Whenever I see things like this I wonder if faced with such a situation I'd be able to react even half as well.
The other thing I appreciate is the veterans who were willing to be interviewed and recount those dark days. It can't be easy openly discussing what they saw and what they went through. As at least one of them said "I can close my eyes and see it all" and another one said something like "my wife says I talk [about the war] in my sleep every night." For something to leave such an indelible mark after 65 years is sobering. With more WWII vets disappearing every year I think shows like this are extremely important so we can get their story recorded so we don't lose it.
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They for the most part, were farm boys, and factory workers and high school dropouts. They weren't towers of muscle and anger. They were ordinary kids that under great pressure did extraordinary things, and a lot of the time these were things that weren't done for their country, but were done for their brothers and friends.
The one thing about Canadian's that we don't realize but other countries do is that we are slow to anger and react, but when we do it is with passion, and determination. They rely and respond to one of the best training programs in the world, but the raw material is always there.
Put a Canucks back in the corner, and you will get a Canuck that will desparately fight out of that corner.
But our soldiers have a generous humanitarian streak that you don't see in other armed forces in the world. The first thing that we learn is that our job is not really to project Canadian power, but to fight for the weak who can't fight and protect the innocent thats why we've made good peacekeepers in bad situations, thats why you don't read about Canadian Troops involved in slaughters. Thats why nearly every soldier that I've talked to thats gone to or is going to Afghanistan feels like some good is coming out of it and we get so many that return countless times.