Why I’m not in the Military – An Invisible Oscar Shoo-in

Guys, I’ve only seen two of the documentaries.

I know, I know. Unacceptable. But time and patience just haven’t given into the fact that The Bachelor is in full swing, as is our DVR (Thank you Jimmy Kimmel and The entire Kardashian family). I managed to make myself sit down with the Netflix Streaming account and dive into The Invisible War and How to Survive a Plague.

I can tell you that if the race was between these two only, TIW takes the cake, and everyone at the party. Not that I wasn’t (semi) interested in hearing about the fight for AIDS cures and coping mechanisms, but it just didn’t hold a candle to what’s going on in the barracks. Plus, Plague consists of strictly fuzzy footage from the 80s and 90s, where Invisible seems a little more viewer friendly, artistic and smooth. And I know, I KNOW that most documentaries denounce our past Republican presidents, but when they started chanting, “People Have Died, Where is George,” I had reached my limit of deep breaths and eye rolls. So, that’s as far as I made it on that one.

The Invisible War, however, was a gripping tale about the ridiculous tolerance within the United States Armed Forces for sexual abuse. Yeah, that’s rape, folks. The report follows a handful of women, literally scarred for life by their experience in the Marines, Army, etc. and what they’re STILL going through today. The most interesting part of this story? The fact that ALL of their predators are still in the forces, and most have been promoted or received top honors. Um, for rape?

It’s one of those stories that you listen to with you jaw on the floor and your hand over your heart. I’m not sure what makes documentaries Oscar winners, but if it’s the impact that its story leaves on you, I’m marked for life and consider it a winner, for sure.

I am curious, however. I don’t know a lot of servicemen and I know exponentially less service women, so I’d love to hear from those who do on their opinions? Is it this bad? Is it this one-sided? Do the “good ones” talk about how bad it is elsewhere?