Born on the Fourth of July: Betrayal and the Illusion of Patriotism

Okay, so I finally watched Born on the Fourth of July (yeah, a little late to the party, I know!). Oliver Stone directed the 1989 film, and I gotta say, it really messed with my head. I think the most impactful part for me wasn't even the battle scenes (though they were brutal), but the slow, agonizing disillusionment of Ron Kovic. He starts off so gung-ho, practically vibrating with patriotic fervor, and ends up… well, completely broken, questioning everything he ever believed in. That's some heavy stuff. It made me think about the whole concept of 'blind' patriotism, doesn't it? Like, Kovic (played brilliantly by Tom Cruise!) is basically brainwashed into believing that serving in Vietnam is the ultimate expression of love for his country. But then he's injured, physically and emotionally, and the country he thought he knew doesn't exactly rush to his aid. The scene where he's in the VA hospital, surrounded by other forgotten vets… it's heartbreaking and kinda horrifying. Its as if they are the forgotten soldiers My theory is that Stone's really hammering home the idea that governments can manipulate patriotic sentiment for their own agendas. Kovic is essentially used and discarded. And the film isn't just about the Vietnam War; it's about the inherent dangers of unquestioning faith in any institution. Think about that scene where he tries to reconnect with Donna, the girl he left behind--he is not the same person anymore, and his inability to adjust to normal life shows the cost of war on a person. I'm still processing it, honestly. Did anyone else feel like the movie was trying to deconstruct the whole 'American Dream' thing, showing the dark underbelly of what it really costs to maintain this idealized image? Let me know what you think!