Friday, April 28, 2006

Do not go gentle...

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Dylan Thomas

I was reading a review of the movie "United 93" in the paper this morning. An excellent review. In fact, all of them on this movie have been nothing but praise and accolades. This movie is already stirring up controversy... Is it too soon? Is it wrong to make money off the deaths of others? Should Hollywood be glamourizing this tragedy?

But the truth of the matter is this. Five years ago a tragedy unlike any our nation has ever seen took place. And from the acts of cowardly terrorists, unlikely heroes emerged. People like you and me, taking a plane ride home to see their family, when their worst fears were realized. But the incredible thing is that they did not go gently. They did not submit to their fear. They raged against their foes. They raged against terror. They raged, and they thwarted the plans of their enemy.

The country will not forget that terrible day. But it's been awhile. And those wounds have begun to heal - the scars are not so visible. And perhaps this story will remind us of the good that is in people. That heroes come in all forms. This movie was not created to exploit the situation... and it's obvious because there are no big-name stars attached to the film. They are actors you don't know - so you can truly experience the situation without thinking about the celebrity. Wherever possible (air traffic controllers, military officers, etc), the actual person who experienced the event was used in the film. How amazing. To create a true documentary of what happened. To remind everyone what happened.

There may be those who disagree, but I want to see the movie. I want to feel it. I want to understand it. I don't want to go gentle.

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