Matt Reviews United 93

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Word Is Born proudly presents guest columnist Matt Wood, discussing the controversial new movie, “United 93” and his inspired look at post 9/11 America:

I went to see “United 93” this weekend and walked out of the theater proud, shaken and awakened from my self-induced slumber. Second only to “Passion of the Christ,” this movie was the most powerful piece of film I have ever watched.

The heroism and determination of passengers on that fateful flight showed the awesome nature of the American spirit. They knew that their plane was not going to land and they did everything in their power to protect their own lives as well as their countrymen on the ground. They rushed their attackers with everything they had.

The film does a great job of showing the passengers’ final moments as well as the struggle groups like the FAA and military had in grasping what was taking place in the sky above them and how to respond.

Many people have stated that this film came out too soon. I say it was about time. We have pushed the events of that fateful day to the back recesses of our mind, hoping that time will wash away the painful memories so we can go on with our routine lives.

Folks, we need to wake up. There is a beast out there waiting to hit us when our guard is down. We need to rearm ourselves with the weapons of vigilance and determination. The enemy is hoping to wait us out. They think that we will grow lethargic, and then, when we are not watching, terror will seize us again.

This film reminds people why bastards like bin Laden are so dangerous, and that they are still active. It reminds us that we need to take to fight to them rather then waiting for them to strike us. If we do not want to see our skylines in flames, we need to stay the course and insure that the capabilities of terror organizations are eliminated.

This is also a uniting film. It brings Americans back together under a common cause. After September 11, we were united and ready to punish those who hit us. Justice must be served and carried out no matter how long it takes. This film must be seen by Americans to unite us and remind us why there is a mission to complete. Our fellow citizens who lost their lives on that fateful day will not be forgotten, and those who brought so much pain will not escape the hand of American justice.

Ultimately, this film is about self-sacrifice. These brave men and women sacrificed their own lives for the safety of others. They put everything on the line when their country needed them the most.

As you sit at home, think about how much you would put on the line for your countrymen. Would you be one of the people rushing the cabin, disregarding your own personal safety and future, to insure that others you would never meet could live? Or would you be one sitting back hoping that your passive inaction will pacify your attackers? Let us never sit back. Let us never hope that if we sit here quietly they will just go away. Let us continue to rush that door with every ounce of strength we have to insure that the blessings and freedoms this country offers continue to be a shining light for the entire world to emulate and for us to enjoy.

This film should light a fire in us and reiterate the statement from our president: “Those who brought these towers down will hear all of us soon.” Terrorists, your door better be bolted tight in whatever cave or hole you are hiding in because that pounding you hear, that’s us. We’re coming for you. Let the passengers cry on United 93 be ours: “LET’S ROLL.”

Pulled Over by the PoPo

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Today, my attempt at driving perfection was tainted. In my 7 years of driving, I have never been pulled over -- until today.

On my way to work this morning, I'm approaching I-5 on Lakeway and a motorcycle cop pulls me over. I'm thinking, "Flat tire? Bad tabs?" He comes over and tells me that I didn't yield to a woman and her dog on a median. I say, "She wasn't at a crosswalk. She was in the middle of the highway." He says, "Well, there is an intersection just before that median, so she was at an unmarked crosswalk." I say, "Technically, I had no clue about that." He says he just wanted to notify me and doesn't give me a ticket, probably because he knows that 99 percent of the population couldn't identify unmarked crosswalks, as they are, well, unmarked.

It's a downward spiral from here, folks. Today it's the unmarked crosswalk, tomorrow I'll be running stop signs at 2 a.m. with no lights on. In a month, I'll be transporting cocaine for drug cartels in Columbia. Somebody needs to start planning the intervention. My calendar is open for June.

Where Spanish Fits in the English Language

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There's a silly little debate going on a about a new, Spanish language national anthem called Nuestro Himno (you can click the link to hear it).

At a White House news conference Friday, a reporter asked W. whether he believed the anthem would have the same value in Spanish as it did in English. W. replied:

"No, I don't. I think people who want to be a citizen of this country ought to learn English. And they ought to learn to sing the national anthem in English."

W.'s right on here. The new "Spanthem" shouldn't even be mentioned in the same sentence as "The Star-Spangled Banner." "Nuestro Himno" veers far from the original melody and lyrics and was recorded by several popular Spanish language artists in the same mold as "We Are the World." It would be OK if "Nuestro Himno" was recorded with a "We Are the World" intention. But to call it a national anthem equivalent to the "Star-Spangled Banner?" What a joke.

Suggesting dual national anthems suggests a movement away from assimilation, which is a necessary function of immigrants trying to fully incorporate themselves into American society. Discouraging new Spanish-speaking immigrants from embracing American culture further divides English-speaking and Spanish-speaking populations in the U.S., which is of no benefit to either group.

Further, this new immigrant anthem does not even service other immigrant groups whose first language is neither English or Spanish. Should the U.S. also sport French, Chinese, and Arab language anthems as well? While we're at it, what about several versions of the American flag? -- all to make everyone feel welcome here, of course.

National communication is of the utmost importance. New immigrants should accept English as the language of national communication at the door, just like the generations of immigrants before them.

British music producer Adam Kidron, who wrote "Nuestro Himno," said he did not intend to discourage immigrants from learning English or embracing American culture:

"We instead view `Nuestro Himno' as a song that affords those immigrants that have not yet learned the English language the opportunity to fully understand the character of 'The Star-Spangled Banner,' the American flag and the ideals of freedom that they represent."

OK, Adam. We'll agree to disagree. I think that assisting immigrants with learning English would both help them "understand" the "Star-Spangled Banner" more delibrately and embrace American culture more quickly.

While any form of American patriotism should be encouraged, we should draw the line when American traditions and symbols, like the anthem or flag, are misrepresented. New immigrants should be expected to assimilate to American culture the same way that immigrants have for hundreds of years, without compromising the tradition of this great country, which welcomes them.