Flags of Our Fathers

The Japanese were into mass suicidal attacks where as the Americans were not. The Japanese soldiers were loyal to their Emperor where as the American soldiers were loyal to their unit. The culture between the two countries was vastly different. Japanese soldiers believed they were fighting in the "Way of the Warrior," or the Bushido tradition, but in fact they were being forced to operate within a twisted version of this warrior ideal; the Japanese military in the 20th century was more of "a cult of death," and its "warriors" were viewed as expendable. This theme is also developed in terms of the American military, which also broke down the idea of an individual self. However, in this case, the dedication was not to an unknown emperor, but to the team of soldiers.