Three years ago, I got a phone call, based on an earlier film I had made, with an offer to embed the New Hampshire National Guard. My idea -- and literally, I woke up in the middle of the night, and we've all have those moments. You know, you go to sleep -- I was excited, with this phone call. I was thinking, I just finished making another film about World War II vets, and I realized I'd gotten to know their stories, and I realized this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to tell a warrior's story as it unfolded. So I went to bed that night pretty excited. Not sure of all the details, but excited. It wasn't at four in the morning, but it was closer to midnight. Woke straight up. Wide-awake as could be. And I had this idea: what if I could, in effect, virtually embed, and create a permeable relationship with the soldiers? To tell the story from the inside out, versus the outside in?
Acum trei ani, am primit un apel, bazat pe un film facut cu ceva timp in urma de mine, cu o oferta de a incorpora Garda Nationala New Hampshire. Ideea mea -- la propriu, m-am trezit in mijlocul noptii, si toti avem acele moment. Am fost entuziasmata, pentru acest apel. Ma gandeam, ca abia terminasem de facut un film despre veteranii din Al doilea razboi mondial. si mi-am dat seama ca am reusit sa le stiu povestile, si am mai realizat ca este o oportunitate unica in viata sa spun povestea unui razboinic cand aceasta are loc. Si am mers in pat in acea noapte entuziasmata. Nesigura de toate detaliile, dar entuziasmata. Nu a fost patru dimineata, dar a fost aproape de miezul noptii. M-am trezit rapid. Cat de treaza s-ar putea. Si aveam aceasta idee : cum ar fi daca as reda efectul in mod virtual? Si sa creez o relatie permeabila cu soldatii? Sa spun povestea din interior, contra celei din afara catre interior?
So, I called back Major Heilshorn, who's the public affairs officer of the New Hampshire National Guard. And he knew me, so I was like, "Greg?" He's like, "Yes, Deborah?" Told him my idea, and you know, he is one of the bravest men in the world, as is General Blair, who, in the end, gave me permission to try this experiment.
Asa ca l-am sunat inapoi pe Maiorul Heilsborn, care este ofiterul de Relatii publice de la Garda Nationala New Hapshire. Ma cunostea asa ca i-am spus "Greg?" Si el a spus, "Da, Deborah?" I-am spus ideea mea, si stiti, este unul din cei mai viteji oameni din lume, ca si Generalul Blair, care mi-a dat in cele din urma permisiunea de a face acest experiment.
Within 10 days, I was down at Fort Dix. He gave me my pick of units. I picked one unit -- Charlie Company, Third of the 172nd, they're mountain infantry -- for two reasons. One, they're infantry. Number two, they were going to be based at LSA Anaconda, so I knew they would have Internet access. The caveat for my access was I had to get the soldiers to volunteer. This was a big thing that I think when Major H told me, I wasn't really totally gathering what that would mean.
Pana in 10 zile eram la Fort Dix. M-a lasat sa-mi aleg unitatea. Am ales o unitate -- Compania lui Charlie, A treia din cele 172, acestia fiind infanterie de munte -- pentru doua motive. Unu, sunt de infanterie, Numarul doi, vor avea tabara la LSA Anaconda, deci am stiut ca vor avea acces la internet. Singura cerinta pentru accesul meu era ca acesti soldati sa-si ofere serviciile din propria initiativa. Acest lucru a fost un lucru greu. Cred ca atunci cand Maiorul H. mi-a spus asta nu asimilasem cu totul ce a spus.
So what that meant was, when I went down to Fort Dix, I had to hop out in front of 180 guys and tell them of my vision. You can imagine the hailstorm of questions I got. The opening one was, "What the fuck do you know about the National Guard?" I started with the 1607 Massachusetts Bay Colony Pequot Indian Wars. Gave them about a nine minute response, and there we went.
Deci, cand am mers la Fort Dix, trebuia sa apar in fata a 180 de barbati si sa le spun viziunea mea. Va puteti imagina ce furtuna de intrebari am primit. Cea de inceput a fost, "Ce dracu stii tu de Garda Nationala?" Am inceput cu Razboilele Indiene Massachusetts Bay Colony Pequod din 1607. Le-am dat un raspuns de vreo 9 minute, si apoi am continuat.
So, I'd like to show the clip of the film. It's our trailer, because I know, obviously you guys are busy, many of you may not have had a chance to see it. So, I want to show the trailer, and then I'm going to take apart one scene in detail. If we could roll?
Si as vrea sa va arat un clip din film. Este filmuletul nostru de prezentare, pentru ca e de inteles ca multi sunteti ocupati -- multi dintre voi nereusind poate sa-l vedeti. Deci va voi arata filmuletul de prezentare, apoi voi diseca fiecare scena in detaliu. S-ar putea difuza?
(Video) Stephen Pink: This is Sergeant Stephen Pink.
Pink: Aici este Sergentul Stephen Pink.
Michael Moriarty: Specialist Michael Moriarty.
Moriarty: Specialist Michael Moriarty/
Zack Bazzi: Do I really want to go? Probably not.
Bazzi: Chiar vreau sa merg? Probabil nu.
Soldier: We're not supposed to talk to the media.
Soldat: Nu ar trebui sa vorbim cu media.
SP: I'm not the media, dammit!
P: nu sunt media, la naiba!
MM: The day is here. Life will change.
M: A venit ZIUA. Viata se va schimba.
Voice: The real deal, man! Narrator: You ready? Soldier: Bring it on! Narrator: You ready? Voice 2: Iraq, here we come!
Soldat: Adevarata experienta, omule! Esti pregatit? Sa te vad! Esti Pregatit? Iraq , venim spre tine!
ZB: Every soldier eventually wants to go in combat. It's natural instinct.
B: Orice soldat in cele din urma vrea sa mearga la lupta. Este un instinct natural.
SP: If you let fear get to you, then you're not going to be doing your job.
P: Daca lasi frica sa te doboare, atunci nu iti vei face slujba.
MM: Every single time you go out there, there's attacks. It's unbelievable.
M: De fiecare data cand mergi acolo, exista atacuri. Este incredibil.
ZB: Hey, Nestor, your ass crack is right in my face.
B: Hey Nestor, crapatura fundului tau e exact in fata mea.
Soldiers: IV! Are we on fire? IV! Man down! Man down!
Soldat: IV. Suntem atacati? Om doborat. Om doborat.
MM: Keep going, brother. You wanna play?
M: Continua, frate. Vrei sa te joci?
Michael Moriarty's Wife: It's really hard for him to not have his dad.
Sotia lui Moriaty: II este foarte greu fara tatal sau.
MM: This little kid is in the middle of a war zone.
M: Acest copil este in mijlocul zonei de razboi.
Stephen Pink's Girlfriend: In the beginning, he's like, "Write something dirty!"
Prietena lui Pink: La inceput, era ceva de genul, "Scrie ceva murdar!"
George W. Bush: The world's newest democracy.
Geoge W. Bush: Noua Democratia mondiala.
MM: They're shooting at me.
M: Trag in mine.
SP: You don't put 150,000 troops in there, and say we're there to create democracy.
P: Nu pui 150 000 de trupe de soldati aici si spui ca suntem aici pentru a crea democratia.
Soldier: We've got a drive through window at Burger King now.
Soldat: Avem o intrare la Burger King acum.
SP: We're here to create money.
P: Suntem aici pentru a crea bani.
MM: I support George Bush. We're not there for the oil.
M: Il sustin pe George Bush. Nu suntem aici pentru petrol.
Jon Baril: The worst thing in my life.
Jon Baril: Cel mai urat lucru din viata mea.
SP: Baril, don't look at it, bud.
P: Baril, nu te uita la el prietene.
Michael Moriarty's Wife: He's not the same person anymore.
Sotia lui M: Nu mai este aceeasi persoana.
MM: I will not go back.
M: Nu ma voi mai intoarce.
Kevin Shangraw: The Iraqi people are who we are there to help -- and we just killed one.
kevin Shangraw: Oamenii din Iraq sunt cei pentru care am venit aici sa ajutam-- si tocmai am ucis unu.
Soldiers: Sergeant Smith is down! Sergeant Smith is down? There they are! Right there! Fire, fire!
Soldat: Sergentul Smith e doborat!Sergentul Smith e doborat? Acolo sunt! Chiar acolo! Foc, foc!
JB: It'll be a better country in 20 years, 'cause we were there. I hope.
Baril: Vor fi o tara mai buna in 20 de ani, pentru ca noi am fost acolo. Sper.
(Applause) Deborah Scranton: Thank you. One of the things I'd like to talk to you about is having a conversation about something that is difficult to talk about. And I'd like to relate an experience I had here at TED. I don't know how many of you might imagine it, but there's actually a TEDster who recently got back from Iraq. Paul? Come on, stand up. This is Paul Anthony. He served -- (Applause) -- with the Marines, and I want to tell you a little, brief story. We were one of the lucky ones to get in the class with the Sony cameras and the Vista software. Right? And we started talking. People will see my tag, and they'll see "The War Tapes," and then we'll start talking about war.
Deborah Scranton: Multumesc. Unul din lucrurile pe care vreau sa le discut este sa avem o conversatie despre ceva greu de vorbit. Si as vrea sa ma leg de o experienta care am avut-o la Ted. Nu stiu cati din voi isi pot imagina, dar avem chiar un TEDster care s-a intors recent din Iraq. Paul? Haide, ridica-te. Acesta este Paul Anthony. A servit-- (Aplauze) - ca Puscas Marin, si vreau sa va spun o povestire scurta. Noi am fost unii din cei norocosi care au mers in clasa cu camere Sony si cu software Vista. Corect? Si am inceput sa vorbim. oamenii imi vedeau insigna, si vedea "casete de razboi" si apoi incepeam sa vorbim despre razboi.
We got in a conversation with some other people in the class, and it went on and on. I mean, we were there for an hour, talking. And it really highlighted something that I would like to ask you guys to think about and hopefully to help with, which is, I think a lot of us are very afraid to have conversations about war, and about politics. And really -- because maybe we're going to disagree. Maybe it's going to get uncomfortable. How do we open it up to really be able to have a conversation? And you know, Paul was talking, and he then turned to Constance and said, "You know, I wouldn't have this conversation if she weren't here, because I know she has my back."
Am intrat intr-o conversatie cu cativa oameni din clasa, care a tinut mult. Adica, am stat acolo o ora, vorbind. Si a pus accent pe ceva ce as vrea sa va intreb si sa va ganditi in speranta ca ma puteti ajuta. Adica, cred ca multi suntem speriati de a avea o conversatie despre razboi, si despre politica. Si poate pentru ca nu vom fi de acord cu ceilalti. Poate va deveni incomod. Cum ne deschidem, pentru a putea avea o conversatie? Si stii, Paul vorbea, si apoi s-a intors catre Constance si a spus, "Stii, nu as avea aceats aconversatie daca ea nu ar fi aici, pentru ca stiu ca ea imi e alaturi."
And I want to say, I was nervous. Because I'm used to doing Q&As. I really related to what James was saying yesterday, because I'm behind the camera. You know, I can answer questions about my movie, but for me to come up and talk for 18 minutes is a really long time. So, I wanted to say, Paul, I'm happy you're here, because I know you have my back.
Adica, eram retinuta. Chiar de sunt obisnuita sa fac prezentari. Chiar am simtit acelas lucru ce-l spunea James ieri, pentru ca eu sunt in spatele camerei. Stii, pot sa raspund intrebarilor depre film, dar pentru mine sa vin si sa vorbesc pentru 18 minute e foarte mult. Asa ca am vrut sa spun,"Paul, ma bucur ca esti aici, pentru ca stiu ca ma sustii."
This film was not about the Internet, but it could not have been made without it. The guys' tapes on average took two weeks to get from Iraq to me. In the meantime, the soldiers -- we would email and IM. I didn't save all of them, because I didn't realize at the beginning that it would be something that I would want to keep track of. But there were 3,211 emails and IMs and text messages that I was able to save. The reason I quantify that is because we really embarked on this as a mutual journey to really get inside of it. So I wanted to show you a clip, and then I was going tell you a little bit of how it got put together. If we could roll the clip.
Filmul nu este despre Internet, dar nu s-ar fi putut face fara acesta. Casetele baietilor au ajuns in cam doua saptamani din Iraq la mine. Intre timp, cu soldatii imi trimiteam mailuri si IM. Nu le-am salvat pe toate, pentru ca nu am realizat la inceput ca este ceva la care as vrea sa tin evidenta. Dar au fost 3 311 emailuri si mesaje IM si mesaje text care am reusit sa le salvez. Motivul pentru care am spus asta e pentru ca am pornit impreuna in aceasta calatorie pentru a putea patrunde cu adevarat. Si am vrut sa va arat o inregistare, apoi va voi spune ceva despre cum a fost realizat, daca s-ar putea difuza.
(Video) SP: Today is sport. [Unclear] Radio: [Unclear] Christian soldiers. SP: We like to give these insurgents a fair chance. So, what we do, we ride with the windows down. Because, you know, we obviously have the advantage. I'm just kidding. We don't fucking ride with the goddam windows down. It's not true. Very unsafe. Whoa.
Pink: Astazi e distractiv. Vrem sa le oferim acestor rebeli o sansa corecta. Asa ca, mergem cu geamurile jos. Pentru ca stii, cu siguranta avem un avantaj. Glumesc doar. Nu mergem cu geamurile netrase. Nu este adevarat. Foarte periculos. Whoa.
Soldier: Right there.
Soldat: Chiar acolo.
SP: All right, let's get over to that site. Be advised, we're leaving Taji right now. We believe that the blast was right outside the gate of Taji, we're heading to that location now.
P: Bine, sa mergem in partea aceea. Fii prevenit, parasim Taji chiar acum. Credem ca explozia a fost chiar in afara portii din Taji. ne indreptam spre acea locatie chiar acum.
Soldier: That's a fucking car bomb!
Soldat: Este o masina cu bomba!
Soldier: Motherfuckers!
Soldat: Nenorocitii!
Soldiers: Get your vest on! Hey, get over the fucking -- yeah, yeah. Any one-four elements get to the gate!
Soldat: Pune-ti vesta! hey, da-te de pe-- da,da. Oricine, patru elemente sa ajunga la poarta!
SP: Sheriff one-six, or any one-four elements, we need you at the gate of Taji right now, over.
P: Sheriff unu sase, sau oricare alte patru elemente, avem nevoie de tine la poarte din Taji chiar acum, terminat.
Soldier: I'll walk you through it. (Voices)
Barbat: Va conduc eu printre. (Voci)
SP: Stay low. Head over to the right. Get your bag, get your bag! (Screams)
P: Stai aplecat. Capul spre dreapta. Ia-ti geanta, ia-ti geanta CLS! (Tipete)
SP: It was mass casualties. Probably 20 dead, at least 20 or 30 wounded Iraqis.
P: Au fost pagube umane in masa. Probabil 20 morti, cel putin 20 sau 30 raniti .
SP: It just looked like, you know, someone had thrown a quarter through a guy, and it was just like -- there was no blood coming from the shrapnel wounds. Everything was cauterized, and it was just like there was a void going through the body. This is the scene north. They just removed a burnt body, or half a body from here. I don't think there was anything left from his abdominal down. This is blood. And you know, you walk, and you hear the pieces of skin. And that's it, that's all that's left. I remember giving three IVs, bandaging several wounded. Soldiers sitting in the corner of a sandbag wall, shaking and screaming. Medics who were terrified and couldn't perform. I later heard that Iraqi casualties were not to be treated in Taji. They can work on the post for pennies, but can't die there. They've got to die outside. If one of those incompetent medical officers told me to stop treatment, I would've slit his throat right there. 21:00 hours, and it's just our squad going through today's events in our heads, whether we want to or not.
P: Era ca si cum -- stii tu, cineva ar fi aruncat o moneda prin tipul ala, si nu a fost sange care sa curga din ranile in forma de tija. Totul era cauterizat, si era ca un void trecand prin corp. Acesta e partea de Nord. Tocmai au luat un corp ars, sau jumatate de corp de aici. Nu cred ca mai era ceva ramas din el din partea abdominala in jos. Acesta e sange. Si stii, mergi, si auzi bucati de piele si -- asta e tot, atat a ramas. Tin minte ca am pus 3 perfuzii, am badajat mai multe persoane ranite. Soldati in spatele unui zid de saci cu nisip, tremurand si tipand. Medici terifiati care nu-si putea face treaba. Mai tarziu am auzit ca ranile din Iraq nu trebuia sa fie tratate in Taji. Pot lucra pe post pentru bani, dar nu pot sa moara aici. Trebuie sa moara afara. Daca unii din acei ofiteri medicali incopetenti mi-ar fi spus sa termin tratamentul, i-as fi taiat gatul chiar acolo. Ora 21, si este doar echipa noastra trecandu-ne prin cap toate evenimentele de astazi, chiar de vrem sau nu.
News Anchor: More violence in Iraq. Twin suicide car bombings killed eight Iraqis and wounded dozens more near a coalition base north of Baghdad.
Anchor: Mai multa violenta in Iraq. Doua masini cu bomba au ucis opt Iraqieni si au ranit inca alte zeci langa o baza de coalitie la nord de Baghdad..
SP: We made the news. I feel exploited and proud at the same time. I've lost all faith in the media -- a hapless joke I would much rather laugh at than become a part of. I should really thank God for saving my lucky ass. I'll do that, then I'm gonna jerk off. Because these pages smell like Linds, and there won't be any time for jerking off tomorrow. Another mission at 06:00.
P: Am ajuns la stiri. Ma simt exploatat si mandru in acelas timp. Am pierdut toata incredere in media -- o gluma nenorocoasa la care as prefera sa rad decat sa fac parte din ea. Chiar ar trebui sa-i multumesc lui Dumnezeu pentru ca mi-a salvat fundul norocos azi. Voi face asta, si pe urma ma voi masturba. Pentru ca aceste pagini miros ca Lindz, si nu va mai fi timp pentru masturbare maine. Alta misiune la 6 am.
DS: Now -- (Applause) -- thanks. When I said earlier, to try and tell a story from the inside out, versus the outside in -- part of what Chris said so eloquently in his introduction -- is this melding. It's a new way of trying to make a documentary. When I met the guys, and 10 of them agreed to take cameras -- in total, 21 ended up filming. Five soldiers filmed the entire time. There are three featured in the film.
Deborah Scranton: Acum -- (Aplauze).Multumesc. Cand am spus mai devreme, ca incerc sa spun o poveste din interior, versus cea din afara spre interior -- parte din ce a spus Chris atat de elocvent este introducerea lui in acest mesaj. Este un nou mod de a incerca sa faci un documentar. Cand am intalnit baietii, si 10 din ei au fost de acord sa ia camerele. in total, 21 au ajuns sa filmeze. Cinci soldati au filmat tot timpul. Sunt trei prezentati in film.
The way I learned about Taji was Steve Pink sent me an email, and in it, attached a photo of that burned body out at the car. And the tone from the email was, you know, it had been a very bad day, obviously. And I saw in my IM window that Mike Moriarty was at the base. So, I pinged Mike and I said, "Mike, can you please go get that interview with Pink?" Because the thing that very often is missing is, in the military what they call "hot wash." It's that immediate interview after something immediately happens, you know. And if you let time go by, it kind of softens and smooths the edges. And for me, I really wanted that.
Cum am auzit de Taji a fost prin Steve Pink care mi-a trimis un mail, si a atasat o poza a acelui cadavru ars din afara acelei masini. si tonul mailului a fost, stiti, a fost o zi foarte prosta, bineinteles. Si am vazut in fereastra mea de IM ca Mike Moriatry era la baza. asa ca l-am alertat pe Mike si i-am spus, "Mike, poti te rog sa te duci sa iei interviul cu Pink? Pentru ca lucrul care lipseste foarte des este, ceea ce in armata este numit "dus fierbinte". Este acel interviu luat imediat dupa ce s-a intamplat ceva rapid. Iar daca lasi timpul sa treaca, lucrurile se cam inmoaie si se netezesc. iar eu, chiar vroiam acea inregistrare.
So, in order to get the intimacy, to share that experience with you, the guys -- the two most popular mounts -- there was a camera on the turret, the gun turret, and then on the dashboard of the Humvee. Most of the Humvees, we ended up mounting two cameras in them. So you get to experience that in real time, right? The interview that you see is the one that Mike went and did within 24 hours of that episode happening.
Si, pentru a obtine intimitatea, de a imparti experienta cu tine, baietii -- cele mai importante locuri -- a fost o camera pe turnulet -- turnuletul armei, si una pe bordul masinii Humvee, Pe majoritatea masinilor Humvee, am ajuns sa montam, doua camere in ele. Asa ca ajungi sa experimentezi asta in timp real, corect? Interviul pe care l-ai vazut e cel pe care l-a facut Mike cu 24 de ore inainte de a se intampla acest episod.
Steve Pink reading his journal happened five months after he came home. I knew about that journal, but it was very, very private. And you know, you earn someone's trust, especially in doc filmmaking, through your relationship. So, it wasn't until five months after he was home that he would read that journal.
Steve Pink citindu-si jurnalul s-a intamplat cu 5 luni dupa ce s-a intors acasa. Stiam desre acest jurnal, dar era foarte, foarte privat. Si stii, castigi increderea cuiva, in special in filmarea documentarelor, prin relatia voastra. Si nu a fost decat dupa 5 luni de cand ajunse acasa cand a citit jurnalul.
Now, the news footage I put in there to try to show -- you know, I think mainstream media tries to do the best they can in the format that they have. But the thing that I know you all have heard a lot of times, American soldiers saying, "Why don't they talk about the good stuff that we do?" OK, this is a perfect example. Pink's squad and another squad spent their entire day outside the wire. They didn't have to go outside the wire. There were not Americans hurt out there. They spent their entire day outside the wire trying to save Iraqi lives -- the Iraqis who work on the post. So, when you may hear soldiers complaining, that's what they're talking about, you know? And I think it's such an amazing gift that they would share this as a way of bridging.
Acum, inregistrarea stirilor pe care le-am pus acolo pentru a le arata -- stii, cred ca media mainstream incearca sa faca tot ce poate in formatul pe care il au. Dar un lucru sunt sigura ca l-ati auzit de multe ori, soldati Americani spunand, "De ce nu vorbesc despre lucurile bune pe care le facem?" OK, acesta este un exemplu perfect. Trupa Pink si alta si-au petrecut o zi intreaga inafara sarmei. Nu trebuiau sa iasa inafara sarmei. Nu erau americani raniti acolo. Si-au petrecut intreaga zi inafara sarmei incercand sa salveze viata iraquienilor -- iraqieni ce lucreaza pe post. Deci cand vei auzi soldati plangandu-se, despre asta vorbesc, stii? Si cred ca este un adevarat cadou pentru ca impartasesc asta, ca un mod de a face o legatura.
And when I talk about that polarity I get at so many different Q&As, and people are really opinionated. But it seems like people don't want to hear so much, or listen, or try to have an exchange. And I'm as fiery as the next person, but I really think -- you know, different speakers have talked about their concern for the world, and my concern is that we have to have these conversations. And we have to be able to go into scary places where we may, you know, we think we know. But we just have to leave that little bit of openness, to know. There's such a disconnect. And for me, it's trying to bridge that disconnect. I'll share one story. I get -- I'm often asked, you know, for me, what have been some of the special moments from having worked on this film. And at screenings, inevitably -- you know, as I'm sure all of you obviously do speaking stuff -- usually you have people who hang around and want to ask you more questions. And usually, the first questions are, "Oh, what kind of cameras did you use?" Or you know, these things.
Si cand vorbesc despre polaritate la diferite intruniri, oamenii au multe opinii. Dar pare ca oamenii nu prea vor sa auda. Sau asculte.Sau sa incearce sa aiba un schimb. Si sunt la fel de patimasa ca urmatoarea persoana, dar chiar cred -- stiti, diferite persoane au vorbit despre preocuparea lor pentru lume, si grija mea e ca trebuie sa avem acest fel de conversatii. Si trebuie sa mergem in locuri infricosatoare pe care credem ca le cunostem. Dar trebuie sa lasam acea deschidere, a cunoaste. Este o asa de mare deconectare. Iar eu, doar incerc sa fac legatura acelei deconectari. va voi spune o intamplare. Sunt intrebata frecvent, care au fost unele din acele momente speciala in timp ce lucram la acest film. Dar la prezentari, inevitabil -- stiti, doar toti faceti intalniri de genul acesta -- de obicei sunt oameni ce vor sa mai ramana si sa iti puna mai multe intrebari. Si de obicei primele intrebari sunt, "Oh, ce fel de camera ai folosit?" Oh stii, aceste lucruri.
But there's always a few guys, almost always, who are the last ones. And I've learned over time that those are always the soldiers. And they wait until pretty much everybody's gone. And for me, one of the most profound stories someone shared with me, that then became my story, was -- for those of you who haven't seen the film, and it's not a spoiler -- it's very common there are a lot of civilian accidents, where people get in front of Humvees and they get killed. In this film, there is a scene where an Iraqi woman is killed. A soldier came up to me and stood, you know really, pretty close, a foot away from me. He's a big guy. And he looked at me, and I smiled, and then I saw the tears start welling up in his eyes. And he wasn't going to blink. And he said, "My gunner was throwing candy." And I knew what he was going to say. The gunner was throwing candy. They used to throw candy to the kids. Kids got too close, very often. And he said, "I killed a child. And I'm a father. I have children. I haven't been able to tell my wife. I'm afraid she's going to think I'm a monster." I hugged him, of course, and I said, you know, "It's going to be OK." And he said, "I'm going to bring her to see your film. And then I'm going to tell her."
Dar sunt intotdeauna acei cativa barbati, aprope intotdeauna,cei din urma. Si am invatat cu timpul ca acestia sunt intotdeauna soldatii. Asteapta pana toata lumea e plecata. Si pentru mine, una din cele mai profunde povesti impartasite cu mine, care apoi a devenit si a mea, a fost -- pentru cei care nu ati vazut filmul, si nu este un spoiler -- se intampla foarte des sa fie multe accidente civile cand oamenii ajung in fata masinilor Humvee si sunt omorati. In acest film, este o scena in care o femeie iraqiana este omorata. Un soldat a venit la mine si a stat, stiti, destul de aproape -- 30 de centrimetri departare de mine. Este un tip inalt. Si s-a uitat la mine, si eu i-am zambit, si apoi am vazut lacrimile cum se formau in ochii lui. Si nu avea de gand sa clipeasca. Si a spus, "Tunarul meu arunca dulciuri" Si stiam ce avea de gand sa spuna. Tunarul meu arunca dulciuri. Obisnuiau sa arunce dulciuri copiilor. Copii se apropiau prea tare, foarte des, Si a spus, "Am omorat un copil. Si sunt tata. Am copii. Nu am fost in stare sa-i spun sotiei mele. Mi-e frica ca va crede ca sunt un monstru." L-am imbratisat, bineinteles, si am spus, stii, "Va fi bine" Si a spus, "O voi aduce sa vada filmul tau. Si apoi ii voi spune."
So when I talk about a disconnect, it's not only for maybe those people who don't know a soldier, which there obviously are. You know, these days, it's not like World War II, where there was a war front and a home front, and everybody seemed involved. You can go for days here and not feel like there's a war going on. And often, I'll hear people say, who maybe know that I did this film, and they say, "Oh, you know, I'm against the war, but I support the soldiers." And I've started to ask them, "Well, that's nice. What are you doing? Are you volunteering at a VA? You go and see anybody? Do you, if you find out your neighbor's been, do you spend some time? Not necessarily ask questions, but see if they want to talk? Do you give money to any of the charities?" You know, obviously, like Dean Kamen's working on that amazing thing, but there's charities where you can sponsor computers for wounded soldiers.
Deci cand vorbesc despre o deconectare, nu este poate pentru acei oameni care nu stiu un soldat. care cu siguranta exista -- stii, in aceste zile. Nu e ca in Al doilea razboi mondial, unde ere un front de razboi si unul de acasa, si toata lumea era implicata. Poti sa traiesti zile si sa nu simti ca si cum este un razboi care se desfasoara. Si des aud oameni spunand, care probabil ca stiu ca am facut acest film, si spun, " Oh, stii, sunt impotriva razboiului dar sustin soldatii." Si am inceput sa-i intreb, "Pai, asta e dragut -- ce faci? esti voluntar ca un VA? Te duci si vezi pe oricine? Daca afli ca vecinul tau a fost acolo petreci niste timp cu el? Nu neaparat sa pui intreabari dar sa vezi daca vor sa vorbeasca? oferi bani vreunei fundatii? Stiti, bineinteles, cum Dean Kermen lucreaza la acel lucru minunat -- dar sunt si fundatii unde poti sponsoriza computere pentru soldatii raniti.
I think, I challenge us to say -- to operationalize those terms, when we say we support someone, you know? Are you a friend to them? Do you really care? And I would just say it's my hope, and I would ask you guys to please, you know, reach out a hand. And really do give them a hug. Thank you.
Cred ca ma provoc sa spunem -- sa operationam acei termeni cand spunem ca sustinem pe cineva, stiti? Esti un prieten pentru ei? Chiar iti pasa? Si as spune ca e speranta mea, si va rog, sa intindeti o mana. Si chiar sa le dati o imbratisare. Multumesc.