April Showers

It's often said that April showers bring May flowers.

This year, though, April seems to have had an identity crisis, thinking of itself more like a May, some days even an early June. Finally this weekend, April has snapped out of it, come to its senses and now it's playing catch up on all the rain it didn't give us the rest of the month. 

Today is the kind of day that causes kids to stare out the window with their heads in their hands, whining to mom about what they're supposed to do all day. Lamps light living rooms and TVs and movies fill the space where actual plans once were.

As I sat with my coffee and the paper this morning, I said to Dave, "Sundays are for walks and bike rides, not for rain!" It's odd to see such a gloomy day since every Sunday for probably two months now has been beautiful. We've been mighty lucky.

Thankfully, I didn't have any real plans today. I'm hosting book club at my place later this afternoon, which works out well – today is the perfect sort of day to commune indoors, discuss books and drink wine.
The rain isn't getting in the way of my blogging, either, as I have indoor plans this week. Tomorrow evening, Dave and I will be taking a tour of Bucketworks, a unique downtown venue dubbed "a health club for your brain." I'd passed by it before and even visited its website and was always quite curious, never really understanding what the place exactly was. As luck would have it, I met its owner at a Young Professionals of Milwaukee event this week and we decided right away that I must come see his facility. So I'll be back to post more about Bucketworks in a few days!

For today, I'd like to pose a question. If you have any opinion on the matter at all, I'd really like to hear what you think.

Yesterday, I saw the film United 93. When I saw that it was coming out this weekend, I knew I had to see it. I heard great reviews and wanted so badly to see this tribute to the passengers on that 9/11 flight that crashed in a Pennsylvania field. Dave absolutely refused to see it, no matter how much I tried to convince him. I ended up going with my dad, and as expected, I thought it was an outstanding film, and so did he.

As a viewer, you really feel like you're just a fly on the wall that day, watching the events unfold. You get to see the terrorists doing their prayers in the hotel that morning and making their way to the airport, the passengers and flight crew boarding the plane, going about their normal conversations and business. You see the air traffic controllers around the country go from business-as-usual to confused to absolutely terrified, to finally getting every plane in America grounded.
Throughout the entire film, my stomach was churning, my heart was heavy – it was hard since I obviously knew what was coming. I cried a lot, especially when all of the passengers made their good-bye phone calls, and then finally when the brave passengers took action and tried to overtake the plane.

The film was done so well, and I do see it as a tribute to those people who rose up and possibly saved a lot of lives. Dave didn't want to see it because he thinks it exploitation; Hollywood making money out of a tragedy. He also believes that United 93 was shot down that day, that it didn't actually crash, and that the government is covering that up. I can sort of see how that could be a possibility, but I really don't believe it.

We absolutely cannot see eye-to-eye, and I'm wondering what others think. Is United 93 tribute or propaganda? Will you see it?

I think it's something that every American should see. Yes, we were all there that day. We all know what happened, and we all saw countless images of the horror. But this film shows us what it would have been like to be those people. It makes us appreciate life more, and appreciate those heroes – and not just the passengers, but everyone who was involved that fateful day.

Comments

[Dave]

I just don't think we have to accept everything that's told to us. We can question things. What kills me most is that now its been made into a movie most that see it will accept this as the final truth. Example: Mel Gibson and the Jesus movie. Its an interpretation. Do I know what happened on the plane that day? Nope, but I know just as much as the people that made this movie.

[Utenzi]

Michele sent me, Erin.

I've not seen the movie Erin though the reviews I've seen have raved about it. From what I've heard, I'd view the movie as a tribute. One I wish had more push years ago so some of this nonsense from the Bush Administration might have been held in check better.

I agree with your accessment of your fiance's analysis, Erin. Seriously, how good is our government at keeping secrets? They suck. I don't understand conspiracy folk--nobody in large groups keeps secrets very well.

[Catheroo]

Hi, Michele sent me.

I'm glad to hear (read) your positive response to Flight 93. I admit I'm curious about the film, so I probably will see it.

What book are you discussing at your club today?

[Erin]

We're discussing Running With Scissors and Night. I haven't come up with any suggestions for the next book though ...

[Derek]

I'm afraid I'm going to have to side with Dave on this one. I have no intention of seeing the movie. In fact, I turn the channel every time the trailor comes on TV. If it was a documentary on the History channel or something I'd probably watch it, but the movie version is not for me.

[margalit]

I can't see this film. I lost a coworker and friend on Flight 93 and there is no way I could see it. The hotel you mentioned, where the hijackers prayed? In my town. Yup. It's now bulldozed and they're building a huge apartment complex over it. I can barely drive by it. Our town lost 7 people during 9/11. Including my friend, the father of infant twins. Honestly, I couldn't bear to watch it.

I do think it's exploitave. I do think it's way too early. I do think it's probably the wrong topic to make a film about. And I think your husband's theory is nuts. But then again, I've been privy to phone conversations from the airplane before it went down.

Here via Michele. Sorry to be such a downer, but it's just way too raw for me to deal with.

[panthergirl]

I think since most of the United 93 families are supportive of the film, it is not exploitation. I think it is NOT wrong to make films about 9/11... the same way it is not wrong to make films about the Holocaust.

It is going to be very important to document that event...for people to know as much as they can. For our children to see what happened.

I am a New Yorker. I grew up in NYC and spent most of my adult life there. I now live 40 miles outside the city, but HAD to go down there a few days after 9/11. I wanted to hug my city.

I am going to see United 93, because I think it's important. It's not a "Hollywood" movie. It was filmed in the UK, there are no big name actors. And again, if the families are supportive and think it's a good idea, that's good enough for me.

Here via michele!

[Andre]

Man, I hope Dave is making a run for it tonight. An apartment full of drunken girls talking about a chick book and something off of Oprah's Book Club... This must be punishment for not seeing the movie.

Erin, are you a member of YPM? I would never have expected that.

As far as the movie goes, I would normally avoid this discussion, but since you asked...

I don't think there's any one way to classify that movie. I would say that it's propaganda for the people who thought "let's roll" was a particularly moving statement back then. They would love another way to scream out how big of heros the passengers of 93 were. For a select group of people (director and producers come to mind), it most likely was a tribute. It was also probably a tribute in the minds of the families who okayed the making of the picture.

I don't see how Dave's belief in how the plane went down is relevant. It seems like you kinda threw him under the bus by posting it for everyone to comment on. I'm not one to believe in conspiracy theories, but far worse things have been successfully covered-up by governments in the last century.

I will never see that movie. I don't see the point in it. Maybe in 25-50 years it will shed light on the events for a different generation, but most people today know as much as they need to. There's a definite line between bringing knowledge to the public and putting on one more form of reality show. Those passengers lives are their business. It was personal to them, and shouldn't be on display because the country is curious to know more.

Finally, I certainly appreciate what those passengers did, and it was most certainly courageous. But the word hero has some pretty special meaning. Maybe I'm adding value to the word, but to me a hero has to choose to do the noble thing. I'm not sure the passengers had that choice.

[Erin]

Why wouldn't I be a member of YPM Andre?

Actually, I'm not ... but I'm considering it. I was actually there for work, but I was glad I went - not only because I met the owner of Bucketworks, but because the topic of the meeting (MilwaukeeMagnet.com - to be launched later in the year) was something that really piqued by interest.

And thanks for your comments on the film - to each their own, and I think you made some good points. I think it's funny you said I "threw Dave under the bus." I asked him if he minded if I posted about his views and he said no, but then when he read it, he said I made him sound like an idiot.

I don't think I did at all, I simply stated his feelings. I think our little disagreement sparked a good conversation here - and it was something that I was really interested in hearing other views on.

[Erin]

And P.S. - Running With Scissors is not a chick book. It's a memoir written by a guy, and I'm sure just as many men have read it as women. And just because Night was on Oprah's list doesn't mean it's not an excellent book worthy of discussion - the author won a Nobel Prize for it, for cryin out loud. You should read it!

(And actually, book club was unfortunately cancelled today. Had we had it, though, Dave would have been confined to the back room for a few hours. Not that he would have minded, though, for that is where the Play Station resides.)

[David Ernst]

You might like "Fortunate Son" by Walter E. Mosley!!!!!!!

[Andre]

Granted that I've never been to an YPM event, it looks like the usual doublespeak bullshit that spouts from the MMAC, the GMC, and every other corporate-run organization that spends more time planning than doing. "Action Teams" and "Leadership growth avenues"... It's just a little much for me. Best of luck to them, though.

I don't think you made Dave sound like an idiot. When you write a bunch about your views and then throw in a quick "but he thinks this", it has this feel that you're rolling your eyes.

I don't think a book has to be written by a girl to be a chick book. I'd say David Sedaris books are chick books too. Nobel Prize, Shnobel Prize.

I'd take Rory's Book Club (Google it) over Oprah's any day of the week.

[Christi]

K, here are my two cents:

I agree with Panthergirl in saying the support of the families makes it a bit more relevant in terms of film production. If the families were on board to show the heroism of these passengers and their own personal losses then more power to them. It's as was stated, a worthwhile tribute to them.

However, I couldn't agree more with Andre in saying that it's just not time for this movie to arise. It's not wrong to make a movie about the Holocaust because there are new generations to teach of the great tragedy. Generations that were not alive during the event now have the ability to learn about it. 9/11 happened not too long ago. We were all there, we all saw the news stories, we all know what happened. Why does a movie have to be made out of it? And what business of ours is it anyways how the guy looked on the phone before he belted out "Lets Roll" or what the terrorists did in the remaining seconds before the plane went down. Was that not covered enough in the news broadcasts and 9/11 release tapes?

And one more thing. As for these men and women being considered non-hero's simply because they didn't have a choice in the matter? That's foolish. Shot down or not, they still stood up to save many more lives, possibly HUNDREDS!. They could have sat there and let the plane do what it was destined to do, but they didn't, they CHOSE not to. And that is pretty damn heroic.

And what exactly makes a "chick book" a "chick book"? Sedaris and Burroughs don't discuss makeup and female products, and there weren't any gooey loves scenes in either of the book...so how can one classify it as a "chick book" ?

*phew* and I'm done.

[Amanda]

When I first started reading the post for today, I had all kinds of ideas that I wanted to share. Many of you have already shared them, however, so I'll just add my little bit here and be done with it.

I agree with Christi and Andre - not the right time to make the film. It's too soon - I don't care what the families say. I don't think that the country - or the world - is ready for this yet.

But what I want to say more is that I agree with Dave. This entire movie is not fact. It's based on factual events. This film takes some life events and puts in fillers for the parts that we aren't sure of. No one survived that crash. And therefore, no one can ever really, truly know what happened on that flight.

That's it. I'm not going to go into long-windedness as I think that others have stated and restated what I would also state.

:)

But I will also say, a chick flick to me is a sappy book that women like to read to make themselves believe that romance is still in full force. Sedaris and Burroughs are far cries from that...

A Happy May Day to you all!!

[Charlie]

I'm not seeing the movie...

Were those people heroic? yes.

But I'm not going to pay $8.50 to relive 9/11. No thank you.

[Andre]

Heroes:

I'm not saying what those people did wasn't very important and noble. I'm saying that there are certain words people throw around, like 'hero' or 'genius'. When so many people become a hero, the bar is lowered. Mahatma Gandhi, Oskar Schindler, Harvey MIlk, Cesar Chavez, Mother Theresa... I'd say those people are heroes.

Timing:

I don't think this is the wrong time to make the movie. Quite on the contrary, if the intent of making it is to pay tribute to the passengers, sooner is better (for accuracy). It's the intent of the viewer that bothers me. When I said that I didn't see the point, I meant the point of people seeing it today, not making it today.

Families:

I had the unfortunate experience of waiting for my best friend to die in the hospital. We spent four days a week together, so I knew him well. He was also my uncle, so I was part of all the decisions made about funeral, burial, organs, inheritance, and so on. I experienced how little his family (to some extent including myself) really knew about how he might decide on some subjects, especially when the emotion of loss takes over. Think about how many life decisions you would let your family make for you. I'm not sure the families of these people are all making the right call.

Books:

Out of the people I know who read books, I have never heard a guy say, "I'm a huge David Sedaris fan". I've heard two girls say it. If significantly more girls than guys like a book, it is a chick book. You can also apply this to movies if you like.

[Grins]

I'm here via Michele's blogroll game. I do plan on seeing United 93 but I'm not sure I'm ready to see it just yet. But without a doubt I will watch it as I did the feature A&E (?) did on it. From what I've read the families were supportive of the film being made and felt it wasn't too soon. Without their endorsement I'm not sure I'd be so definite about seeing it.

Like you I tend to believe it crashed but am not oblivious to the notion that it is entirely possible that it was shot down. It was a possibility we all knew was being discussed if other attacks were made. Probably one of those things we may never know in our lifetime.

[Kathy]

The people who would be most interested in blocking the release of this film - the families of the victims - were all for it. They want their family members to be remembered as heroes so their lives were not lost in vain.

Also, the studio is donating a portion of the profits to the families and also to the fund to build the memorial in Pennsylvania.

I remember going to see Pearl Harbor and wishing I had asked my parents about that day before they died.

It's history.