Desert Victory

The film was viewed in two segments. I was sitting in the home office and sorted paperwork during the first segment. Then I was able to focus a second time again in the office. The difference between the two times was the position of the laptop. At first, the laptop was at a desk level which is higher then the couch level. Due to the height difference, my focus was not 100%. But the second time, the laptop was on a chair; a full view of the screen enabled me to concentrate on the film. I believe that the position where you are allows a clear picture. This statement goes into our work life, personal life, and personal goals. Please keep in mind about the position that you are occurring in. If you do not have a clear picture of what you are doing or staying, change position. Or you can allow the things or events change align or be apart from your position.

As for the film, scenes of the battles allowed me to take part of the position of how the military survived in the desert. This could be related to any country. As I live in a desert of California, I encounter military personnel at my current position. I have conversations of their training due to the equipment that they purchase with a government credit card. I met pilots for the local air force base, Marines who train out by Salton Sea or unknown desert areas, more airmen who travelled from United Kingdom to train, army from the local fort always have variety of items, GPS units are sold to all branches of military either for personal or work or even a Naval officer from San Diego. I often ask what they are going to do with the rope, knife set, a bag, carabiners, or everything that is in a bag. Pilots have to gather emergency kits for their flights. I'm intrigued by their purchases. The film shows through the weapons, supplies, and especially water supplies how the soldiers survive out in the extreme heat of the desert. There is strength shown through the long awaited end of victory. There are two parts of the film. The first shows the actual battles and exchanges between steel with steel. The only difference is the ownership.

The second part shows staged exchanges of soldiers who had to survive. I felt that this is a progression of filming a documentary. This must have been a conceptual change to introduce acted parts to show details. In other words, the beginning of reenactments arises for viewers. I appreciate how they took parachute material for shelter to keep sun out, using gas and metal barrels for a cooking stove or heater, how they had to keep water intake at a minimal level, keep salt tablets at a minimal dosage, and the sufferings and angst of surviving out in the desert. I received an educational experience from the footage. I can relate to the make-up designs or ingredients or materials of REI products and relate to the physiology and purposes of man to survive and sustain a living out in the wilderness. The most gratifying moment of viewing the film is comparing to my own survival outdoors and all the experiences that others share with me while working at REI. I love how people can go into intricate details of their trips in Sierras, Yosemite, Joshua Tree, Grand Tetons, Zion, Costa Rica, and more. I live an adventure through others including myself. I love the fact that I went on my own to backpack or camp out and learn about the products that I brought and to survive for days on my own. I love how to light a stove, find a repellent out in nature, test out wild plants, how to cross a rapid river, how to survive out in the cold, how to heal from yellow jacket stings, how to set up camp, how to survive a sprain, how to push yourself up a mountain, how to battle the noises of the night, how to cut a rope, how to battle winds, how to use an ice axe, how to use a regular axe, how to keep clean, how not to have nausea, how to keep dry and warm during a rain storm which is hardly never, how to throw away an awful piece clothing made of cotton, how to cut through bushes,how to adjust supplies on the pack, how to fix a trekking pole in middle of nowhere, and how to make to the end and back where the last 10 miles are grueling - either way. With my own experiences, I saw how the soldiers although staged really shown the ropes and obstacles on one has while being in the outdoors.

These documentaries are shown how closely related we as civilians are with our miltary troops. But at the same time, we appreciate the extreme pressures and environments which they have to present and execute their job duties for the survival of themselves and our country. The breakdown is the common bond between people who spent time outdoors is everything to do with survival.

The film displayed the soldiers, the sounds and sights of the weapons, the native people of Africa, and the victories. The scenes of the desert presented a real yet a mirage of events where I can related to survival outdoor skills yet I cannot imagine the battle scenes. As for now, I can live in real time as the United States military defuse the bombs in the deserts of the Middle East and see how others survive in mere details of the customers who I meet in the future and through the media. The survival of man is to live until tomorrow. When tomorrow arrives, one says same thing over and over again. Everyday, I learn to survive through the survival of others. One cannot take life alone to survive. Survival is what makes man a life to live. One grain equals an infinity number of grains to consume and distribute whether conditions are stable or a hazardous zone. Bottom line - push or get out of life. No choice.