Hotel Rwanda
Do you remember the moment when the reporters are leaving, and Paul is hopeful that getting the word out to the rest of the world will make a difference, and the younger reporter says, "no, they'll watch it, think 'how horrible,' then go eat their dinners"?
I got very emotional watching the film, and now I've calmed down, and likely, if it were dinner time, I would go eat. Just like I have every day that I am reminded of horror.
I learn every day how complex the problems in our world are. That there are no easy solutions and there are a million shades of grey. But why can't we pull the simple lesson from history that hatred is evil, and inciting fear and hatred of another group has never done good?
There was much shame again to the white western world, to the history of colonialism. If the past will always haunt us, how can the memory be constructive and not destructive in the reality we are stuck with? (Not to say all problems are in the past, there are plenty of new problems whose foundations are being laid now.)
I got very emotional watching the film, and now I've calmed down, and likely, if it were dinner time, I would go eat. Just like I have every day that I am reminded of horror.
I learn every day how complex the problems in our world are. That there are no easy solutions and there are a million shades of grey. But why can't we pull the simple lesson from history that hatred is evil, and inciting fear and hatred of another group has never done good?
There was much shame again to the white western world, to the history of colonialism. If the past will always haunt us, how can the memory be constructive and not destructive in the reality we are stuck with? (Not to say all problems are in the past, there are plenty of new problems whose foundations are being laid now.)
posted by dm at 12:12 AM
1 Comments:
Yes, Hotel Rwanda was one of the most emotional films I've ever seen. It's not an easy watch, but I think everyone should see it. It's a good thing that we do watch the news and watch these movies and then go eat, because if we skipped a meal every time something bad happened in the world, we'd all starve to death. But more importantly, you are wondering how we can turn our shame into constructive action. It's simple, but hard to put into action, isn't it. We just have to resist the urge to screw things up in the first place. The factors leading to the Rwanda Genocide are well documented and agreed upon as far as I know. The colonial legacy of setting two groups against each other who had previously lived in harmony. Economic pressures and disparities. The individuals caught up in the genocide have to take responsibility for their actions for sure, but we (the west) have to take responsibility for setting up the environment that encouraged it and made it an option. We have to actively work against powers of imperialism and injustice, just like you did in Hebron. By the way, just as you were glad their were soldiers with guns when you were visiting the Palestinian farmer, I was wishing their were more men with guns in Rwanda when I was watching that film. When pacifists like you and I start wishing for/being thankful for guns, then you know you're dealing with a situation that is beyond out of control. I hope this Christmas we can reflect on God's love for all people and how we can share that love by working for peace and justice. I pray for loving imagination so that we might be able to face precarious situations without wishing for guns.
Merry Christmas Dora!
-A
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