Heart and Heroism

by Clinton LeFort

Overview

Saving another man�s life in the face of death requires moral character (Gabbard 131). When soldiers give their lives for the sake of another, they teach a silent lesson of morality and virtue. What is that morality? What are those virtues? Their actions say that the war is about �building character and not about brutality and stupidity� (Gabbard 132). Rather than putting the emphasis on death and dying, the hero puts the emphasis on virtue and life. Virtue and life, whether they are national or private and personal, are what being a hero is all about. Ultimately a hero has to make his/her own decisions. Saving Private Ryan is just about those issues of morality and virtue lived out moment by moment on the battlefield.
Captain Miller fights for freedom and valor. In the opening scene of Saving Private Ryan virtue and heroism seem to be void of any meaning. If heroism is void of any meaning it surely can�t be void of the reality that brings it about. In other words, when captain Miller and his band of soldiers land on Omaha beach their lives were at a live or die situation. Either they defend themselves and live or haphazardly defend themselves and die. The consequences of war are always drastic. War is not always about reaching an agreement, but it is always about saving one�s own life. Very few people will take the bullet for you unless you are braver than most. Steven Spielberg paints the war as ugly and horrific in the opening minutes of the movie. As the pressure of war sets in on the small group of soldiers led by Captain Miller both the virtuous and vicious characteristics of the officers are revealed. A sharp contrast is made between Captain Miller and Corporal Upham; while Captain Miller ultimately faces the enemy fire in order to bring down the enemy tank, Corporal Upham fails to pull the trigger on the enemy only an inch away. Captain Miller remains a stable model of determination and courage under fire while Corporal Upham shows an increasing growth of fear and lack of nerve in the face of death and ill-treatment.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940149447534
Publisher:	MelatiaeTrade Publishing
Publication date:	06/11/2014
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	832 KB

About the Author

Clinton R. LeFort was born in Lake Arthur, La. He attended St. maria Goretti High School where he began his first writing adventures under Dr. Thomas Whalen. Later while attending Louisiana State University he began writing music reviews and articles for philosophical journals and started his own philosophical newsletter. After completing his post-graduate work at USC while working with Jon Burlingame, Jack Smalley and Elmer Bernstein he began writing more seriously under his own publishing company. In 2003, in cooperation with the LIbrary of Congress, he began writing weekly newsletters in honor of the thoughts of Emmanuel Levinas and Augustine of Hippo. Since 2006 he's been writing small paperbacks or ebooks.

Clinton R. LeFort has been writing professionally since 2006 when he published his first four books. Since then he has published over 150 smaller books, which have become popular reading for many people. LeFort writes about mainstream entertainment and religious topics. Presently he has three series being published. Christian Virtue focuses on the theological virtues. Reviews focuses on recent motion picture blockbuster films, while Apostle's Creed brings attention to the different articles of faith.