E Pluribus Unum

Recently, the military reported that a milestone was passed -- 2500 soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines killed. Logic tells us that is a very low number compared to other wars. The White House Press Secretary even went so far as to call it just "a number."

However, inexplicably, the public has long since turned against the war effort, saying the entire venture is simply not worth it.

Why? Are the American people mistaken in their logic? Or are they being very logical? Or is there something else behind this momentum against the war?

Last night, Miss Julie and I watched a documentary from the American Film Institute called "The 100 Most Inspirational Films." One of the films was Braveheart, starring Mel Gibson as William Wallace, Scotland's greatest patriot.

Here's Wallace rallying his troops before a climactic battle:

"I am William Wallace. And I see a whole army of my countrymen, here in defiance of tyranny! You have come to fight as free men. And free man you are! What will you do without freedom? Will you fight?"

"Two thousand against ten?" - the veteran shouted. "No! We will run - and live!"

"Yes!" Wallace shouted back. "Fight and you may die. Run and you will live at least awhile. And dying in your bed many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance, to come back here as young men and tell our enemies that they may take our lives but they will never take our freedom!"

Did you ever see Spartacus? Or Gandhi? Or Glory? Or Mr. Smith Goes To Washington? Or Schindler's List? Or absorb ANY story about one man fighting for a lost cause or a hopeless quest? How about the story of the Founders of this country?

Where's the logic in ANY of that? It isn't there. And yet we do it because it is who we are.

Like Gandhi said, "Even if you are a minority of one, the truth is still the truth." To me, that means logic isn't enough. You must speak from (and to) the heart.