Four Feathers

If people in the US were to have a mind to come to "common ground" on the war in Iraq (which we're not, especially coming into elections), they might do no better than to read the classic Four Feathers and / or see the latest version on DVD.

For those so inclined, they can examine a real imperialist power, the British empire of the late 19th century, getting involved in a messy war in the Sudan (which of course may be the next country in play for US involvement, albeit we might even get UN support for it), with plenty of mistakes in strategy and misunderstanding the Islamic population.

But it also examines the nature of loyalty and courage. Whatever the justification for the Sudanese war, and there was much : a brutal and fanatic regime was selling its own people for slaves (as it still does!!), and challenging the Anglo / Egyptian alliance with terrorism and territorial agression (sound familiar), it is in essence examining the code of honor of the British empire. Do we have a similar code of honor as a people, should we? What obligations do individuals have to a nation, to friends and family in setting of strong cultural bonds? Do our hearts and minds belong to furthering our own interests, or do we use them for our nation, use them to understand other cultures? And in understanding and interacting with other cultures, do we act only for ourselves but for the greater good? And how do we define the greater good?!!!!