Rizal Philippines
February 21, 2016.
I saw a long movie this week entitled "Unbroken" produced and directed by Angelina Jolie. It was made in the year 2000 and grossed about $160 million. It is based on a true story, a book written by Laura Hillerbrand of the same title "Unbroken, A World War II story of Survival, Redemption, and Resilience."
The story revolves around Louie Zamperini who became an Olympic athlete because his brother motivated him because of this saying, " If you can take it, you can live it" He was trained by his brother Phil. He qualified for the Berlin summer Olympics, coming in 8th and setting a world record on the final lap.
He joins the Air Force and became a crew of a bomber. He had a mishap all ready his plane crash landing after a bombing run. The repaired plane which they flew again crashed into the ocean after developing engine trouble. Only 3 of them: Phil, Mac and Louie survived floating for 47 days. The third one Mac eventually died. One day, thinking that it was friendly plane they signalled it and was promptly strafed. It was a Jap plane. They were eventually rescued by the Japanese and eventually became POW. They were beaten etc and treated as prisoners.
will be treated accordingly"
Louie turned up in Tokyo camp where the commanding officer, Mituhiro "Bird"Watanabe and he took special interest in Louie because of being a former Olympian. Punishment was often physical and psychological. Louie was released from the camp after he agreed to broadcasting to US about conditions of POW camps. He agreed to a neutral first broadcast. But when he was forced to read a prepared anti US speech. he was eventually sent back to prison. Louie was punished by having each of the officer of the camp punch Louie in the face. Bird was eventually promoted and transferred to another prison.
Their camp was destroyed during a US bombing raid, and their group was transferred up north to coal processing facility where to the dismay of other the head was Bird. Bird again punished Louie more brutally hitting him often with a bamboo stick. At one point he was asked to lift a 12 x 3 x 48 wood plank which as you may guess too heavy. Bird Watanabe asked him to lift this and lift this over his head. The "If you can take it, you can live it rang in his ears" and he was able to lift the plank When he did it he looked at Watanabe which was prohibited. Watanabe beat Louie again. This time it was Watanabe after the beating. Louie was unbroken
The Americans eventually came to liberate the prisoners. Louie returned to US which showed him kissing the ground. Watanabe went into hiding. He was a top 40 war criminal. We did not know what happened afterwards.
Some comments:
1. The movie reminds us of the cruelty of the Japanese as conquerors - they raped, they beat their captives brually, they decapitate, they kill;
2. Know your enemies and treat them accordingly. That is an advice of a strategy book. Do not be deceived by enemies who pretend as friends. Friends can be enemies
3. If anything bad is happening to Japan now, the Fukushima and tsunami, it may because they are paying for their past cruelty
4. Japan is really trying very hard to project itself as a beautiful place, place for good food, architecture, etc true its embassies and NHK
What do you think of this movie?
What are the Japanese friends saying about the movie?
Why did Angelina Jolie produce it? Will it be good for US and Japan?
LESSONS ON HAVING UNDAUNTED SPIRIT AND DETERMINATION
There were several instances where Louie showed how to be unbroken:
1. When he practiced to run for the long distance (5000 m) If you can take it, you can live it was the advice of his brother to run faster
2. When their bomber crash landed and some of their colleagues died. One of them Mac feared that they will die to. Louie dismissed that idea. They must think of how to survive while at sea. Or they may not be found He said for sure, the other airmen would be looking for them Always be positive and thinking of how to live.
3. Being stranded at the sea without food and water for 47 days. They baited and ate fish even small sharks and even a gooney bird (which was distateful and they puked) There were gales and storms they were strafed by a bomber. They did not fear the hungry sharks circling their lifeboats. The trio frightened the sharks by whacking them
4. When they were jailed and Bird Watanabe had whacked and beat him He could have given up
5. The last being unbroken was when Bird Watanabe had him lift a 3 x12 plank He did not give up. What is the limit of human endurance and patience?
What is yours
QUOTES FROM LOUIE ZAMPERINI
in the crash, Louie say they should bother how to survive rather than talking
about the dead
