On Monday night I watched the movie Osama. It is a powerful story, with an extra sting if you've got the DVD and can watch the included documentary as well.
The hardships and injustices that are still part of the daily landscape for a majority in Afghanistan is really depressing, when you consider the paltry amount of "rebuilding" which is being done for those people.
One of the ringing quotes from the film was that "the wounds of war can take generations to heal".
There was added poignancy when I reflected that I was seeing this on Anzac Day when we remember ... "our war", and how safe and privileged most of us are.
Then yesterday I read Michael Leunig's Opinion in the Age which really struck a chord.
The glorification of the military must cease. It needs to be considered a necessary evil, to be avoided wherever possible.