The Movie Argo Spurs Reflections

 

argothemoviewarnerbrothers.com

This blogger highly recommends Argo, not only for its entertainment value, but also because it reveals a spellbinding true story based on the escape of  six American Embassy diplomats  who hid at the home of the Canadian Ambassador in Iran during a 1979 invasion of the embassy, until they were rescued in a hastily created plan hatched by Tony Mendez, a CIA operative, and his boss Jack O'Donnell. 



This movie can engage almost anyone.  It mesmerized me, and, apparently the entire audience, but that's not the point of this post. 

Although treated as more of a backdrop in the movie, the Canadian Ambassador, Ken Taylor, his wife, and their Iranian housekeeper played instrumental roles in eventual success of the plan. They kept the Americans safe and hid their existence from the Iranian government.  Taylor not only provided a haven for the Americans, he helped to scout the airport and bought the plane tickets that they used to escape.  His wife supported him, and the housekeeper lied to investigators asking questions about the Americans at their home, who were supposedly scouting out locations for a sci-fi movie.

During the last election season, we heard ads spouting how we must regain our prominence as the leader of the free world.  Argo clarified that this nation has always counted on our allies in times of trouble, and we must give credit to all of them.  Canada has helped us many times before and stands as an example of what cooperation among nations can accomplish.  We live in a complex time, and we must focus more on collaboration, not only within Congress, but with the world.  American can't do it alone.

Those who trumpet a call to invade Iran or Syria or any other troubled nation have lost touch with reality.  With a population of just under 315 million, the United States doesn't have enough people to fight wars everywhere a skirmish exists, which emphasizes the need for alliances with other world powers. China and India each have over four times the number of people than the United States. 

The situation depicted in the movie occurred over thirty years ago, and, even then, we could not have accomplished the rescue without help.  Any person who serves in government and calls for us to act alone in any aggressive action against another country should think again.  We have lost far too many young men and women who have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan in unnecessary wars, and we can't afford to do so again.  Human losses are the most tragic reflection of that statement, but the outrageous monetary costs have done damage to our country as well.

Patriotism means more than joining the military and going to war.  It also means preserving the vision of our country's founders and the promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.