Truth

To those that have served, some of Col Jessup's lines ring true, but something tells me that would be beyond you.

"Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lieutenant Weinberg? I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago, and you curse the Marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know -- that Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives; and my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives.

You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall -- you need me on that wall.

We use words like "honor," "code," "loyalty." We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punch line.

I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide and then questions the manner in which I provide it.

I would rather that you just said "thank you" and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand the post. Either way, I don't give a DAMN what you think you're entitled to!"

Except I served, and Tom Cruises character was in the middle of serving when Jessop told him that line. Your point is unclear.

OK, allow me to break this down Barney style (if you did serve, you'll get that).

Yes, "Tom Cruises character was in the middle of serving when Jessop told him that line" - but there's a HUGE difference serving as a JAG officer and serving in a rifle company in Gitmo. All service is appreciated, but not all service is equal. If you don't understand that, you probably didn't serve. I was in 22 years. Never heard a shot fired in anger.

You said "Jack Nicholson is the bad guy* in the movie" (AKA the ANTAGONIST, that's an SAT word. You'll thank me for that if you ever take that test and get yourself an education. We'll be using that word later in this conversation.)

My point is that some see Jessup (Nicholson's character) as an antihero. His monologue, pasted above, is a snapshot of how things are in the military. We walk a fine line in what we can and can't do while training. (Obviously ordering a code red has been verboten in the last 50 years and I'm on record as not in favor of that.) But, the more restrictions that our civilian elected woke leadership place on our military leaders the harder it is for said military leaders to train our sons and daughters for the messy job of 21st century combat.

Some would say that GySgt Hartman was the antagonist (remember that word? It means "bad guy"?) in Kubrick's "Full Metal Jacket". To 99 percent of the Marines that I know, he was the hero. Sure, it sucked that Pyle shot him in the end of the first half of the movie, but who hasn't had that fantasy as a recruit?

Hope that helped. Think hard before you reply. I know it might be a new sensation, but thinking hard actually feels good.

Lolz

I'm guessing that Jack is stating the truth - which is FB bans truth. So he's the good guy. But in the movie - he was the bad guy, because he ordered mountain dew code red.