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Today’s Prayer Focus
  • Hugh JackmanHugh Jackman, Australian actor, singer, producer—“Deadpool and Wolverine ,” “Les Misérables,” “The Prestige,” “X-Men” series, “Real Steel,” “Kate & Leopold” • Faith: “I’m a Christian” (2015); he also practices Transcendental Meditation daily. Jackson’s father is reportedly a devout, born-again Christian, saved through a Billy Graham crusade. In his 20s, Hugh participated in the School of Practical Philosophy, a philosophical system of Hinduism promoting meditation. Hugh is reportedly an active philanthropist.
  • Jennifer LawrenceJennifer Lawrence, American actress, producer—“No Hard Feelings,” “Mother!”, “Red Sparrow,” “The Hunger Games” 1-3, “X-Men: First Class” 1-2, “American Hustle,” “Silver Linings Playbook”. • Faith: Agnosticism, Secularism, raised in Christianity • Worldview: Progressive Liberalism, Feminism (activist), Pro-Abortion (activist), LGBTQ+ supporter and speaker at 2024 GLAAD Media Awards • Time listed her in 2013 as one of the world’s 100 most influential people

Please take a moment now to pray for these influential people (prayer suggestions).

MOVIE REVIEW

One Man's Hero

Reviewed by: Brett Willis
STAFF WRITER

Moral Rating: Average
Moviemaking Quality:
Primary Audience: Mature Teen to Adult
Genre: War, Docudrama
Length: 2 hr.
Year of Release: 1999
USA Release:
Relevant Issues
Box art for “One Mans Hero”
Featuring Tom Berenger, Joaquim de Almeida, Daniela Romo, Mark Moses
Director Lance Hool
Producer Tom Berenger, Lance Hool, Conrad Hool, William J. Macdonald
Distributor Orion/MGM

This film deals with not one but two uncomfortable issues in U.S. History: the 1846 Mexican War and the “special treatment” of Irish recruits by the military.

Ireland was devastated by potato crop failures in the 1840s, and many Irish came to America. Young male immigrants were promised citizenship in return for enlisting in the Armed Forces.

As the film opens, several Irish recruits in a Western military unit are under arrest because they asked for passes to attend Mass over the Mexican border, which their officers viewed as “consorting with the enemy.” Sgt. John Riley (Tom Berenger), a career soldier who is also Irish, at first ignores their pleas for him to intervene. But when he learns that the men are going to be illegally lashed, he rebels against his officer and frees several of the prisoners. Escaping into Mexico, they’re captured by guerilla/bandit Cortina (Joaquim de Almeida). As war with the U.S. looms, the Mexican Army “suggests” that Cortina’s men enlist, and makes the same offer to the Irish deserters which Cortina holds prisoner. Riley had intended to return to his post, but care for his men compels him to enlist along with them. Soon, many other Irish are also deserting to the Mexican side and joining the “Saint Patrick Battalion.” Unlike the broken U.S. promises, Mexico actually does grant them citizenship; and they fight bravely.

The first time the Saint Patricks are captured, they and other Mexican soldiers are released because American support of the war is lukewarm (in fact, Congress is considering impeaching President Polk). The second time they’re captured, they’re dealt with severely. In a touch of dark humor, Irish actor Patrick Bergin is cast as Gen. Winfield Scott, who passes sentence on the Saint Patricks.

Content

There are several hundred on-screen killings during the battle scenes; also whipping, branding and hanging. All these scenes have a slightly less “realistic” touch than in many modern war movies. No sexual content; Riley ends up with Cortina’s former girlfriend (Daniela Romo), but that’s handled tastefully. There’s a small amount of profanity including expletive use of “Jesus.”

The film’s details are fictitious, but the overall story is accurate.

Treatment of Catholics: Some U.S. military officers accused the Irish and other Catholics of inherent disloyalty because of their commitment to the Pope and therefore to his country (the Papal States). If that was a valid concern, the consistent approach would have been to bar them from military service in the first place (and certainly not actively recruit them) rather than expect them to magically change their beliefs once inducted. But in the real world, recruiters and field officers have different priorities.

Mexican War: The U.S. expanded its Western border by practicing “passive aggression”—encouraging emigration to northern Mexico, knowing that once enough Anglos were concentrated there, they’d demand American institutions and thereby destabilize the region. For awhile, Mexico invited Anglos into Texas; after further immigration was forbidden in 1830, we ignored that edict and kept on settling in all the Mexican provinces from Texas to California. Texas declared independence from Mexico and joined the United States. Then the U.S. falsely claimed that the southern border of Texas was the Rio Grande rather than the Rio Nueces, went to war over that issue, and annexed half of Mexico.

Until the Vietnam War era, our textbooks and popular media tended to portray the United States as “always right.” Since then, it’s been the opposite. The truth is somewhere in between. The only perfect society will be the upcoming Kingdom of Jesus Christ (Rev. 11:15).


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