For those of you who have seen “Blood Diamond” I’d be interested in your comments and your journey through processing this movie. Dave and I watched it the other night. My reaction to it was not what I had expected. I expected to be solemn and reflective. I expected to feel sad and maybe angry. I did feel all of these in to some degree, along with an “I’m ashamed to be an American” feeling. What I didn’t count on was the gut wrenching sobs that escaped me that night. I cried through most of the movie. As the credits were rolling I was still . . . silent. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t answer Dave’s question about what I thought of the movie. I sat there crossed legs, on the floor staring and barely breathing. Dave reached down to help me up and the minute he touched my hand I broke. Shaking sobbing, opening my heart to feel the deepness of the depravity of our human existence. Trying to see and feel the hope with which I claim to cling to in Christ.
As I wrestled with God on the “why’s” and “how’s” of this conflict I was faced with a reality I can’t get away from. I was feeling such anger toward the rebel army. I felt anger toward the men in business suits talking about this conflict and what action was needed to to do stop it. It angered me that as they sat there deliberating in a safe conference room rebel soldiers in Sierra Leone were raiding and killing, raping and kidnapping, steeling and brainwashing their fellow country men, women, and children. I remember what the journalist said as she tried to capture the desperate situation . . . “it [the news coverage of this devastation] will probably be in between sports and the weather report.”
Through all of this I heard Jesus say, “Would you die for those families being torn and killed?”
“Yes” I answered. “I would go there now if I could.”
Jesus, “Why?”
“Because, they are good and decent. They are good parents. They are just trying to live peacefully.”
Jesus,” Would you die for one of the rebel soldiers?”
“I know the answer is I should want to die for the rebel soldiers. But honestly I want to kill all of those murdering soldiers.”
Jesus, “I died for them both.”
My question now is what do I do with that? Jesus died so that we all can live. Would I go and serve the soldiers in the name of Jesus just like I would the devastated men, women, and children of these war torn countries? Would I sacrifice my life so that one of those evil men could live?
I know the answer is I should want to die for any man to have a chance to live. But I just don’t know if I could.
Jason Said:
on August 1, 2007 at 9:25 pm
Kimberly and I recently watched this film with Maya. The subject of injustices on the continent of Africa has always caused a deep reaction inside me. Africa is such a beautiful and, for the most part, simple land. Most of Africa is filled with generous kind and loving people who are just trying to raise their families and enjoy life. I spent 2 months in Nigeria, West Africa in the early nineties. At that time, Nigeria was a military dictatorship run by a Muslim government. I sat, stood, danced in worship in several churches that were burned down. These burnings didn’t stop the church services at all they just made people get a little more wet in the rain while they worshiped. Injustices abound on the continent of Africa but I saw during those two months that God’s love and grace abound so much more. I don’t at all have the answer as to what could be done in Africa to make things better but I do know that the believers there pray for us in America. They pray protection on us and hope for God’s love and grace to abound in our lives. As I have only purchased two very small diamonds in my life I don’t think I am adding to the demand any. The most telling moment of the film for me was the older gentleman that said “I sure hope they don’t find any diamonds here.” If you’re up for more heartache about the state of man I would urge you to view Hotel Rwanda.
mcclark Said:
on August 2, 2007 at 8:56 am
Jason ~
Thanks for your post! I so need a more wholistic view of the world. We tend to only see the bad side of things. There is so much that is sad and wrong. But like you said “God’s love and grace abound so much more . . . (in Africa)” Let that be said of the us here in America as well.
Molly
africachild Said:
on November 1, 2007 at 12:07 pm
hi.
I realise that your blog entry is some time back and that it was probably quiet a spontaneous reaction to the film, so I don’t know whether your attitude and feelings towards it have changed much.
I just watched the movie, and let me assure you, I was crying, I was speechless, the ‘gut wrenching’ feeling was there. I felt so strongly about the film that I went through the net hoping to find responses, reactions the film might have caused.
I came across your entry and felt the same emotions you described so vividly, but how you came to the conclusion or question if you would ‘sacrifice your life so that one of those evil men could live’ I fail to understand.
Apparently Jesus talked to you. Now, although I am not a Christian I do believe in God, and I want to assure you that I respect your religion. But first of all … even if you could … what good would you dying do to anyone ?! yes, you could save one of the film character lives *yay*. It would still not change anything in Africa. Second of all if Jesus ‘died for them both’ isn’t that enough dying ? Third of all: you would ‘die’ for ‘those families being torn and killed’ but not for the ‘rebel soldier’ ?????? where do these rebel soldiers come from, if not from torn apart families? Where the rebel soldiers not once child soldiers ? and those ‘good and decent parents that are just trying to live peacefully’, would they not kill murder, just like the rebels, to keep their children from harm? Where so you draw the line between the two? Where do you draw the line between ‘good’ and ‘evil’ ? is there not both in everything, in every person?
I am just awed by your response and cannot grasp how you come to the conclusion that it is about who you would DIE for… how about: who you would help? How you could help?
The film does evoke – if not directly a religious issue for everyone- a deep moral issue.
It is not about YOU or why, how and under what condition you would die. It is about great injustice and I feel that the fact that this has been captured in a Hollywood movie sends out a message- to provoke those (us) who have the luxury of living in better conditions to ACT or to change our attitude. To throw Africa’s problems in our face and stop us from ignoring them.
With all due respect, I am sad your initial question after your great essay, was a self-absorbed, beside-the-point, abstract, none contributing one.
You’re right… you should be ashamed of being an American.
africachild Said:
on November 1, 2007 at 12:14 pm
and two hours later youre on about manicures and pedicures and ‘gals’ night .. Man .. blood diamond must have moved you BIG time.
mcclark Said:
on February 5, 2008 at 9:02 am
africachild,
I am sorry for not answering your post right away. I changed email addresses and forgot to update my blog so I didn’t receive notification of your response. Thank you for asking tough questions. I am just one person who is struggling to have a broader world-view and your post has helped me realize the reason why I need to do just this.
As you can observe from my post dates I am not very diligent in keeping up with my blog entries. I did type my response the “Blood Diamond” weeks before my “Pride and Prejudice” entry. I left “Blood Diamond” unpublished while processing it. It so happened that when I felt compelled to right another post on my experience with my “gals night” when finally published my “Blood Diamond” post.
I appreciate your honest opinion. Some questions that have come to me as I am re-thinking this subject are:
Would I be ashamed to be any other nationality for there are things from the past and present that should shame every nation at some time or another?
Because of your post: What can I do to live and help those who have gone and are going through this tragedy?
A question to you: Since this post what have you done to make a difference in the situation in Africa? Have you smiled since you’ve watched the movie? Have you enjoyed a good meal? Have you watched other movies?
This is not to condemn at all. For here sit in my little rental house with my healthy children and husband around me. Getting ready to go to the kitchen for breakfast. I evidently haven’t been “moved BIG time” either or is the awareness, the petitions I’ve signed, the money I’ve sent, the prayers I try to articulate on the behalf of brothers and sisters in Africa a start on the path to bigger things? I’d be very interested in your thoughts.
africachild Said:
on April 13, 2008 at 11:27 am
thank you for writing back. it helps understand where you came from when writing the entry. im sorry for saying you should be ashamed of you nationality. it has nothing to do with it. and yes of course. every nation has something to be ashamed of. im initially german(though i did not grow up there), so obviously my nations biggest ’shame’ is the nazi regime. still, while we have to accept is as a part of germanys past, it has nothing to do with me personally and i therefor feel no shame. in order to feel shame, you have to have been a part of it. shame comes with regret. it is a feeling that comes after something has happend, and you come to the conclusion that you could have done something to prevent it.
so, basically you being american has nothing to do with it. your personal actions might shame america, but being american does not automaically shame you.
i was angry because i felt what you said was ignorant. you were aware of the situation in africa, but i didnt see what giving up your life had to do with it. apparently there is more to you though, as you actively try to help by signing petitions and sending money. i was very happy to read that.
my point wasnt that you shouldnt move on at all. everyone should try to make the best out of their life, everyone has the right to be happy. when reading your entry i just felt that you werent thinking about how to help these people but rather posing (in my opinion) a totally pointless question, about who you would give up your life for. i realise that the movie urges to pose ethical questions and that it was your way of dealing with it. and i hope you have found an answer.
as for me, yes i have smiled, enjoyed life. of course i have also felt sad and depressed from time to time. what i have done for africa since the post? nothing. right now there is nothing i can do. i probably could send money, but i have never seen it reaching the people it should reach. i try to give money to the poor here whenever i get the chance. other than that i still have to figure out a way to help. when i finish school i definatley want to spend a year in africa, and from then on see where one can help most effectively.
it probably sounds to you that i had no right to critsize you when i am doing nothing to help. as i have already said, i was frustrated at the jesus thing. it frustrates me when people look for parallels in their beliefs instead of looking at the acctual problem. but anyway. africa is a sad situation and it just saddens me that there is so little awareness. no other interesting thoughts on my side. im very sorry for being as indignant as i was .