I think that the movie was supposed to have a series of impacts upon us, the viewers. First I think that it was supposed to make us realize the ignorance of the world in regards to Rwanda. Then, it was supposed to have us understand what happened in Rwanda. Finally, it serves as a warning to not make the same mistake again.
These were the effects it was supposed to have upon it's viewers, personally overall I would say it had that effect on me, however, I would like to detail upon that more. To the first point, this movie did help me to understand how ignorant the world was. The world, in my opinion, is still ignorant on many issues. That is not because they are not reported, they are, it is just that most people don't really focus upon those issues. Much footage is given each year to celebrities and star athletes because that is what people want, it is what sells. I have heard people say that their has been overkills on campaigns to help the starving in Africa or other humanitarian issues, but honestly I disagree. Those issues are still there, they have not gone away and they should continue to be given priority until they are solved. On the other hand, celebrities don't need to be shown on news several times every hour of the day. If gossip and the such is wanted by people, they can read magazines dedicated to that. There are still issues going on in Darfur and Tibet and honestly not much is being reported on them. If someone specifically wants to search on the Internet for information, it can be found, but I think that those issues should take precedent over which celebrity is dating who and issues related to that type of media.
Second, although the movie obviously cannot show the full picture of Rwanda, it still gave me a better understanding of what happened there and the terror faced by some of the people displayed in the movie. Since most of the world learns the best through images, being able to see the road with dead bodies and the overflowing refugee camps really help people, such as myself, understand and relate to those people. Although the movie's main character was a moderate Hutu, the mindset of the extremist Hutus was displayed through the use of the "hate" radio in the movie. This gives a glimpse into the the world of extremist Hutus and therefore displays different views within the movie.
Lastly, the movie did inspire me some to not allow something such as a genocide to happen again. In the words of Bruce Wayne in Batman Begins, "People need dramatic examples to shake them out of apathy." I thoroughly agree with this statement. The Rwandan genocide shocked the world and organizations such as the UN to do make better policies and to do more if something like a genocide happens again. Unfortunately that "dramatic example" was too late for Rwanda as they did not receive the aid needed to put an end to the genocide. This movie really pressures me to be active and not passive as the rest of the world was at the time.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Rwanda
Fear, hate, death, all things that covered Rwanda during the genocide in 1994. In a hundred days, an estimated 800,000 people were killed. This is what is being studied in our English class. We are looking at the effect media played in this whole atrocity. After looking through the sources that were given to us and doing some research of my own I came to several conclusions about effect of the media on the whole situation.
First, I feel that the media did not pressure world leaders into action. Media is often known for exaggerating the truth and the word "genocide" was not used early enough. Granted, if the UN and others had really wanted to stop the conflict they would have done something substantial and it wouldn't have gone on for as long as it did, however, as said by Paul Rusesabagina in the movie Hotel Rwanda, "We must shame them into sending help." I feel that the fault for the lack of support lies with both the media and the countries. I believe that had the media pushed leaders to take action, change could have occurred.
Second, the movie Hotel Rwanda is a strong movie. It is strong because it is able to convey its message without being too graphic. There is that instance of him falling in dead bodies and some wounded/dead people, but for the most part many of the killings are done off-screen. Honestly, I think that the movie is better for that. It doesn't take away from the message but rather adds to it in my opinion because is mirrors what people in the hotel would actually know. If they are not outside how can they see what is happening? Also as stated by Alex Ho on the making of Hotel Rwanda“When the film ventures outside into Kigali during the genocide, we tried to create this bizarre, surreal atmosphere, to let viewers feel the psychological terror of the genocide without going close on the slaughter. This is a powerful human drama, not a horror story, and we believe it is important that the widest possible audience should see it.” That feeling of insecurity and of not truly knowing if one was safe or not was part of the terror and emotional/mental tolls that the Rwandan genocide had on people. Although the media could have done more in Rwanda at the time of genocide, I really think that this movie makes people wish they could have done more. This is where the media really shines, when it inspires people and makes them question their actions.
Third, have we learned? Has the world and its people truly learned from their mistakes? I read several articles talking about how Rwanda is still in the process of being repaired and another regarding the responsibility of the world. While I was reading this, current issues such as Darfur and Tibet came into mind. Darfur, that conflict has been going on for a couple of years now, still unresolved. Tibet is getting some attention because of the Beijing 2008 Olympics, but still not enough. We must remember Rwanda and not let it just be a tragic incident, but rather have it be an inspiration to us, that we may no longer turn our heads to the tragedies.
First, I feel that the media did not pressure world leaders into action. Media is often known for exaggerating the truth and the word "genocide" was not used early enough. Granted, if the UN and others had really wanted to stop the conflict they would have done something substantial and it wouldn't have gone on for as long as it did, however, as said by Paul Rusesabagina in the movie Hotel Rwanda, "We must shame them into sending help." I feel that the fault for the lack of support lies with both the media and the countries. I believe that had the media pushed leaders to take action, change could have occurred.
Second, the movie Hotel Rwanda is a strong movie. It is strong because it is able to convey its message without being too graphic. There is that instance of him falling in dead bodies and some wounded/dead people, but for the most part many of the killings are done off-screen. Honestly, I think that the movie is better for that. It doesn't take away from the message but rather adds to it in my opinion because is mirrors what people in the hotel would actually know. If they are not outside how can they see what is happening? Also as stated by Alex Ho on the making of Hotel Rwanda“When the film ventures outside into Kigali during the genocide, we tried to create this bizarre, surreal atmosphere, to let viewers feel the psychological terror of the genocide without going close on the slaughter. This is a powerful human drama, not a horror story, and we believe it is important that the widest possible audience should see it.” That feeling of insecurity and of not truly knowing if one was safe or not was part of the terror and emotional/mental tolls that the Rwandan genocide had on people. Although the media could have done more in Rwanda at the time of genocide, I really think that this movie makes people wish they could have done more. This is where the media really shines, when it inspires people and makes them question their actions.
Third, have we learned? Has the world and its people truly learned from their mistakes? I read several articles talking about how Rwanda is still in the process of being repaired and another regarding the responsibility of the world. While I was reading this, current issues such as Darfur and Tibet came into mind. Darfur, that conflict has been going on for a couple of years now, still unresolved. Tibet is getting some attention because of the Beijing 2008 Olympics, but still not enough. We must remember Rwanda and not let it just be a tragic incident, but rather have it be an inspiration to us, that we may no longer turn our heads to the tragedies.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Heart of Stone
A Heart Of StoneAuthor: Beckie M.
Once I had a heart of stone
For it had surley lost its home
It could not love or wanted too
But in my life, then came you.
The stones began to fall away
As happiness began to fill my day
A feeling so sweet and special too
Could this be love, I pray is true.
My heart now sings a song of love
For I know that it was sent from above
My heart is warm, there is no cold
Hard no more, but with wings of gold.
It soars above the sky so high
Sometimes I think of why and cry
My heart now sings a loving song
For the part of me I thought was gone.
The gift that you have given me
Is so important, can't you see
No more sadness or being alone
For now my heart returns to home.
This title caught my eye so I took a look at this poem. I like this poem because it shows how the person's life and outlook on life improved. The beginning starts out a bit melancholy but then by the end I was quite happy for the speaker. This whole poem puts the phrase "heart of stone" into a new perspective. Often when that phrase is used, it doesn't really give the person that they are bestowing the phrase upon any hope that the person can change. It is generally used in a very negative sense, however, in this poem it is turned around and used in such a way that it seems like a somewhat normal phase that one much go through to find love.
My favorite part of the poem would be the last stanza and specifically the last line. I like the idea of one's heart coming home although I do not totally agree with it. Although the last lines are a bit idealistic if you are referring to romantic love or a romantic lover, it is still a nice thought and ideal. I think that this poem could easily be related to God's love. Because only God can truly change a body's heart of stone.
http://www.1lovepoems.com/pa28.shtml
http://bildbevis.se/images/20060202004414_heart_of_stone.jpg
Saturday, January 19, 2008
A Black And White Prom Dress
A Black And White Prom Dress © By Samone Oliveros
A black and white prom dress hangs limply from a wall
Waiting for an owner to wear it to the ball
A black and white prom dress its story yet to unfold
A girl walks to the prom dress that she does behold
A black and white prom dress, plain looking to the eyes
But a girl could be a princess, in this delicate disguise
A black and white prom Dress yearning to be worn
A girl who is waiting like a rose to lose its thorns
A black and white prom dress that she tried on to see
What could such a plain dress, look like on me?
A black and white prom dress that fit her figure well
So she did wear it to the prom, now the stories it cold tell
It could enlighten about the kiss, the girl received that night
While specks of the moon, still shine on it so bright
Yes a black and white prom dress, now passed on through many years
A black an white prom dress all the secrets that it hears
But now the magic dress, again hangs limply from a wall
Waiting, waiting, once again, to be worn to the ball
A black and white prom dress yearning to be worn
But the colors are now faded and places on it torn
A black and white prom dress that someone needs to mend
Yet the black and white prom dress will not be touched again
A black and white prom dress that's time is now gone
A black and white prom dress to be thrown away by dawn
A black and white prom dress all the memories it keeps
A black and white proms dress that now forever sleeps
A black and white prom dress, to be worn again, never
A black and white prom dress, but nothing last forever
I really enjoyed this poem! I think that the idea of a black and white prom dress is unique, and it is the title of this poem that caught my eye and sparked my interest. I find that although the mood of the poem is sad I am still drawn to it because it shows that material things do not last forever. Also it is something I feel that girls of all ages can connect to and understand. I, myself, relate better with the first half of the poem than the last half simply because I have not lived that long and I have never had to throw away a prom dress.
There were several words that stuck out to me, the ones that struck me the most were: limply, yearning and enlighten. Limply caught my eye because the idea of a dress (especially a prom dress) hanging limply seems sad to me. In a way I think that this word foreshadows the mood of the poem. I liked the word yearning because instead of just using the word wanting or wishing (which as a bit cliche sometimes) the author used a stronger word that shows a deeper longing than just wanting. Lastly I like the word enlighten because when it is gives a good somewhat secretive feeling to the poem.
http://www.poetryamerica.com/read_poems.asp?id=267769&start=5
http://www.promgirl.com/popups/biggerimage.cfm?filename=/PD//ML/MLBM8.8.07/735s.jpg
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
