Don’t come back alive

The movie appropriately titled, “Meeting Resistance” is constantly meeting resistance from all groups of people. Essentially, two journalists decided to hear from those fighting with the resistance groups in Iraq (what Americans might term as the “bad guys”). Now, the movie continues to “meet resistance” as it tries to show the movie in theaters and on the news.

Sunni and Shi’a, men and women, they all aim to be martyrs. A young man told about leaving his family and friends. Before leaving his mother pulled him aside and said “Don’t come back alive, come back a martyr.” A woman, probably in her forties, mother and wife talked about assisting by transporting weapons in her clothing for missions and said she yearns to be a martyr. One of the men explained that before the Americans had occupied their country they did not necessarily support Bin Laden or Saddam Hussein, but now they did because they are Muslims and stand together. If their mothers, brothers, or children are taken in order to catch them or to obtain information they do not care. It is more important to follow through with the mission. Many devote all of their time and money outside of their daily lives to resistance movements. Religion plays such a significant role in their decisions that it seems futile to try and change their minds.

The movie opens a person’s mind up to a different perspective. What we cannot fully determine is if what is being shown on the screen is an accurate portrayal of the thoughts of those living in Iraq or if it is just a small group working with the resistance that feels this way. One of the men explained that if it were the other way around, and we had an army marching around with huge guns and tanks aimed at civilians we would resist too. We would not like it even if they thought they were “helping us”. We cannot just go occupy the country, it isn’t fair.

I had the pleasure to then listen to a question and answer session with the directors/producers of the film - Molly Bingham and Steve Connors. They were pretty liberal and basically questioned why we ever went to war, let alone were still in it. They never found out the names of the people they interviewed but got some gritty information and some great footage. Molly was even in prison for a little while right before they began filming. They must lead very risky and interesting lives. It was a good experience to have seen the movie and listened to them speak, however I have a hard time making my own decisions on how I feel on the matter. It is such a sensitive subject, and it is hard to know who or what to believe.