This past weekend was a weekend of "tears" for me. Yes, even for me! (At least I know I'm alive!)
It was the long Martin Luther King weekend. We were going to go away for several days, but we ended up just relaxing at home. No, I didn't cry about that!
Instead, we saw the movie, "Hotel Rwanda". A true story and what a powerful flick!
The setting of this story is the bloody and brutal confrontation between the Tutsi tribe and the Hutu tribe Rwanada, that occured during the Clinton administration; almost 1,000,000 people were slaughtered. (No, that word's not too strong!)
Ironically, this story helped me to recognize something of hope...
Now, I don't know if you want to call them "angels", "saints, or just "people of good will", but there are people, who have lived, and, I dare say, who yet live among us, who are, well..."angelic and saintly people of good will". They're ordinary people, who find themselves in extraordinary circumstances, and who, somehow find it within themselves to "step out", often at great personal risk, to make a difference in the lives of others.
We might know them as Martin Luther King or Mother Theresa of Calcutta. They might just as easily be a friend or a neighbor, about whom we know nothing.
In this case, it’s Paul, a simple hotel manager, and a Hutu, who is married to a Tutsi. The story was about the compassion and courage he showed toward the Tutsis who were victimized during the brutal Hutu uprising. I won't give away the story, but I would recommend it to anyone.
Maybe what hit me in the story was the irony of finding, no, of “encountering”, a spark of goodness in the midst of brutality.
All I can say is that when you encounter true goodness and compassion in a person, I don't know how anyone couldn't be moved to tears. I certainly was! (I was going to complain to theater management that their too salty popcorn caused me to retain water, which seeped from my eyes, but then I figured it out!)
Anyway, you can learn more about the film here: http://www.hotelrwanda.com/intro.html.
Oh yes, someone sent me this link, which also moved me to tears. Whether you believe in God, a "higher power", or nothing in particular, maybe you'll find something here for you! Just follow the link, turn up the sound, then click "View Presentation".
http://www.theinterviewwithgod.com/windowmovie.html
Joe
2 comments:
Hi, Joe,
I think I might like this movie, mostly b/c it sounds like a heart lifting one. Only thing I'm nervous about is the brutality. Mix the true goodness and compassion of humanity (which could, right there, make me cry) with the slaughter and brutality...that might just make me lose it. Then I'd end up rubbing my eyes raw and walk away hating mankind.
I'm assuming this is newly released, as in the theaters, or available on cable or satellite. Actually, I'm the type that waits for movies to come out at the library. Being not much of a TV person, I just wait it out. My best weekends are when I don't even turn the television on, so it might be a while. I'll keep it on my list.
My library bag currently has two Stephen King audio books, Ten Big Ones by Janet Evanovich (I love Stephanie Plum), a sleezy chick flick...All about Polly, or something like that, and a The Cat Who audio tape for a friend. The library was busy b/c we are expecting a lot of snow for the weekend. 6-12 inches. Attila won't be measuring this one. hehehehe
The Raleigh havoc was too much. Fortunately, we didn't have much snow in NY (just an inch or so), so I did not have the headaches of North Carolina. I got away with a slightly delayed trip home. Those Southerners just don't know about New York weather.
The 75th was great! Thanks for raising a glass or two, and asking about it. We sure did raise the glasses, but we are just 'samplers.' Big time imbibers we are not. The party of four finished one bottle of CA "Champagne," sampled some merlot and Mom polished off the chicken wings. The Swedish vodka remained unopened. I will post photos soon.
After we swilled the Champagne and reduced the wings to nothing more than bones and a big mound of messy paper napkins, we headed off to lunch at a local (20 miles away..lol), casual dining establishment, where Mom was served a massive amount of eggplant parm with a blue birthday candle securely inserted in the saucy, cheesy dish.
Fun and laughter was had by all, including M.A., our waitress. She is a total panic. She served Mom's sundae with a fork and corrected herself by giving Attila his cheese cake, remarking, "I really meant to fork you. Here," handing him the fork. Mom's hearing aid was apparently OFF. hehehehehe
If I missed commenting on any of your posts, I'll review and catch up tomorrow.
Time for beddie bye.
Try to behave yourself, Joe. *grink*
Ivy.
Hey, Joe.
I forgot to ask: When you have a chance, can you please elaborate on the agonizing trip to The Great Wall of China (related to yellow snow)? I'm sure it will be a great tale! hehehe
Ivy.
Post a Comment