I don’t care what flag you’re waving

War movies impact me a lot more now. It’s weird I know, and a pretty stupid sentence on top of that to be sure. I remember when America went to war after 911 (don’t worry, this isn’t a political post). A boss, and friend of mine asked me: “what did you do last night?” I responded: “I caught a movie with my girlfriend. What did you do?” He told me: “I watched war on TV.” I knew what he was talking about. I remembered coming home that night and watching the news to help me fall asleep… it was coverage of the war in Iraq. Baghdad was in flames after a major air strike. It was super distant from me and my life at the time. I thought about it some, but it hit me a little emotionally and that was it. Fast forward. I move to Burundi, and now down the street, there’s AK 47’s firing round after round. You feel a bit nervy, nothing crazy. But I wonder, somebody has a gun aimed at them, bullets are fired, people are getting killed… right down the street. It hits passed my emotions… passed logos… it hits the core of being human, and afraid, and living in complete fear… Not me, Burundians who live near me. I’m alive. Nobody is gunning me down. If I get killed it’s because I’m in the wrong place at the wrong time. I’m not an innocent by standard, and I've never been innocent. I just happened to be the guy down the street, who wasn’t getting gunned down. Cliché, maybe… true, definitely. More to it? I’m sure there is. I’ve been to four official refugee camps. Three of the of the four camps where Refugees from Congo, and one housed refugees from Burundi, in Tanzania 10 milles over the border... Mind blowing… Tragic… seemingly hopeless. I saw them in movies first (refugees)... Distant, almost fake, completely intangible… Now, living and active, crying, begging, disease infested, starving, unwanted, unwashed, in your face real asking you to save their lives, and the lives of their children (50 or more at a time). Dying right in front of you… I got money in my pocket as I shake their hands, talk with them, video them… hurt because I see their hurting. Angry at so many things… powerless. Part of me thinks everybody (especially if you have a biblical world view) should visit a refugee camp, and spend some time serving there. Realistic? No. Movies amaze me, I think that’s why I love making them, or trying to make them. They evoke emotions you didn’t know you had, and show you things that you’ll likely never experience. They show you the life that you wish you lived. The dreams you gave up when you graduated college. The dreams you had as a kid play out on the “silver screen” with actresses, and actors that are way better looking than you’ll ever be. “Children of Men” is one of those unbelievably well made movies. I can’t figure out how they shot most of that movie. Mind blowing film making... Great script... And… and!!! Michael Caine… come on! I actually watched the movie three times. It was “one of those movies” for me. It’s in my top five. I had to bump out one of my favorites. I’m still mad about it. Ever since I met Mark Lundeen, I’ve been into war movies. I used to hate them. Now, everything has changed.