This dialogue from Season 5, Episode 20 of M*A*S*H (“The General’s Practitioner”) first aired in 1977. However, the exchange between Hawkeye (Alan Alda), and Father Mulcahy (William Christopher) could have been ripped from last week's news cycle.
Hawkeye: War isn’t Hell. War is war, and Hell is Hell. And of the two, war is a lot worse.
Father Mulcahy: How do you figure that, Hawkeye?
Hawkeye: Easy, Father. Tell me, who goes to Hell?
Father Mulcahy: Um, sinners, I believe.
Hawkeye: Exactly. There are no innocent bystanders in Hell, but war is
chock full of them – little kids, cripples, old ladies. In fact, except
for a few of the brass, almost everybody involved is an innocent
bystander.
Five years ago: A Real Pain In The Heel
Good find from 1977 -Christine cmlk79.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteTrue, so true! History repeats itself ..... over and over again.
ReplyDeleteWe're innocent bystanders here too. But I hope we stay bystanders and not participants.
ReplyDeleteYep.
DeleteSo very true!
ReplyDeleteSo sad, that people say similar things, and wars keep happening. Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteso sad but true.. and scary...
ReplyDeleteOh gosh.... This dialogue is so true and so perfect.
ReplyDeleteM*A*S*H sure had good Writers didn't they?
ReplyDeleteI think the show's really held up over the years.
DeleteNice sum up of war, I think.
ReplyDeleteThe description resonated with me, too.
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