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American
Rhetoric:
Movie
Speech
"A Few Good Men"
(1992)
Plug-in required for flash audio music intro
Colonel Nathan R. Jessep
Addresses the Court on "Code Red"
Lieutenant Kaffee: Colonel Jessep! Did
you order the "code red?!!"
Judge Randolph: You don't have to
answer that question!
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Jessep: I'll answer the question. You
want answers?
Lieutenant Kaffee: I think I'm entitled
to them.
Jessep: You want answers?!
Lieutenant Kaffee: I want the
truth!
Jessep: You can't handle the truth! |
Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be
guarded by men with guns. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lieutenant
Weinberg? I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly
fathom. You weep for Santiago, and you curse the Marines. You have that
luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know -- that Santiago's
death, while tragic, probably saved lives; and my existence, while
grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives.
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You don't want
the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about
at parties, you want me on that wall -- you need me on that wall.
We use words like "honor," "code,"
"loyalty." We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending
something. You use them as a punch line.
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I have neither the time nor the
inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the
blanket of the very freedom that I provide and then questions the manner
in which I provide it.
I would rather that you just said "thank you" and
went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand the
post. Either way, I don't give a DAMN what you think you're
entitled to! |
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Lieutenant Kaffee: Did you order the
"code red?" Jessep: I did the job I was --
Lieutenant Kaffee: -- Did you order the
"code red?!" |
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Jessep: You're god damn right I
did!!! |
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