Patton is, I guess, a controversial figure, and opinion about him
varies widely. For the sake of good conversation, I'm sharing more
of my own.
Actually, I did not really like the movie that much after having
read some books about Patton. The making of the movie was assisted
by some individuals who really did not like Patton at all. In fact,
it could be said that they hated him and I think that showed in the
movie. They were his contemporaries that had survived the war and
lived to tell their version of the events surrounding Patton's life
and actions, but did not really know or understand the man.
Still, the movie is interesting because it covers some of the
unusual aspects of Patton's persona - his intense sense of destiny
and his raw ambition to place himself in a position to fulfill a
role that he firmly believed was asked of him by God; to fight a
desperate battle in a last great war against an overwelming enemy
and against great odds. As a lover of inner peace, I am fascinated
by this historical figure from a time when war raged throughout the
world.
The thing that struck me most about him was his extreme sense of
destiny - it was most painful! Yet he held to it with a tenacity
that was terrible. I can see how the intensity that Patton brought
to war, a spiritual seeker could use to fulfill the ideals of inner
harmony and world-oneness.
He was also endowed with some unusual traits and propensities. He
believed in reincarnation and sensed that in previous lifetimes he
had fought certain battles - and indeed intuitively had an intimate
knowledge of much of Europe's geography (especially France, where he
fought some really tough battles during WW2) - without actually ever
having been there much. He had a prodigious memory and despite
terrible dyslexia, read copiously. He could quote the entire Bible
and would often presume to educate priests on aspects of the Good
Book and religion. He loved God and prayed fervently to Him for
guidance and protection; wrote some amazing and epic poetry; lived
the discipline of a soldier's life - no matter his rank, yet was
often found to weep like a child when faced with his own
inadequacies, personal failings and consequent frustrations. War
really sickened him, yet he was so good at it. Probably a very hard
man to be around, hense he had his enemies, but he invoked
tremendous loyalty as a leader and was respected by all ranks and
the opposing forces. He was a hero and did some amazing things at a
very unfortunate time in our history.
I do hope that we never see horrors of that scale again; that we
transcend our limitations and divisions and learn to live in the
sunshine of our Lord's Light: humanity together as one family.
"When the power of love replaces the love of power, man will have a
new name: God." - Sri Chinmoy.
Hi Nayak,
Patton is, I guess, a controversial figure, and opinion about him
varies widely. For the sake of good conversation, I'm sharing more
of my own.
Actually, I did not really like the movie that much after having
read some books about Patton. The making of the movie was assisted
by some individuals who really did not like Patton at all. In fact,
it could be said that they hated him and I think that showed in the
movie. They were his contemporaries that had survived the war and
lived to tell their version of the events surrounding Patton's life
and actions, but did not really know or understand the man.
Still, the movie is interesting because it covers some of the
unusual aspects of Patton's persona - his intense sense of destiny
and his raw ambition to place himself in a position to fulfill a
role that he firmly believed was asked of him by God; to fight a
desperate battle in a last great war against an overwelming enemy
and against great odds. As a lover of inner peace, I am fascinated
by this historical figure from a time when war raged throughout the
world.
The thing that struck me most about him was his extreme sense of
destiny - it was most painful! Yet he held to it with a tenacity
that was terrible. I can see how the intensity that Patton brought
to war, a spiritual seeker could use to fulfill the ideals of inner
harmony and world-oneness.
He was also endowed with some unusual traits and propensities. He
believed in reincarnation and sensed that in previous lifetimes he
had fought certain battles - and indeed intuitively had an intimate
knowledge of much of Europe's geography (especially France, where he
fought some really tough battles during WW2) - without actually ever
having been there much. He had a prodigious memory and despite
terrible dyslexia, read copiously. He could quote the entire Bible
and would often presume to educate priests on aspects of the Good
Book and religion. He loved God and prayed fervently to Him for
guidance and protection; wrote some amazing and epic poetry; lived
the discipline of a soldier's life - no matter his rank, yet was
often found to weep like a child when faced with his own
inadequacies, personal failings and consequent frustrations. War
really sickened him, yet he was so good at it. Probably a very hard
man to be around, hense he had his enemies, but he invoked
tremendous loyalty as a leader and was respected by all ranks and
the opposing forces. He was a hero and did some amazing things at a
very unfortunate time in our history.
I do hope that we never see horrors of that scale again; that we
transcend our limitations and divisions and learn to live in the
sunshine of our Lord's Light: humanity together as one family.
"When the power of love replaces the love of power, man will have a
new name: God." - Sri Chinmoy.
Please forgive my ravings ... Shardul.