” In less than an hour, aircraft from here will join others from around the world, and you will be launching the largest aerial battle in the history of mankind. Mankind. That word should have new meaning for all of us today. We can’t be consumed by our petty differences anymore. We will be united in our common interests. Perhaps it’s fate that today is the Fourth of July, and you will once again be fighting for our freedom. Not from tyranny, oppression, or persecution… but from annihilation. We’re fighting for our right to live. To exist. And should we win the day, the Fourth of July will no longer be known as an American holiday, but as the day when the world declared in one voice: We will not go quietly into the night! We will not vanish without a fight! We’re going to live on! We’re going to survive! Today we celebrate our Independence Day!”

-kristal xoxo <3

I will take issue to you comments. As you are aware, the arts are very subjective. I believe a critic job is to pick apart a movie – even good ones. After all look at the sloppy piece of work which won the Oscar over “Invictus.” A story about a drunken cowboy singer. Oh, how original. Oh, how trite. You were so much looking for every detail, you missed the magic and message of the picture. As we were constantly reminded in my trade, “Don’t let your message get lost in the method.”

In simplicity, whether an American pop music was used as the helecopter landed is totally irrelevant. The movie’s message: One man’s suffering because of standards, we do not understand in America, which is totally different that South African Standards. And because you attended the Monash University, does not necessarily make you an expert in South African problems. As far as I know, you could be very bigoted.

Nelson Mandella was imprisoned for 30 years, yet came out, a forgiving man. He tried hard to pass that trait on, not by legislation, as Americans do; but by the simplist of means. Uniting a people, Black and White in a common cause of Sports.

It was not his fault if many of the citizenry were like your mindset, and continued to blame each other’s ancestors’ for the ills of years ago, and held on to hatred. That had nothing to do with Clint Eastwood’s reason for the film. Did it ever cross your mind that Clint did not pick out the music “Colorblind?” And even if he did, we need that message in todays’ world.

Colorbindedness is not just pigment in the skin; but has to do with inward belief systems, who a person is.

Think, or ‘over thinking and over analyzing’ is what is causing issues and killing in the Middle-East. Over 4.5 thousand of years of hatred. When will it stop. Films as “The Kingdom,” an excellent one; but I am sure you will find offensive, was meant to educate and show why the conflict exists. Both people on each side of the issue love their families and want the best for them. Both love their countries. Some are trying to change the hatred, while others are building a bonfire. The terrorists are not more Islamic than the KKK are Christian. I have lived there and have close friends in Syria, Iraq, Iran, Ba-rain, Egypt, Lebanon, and Israel. I do not pretend to understand the problems. But I know them better than you do. You may be from South Africa, and yet are still critical for a story and culture you should know something about.