I was fourteen in 1970, when four students were killed at Kent State University in a protest over the Vietnam War, and I lived in a community and context where questions about the war were not an issue. So, I never questioned it.
In 1974 when I turned 18, with a #11 draft lottery number, I applied for conscientious objector status, not that I opposed in any way the then winding down war, but because I had a misunderstanding of the biblical teaching on conflict and war.
The Vietnam War was never more for me than scattered images on a television screen interrupting my carefree high school and early college years. For many others, of course, this war was much more.
So, at the time, the name of Robert McNamara was nothing more than an occasional name heard on the TV news. I did not know him as a major architect of the American presence in that war (as the American Secretary of Defense from 1961-1968). Much that was later by some seen as offensive and immoral in this war has been laid at his feet.
McNamara’s recent death has brought his name back to the forefront of public conversation, and has renewed interest in a movie I think I’d like to see.
Errol Morris is a documentary film maker. Several years ago, I watched his movie Mr. Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred A. Leuchter, Jr. (not yet available on DVD) about a man who was an expert on execution techniques, served as a consultant to the various state prisons where executions were performed, and was, late in life, recruited to the cause of those who deny that the holocaust ever occurred. Though it sounds like heavy fair, it was a fascinating film.
Morris as well produced a film based upon a series of interviews with Robert McNamara. The film, The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara, received strong critical praise, winning a number of awards, including the Oscar for best documentary feature. Admittedly, the film elite will be favorable to anything remotely critical of an unpopular war. But having seen Morris’s work before, I’m persuaded that this is not a Michael Moore fantasy. Morris lets people speak for themselves.
I think that given the current debate over the ambiguous nature of war, and the recent death of McNamara, now would be a good time to watch the film. I have it on order, and intend to sit down and watch it sometime in the next two weeks.
I don’t want to do this alone. If you would like to sit with others to watch and discuss (civilly!) this movie, let me know! If there is interest, I’ll arrange a time when we can do this together.
And if you have seen the movie already, post your comments below. I’m interested.