My reactions on these movies and books
Introduction
Throughout my high school career I have been trying to figure out what my occupation will be in the near future. The one question I forgot to ask myself was what kind of person do I want to be. Not until my senior year did I realize I needed to improve my character and correct my flaws. These movies and books have taught me important lessons that helped me to become a better person.
Supreme Conflict: The Inside Story of the Struggle for Control of the United States Supreme Court
Written by Jan Crawford Greenburg
Since I first learned there were three branches in the United States government, I thought the most powerful branch was the executive branch. That was until I learned about all the landmark cases through the liberal Warren Court. Without any restraint, the Warren Court allowed United States citizens to have the right to privacy, publish articles without interference from the government, and attend schools with students of other races. Although the President could sign a bill into a law, the Supreme Court had a wide range of powers due to its ability to interpret the strength of the law.
My United States government teacher had recommended me this book after he claimed that the textbook made the Supreme Court seem like a body of people with either extremely conservative or liberal political views. During that time, I also wanted to find where I was positioned in the political spectrum. I decided to pick up this thick book and uncover the mystery behind the Supreme Court.
Surprisingly, this book was written from an unbiased perspective. In this book, Greenburg analyzed the three big swing justices and the factors that caused them to stray from their initial political views. Justice Sandra Day O’Connor had resisted the pressure to join a particular side since she became a justice, but when she met a diehard conservative, Justice Clarence Thomas, she was repelled from the Right and was pushed toward the Left. Justice Anthony Kennedy was even more malleable than O’Connor and frequently sided with the liberal justices on issues such as granting gays more constitutional rights. As an extreme conservative, Justice Thomas was frequently at odds with the public, often ruling for harsher punishments.
This book indirectly taught me the importance of independence. The justices had the courage to stay away from the majority and instead ruled cases based on their past experiences and intuition. The book motivated me to not side with a group due to pressure, but to instead establish my views through my experiences.
I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in discovering the extent of power the Supreme Court has or has a love for the complexity of the United States judicial system. This book would be a great read before taking a United States government class.
The Hurt Locker
Directed by Kathryn Bigelow
I was first drawn to The Hurt Locker after I was informed that the movie had won six Academy Awards. Since it was a war film based on the American occupation of Iraq, I decided to spend my Saturday watching it. I did not know that I would soon be in for a huge surprise.
The director of the movie, Kathryn Bigelow, filmed all the events about a specific unit in the United States Explosive Ordnance Disposal team in a way different from most war films. Although the film was mainly about the difficulties American soldiers face due to insurgents planting improvised explosives, it was actually centered on the psychological state of Sergeant First Class William James. SFC James’ unorthodox methods of disarming bombs put his team in danger. He further fueled his team’s anger toward him when he refused to heed orders from a superior and decided to find the insurgents that set off a bomb in a town center. SFC James’ refusal to change his unique way of disarming bombs inspired me to be true to my opinions and methods of work.
After finishing his tour in Iraq, SFC James returned home to find himself engaging in the menial tasks of suburban life such as shopping for cereal in supermarkets and washing dishes. SFC James signed up for another tour in Iraq, finally realizing that his life was only complete with the excitement of bomb disposal. SFC James’ actions and emotions regarding a routine lifestyle made me think about what field of occupation I want to start a career in. When I am unoccupied for a weekend, I become restless. I realized that my definition of a satisfactory life includes finding excitement and adventure every day.
This movie should be watched by everyone who wishes to watch a realistic film based on the fragile mental states of the American soldiers fighting in the Iraq War.
In the Company of Heroes
Written by Michael J. Durant
When Somalia entered another civil war in February 2009, I decided to research what the United States did to assist the Somali government. My research led me to the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu, where the United States attempted to suppress insurgents led by a warlord. During that conflict, Chief Warrant Officer Michael Durant was captured by militants and quickly rescued by his fellow soldiers. The bravery of his fellow soldiers was impressive and I decided to read Durant’s first-hand account of the incident in his book, In the Company of Heroes.
Michael Durant had piloted a helicopter in the battle, which was quickly shot down. Surviving the helicopter crash, the unarmed Durant was stranded on the open battlefield. Two of his fellow soldiers fought off the militants until they ran out of ammunition and were shot dead. Shortly after, Durant was dragged through the streets of Mogadishu before being thrown into a dingy room. Treated relatively well, Durant was released after several days. Despite being a national hero, Durant felt his fame was undeserved.
Durant even went on to say that he felt incompetent while he was locked in the room by his captors. Because he was unarmed and severely injured, Durant was unable to protect himself and caused five soldiers to die trying to bail him out. His emotions reminded me of my dependence on close friends for protection and help. As not the most outspoken person in my group of friends, I often require my friends’ assistance in order to solve problems. Reading Durant’s powerful narrative allowed me to realize my lack of leadership and my need for improving my confidence.
This narrative was very descriptive, being laced with Durant’s accounts of his past missions and his relationship with the night. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who seeks a gritty war story filled with emotion.
The Killing Fields
Directed by Roland Joffé
The only movie that had ever prompted me to cry was The Killing Fields. I had been looking for a movie based on a historical time period. Since it was filmed in 1984 and was a British film, I was reluctant to watch it. But, I knew little about the Khmer Rouge and the period after the Vietnam War, so I decided to borrow the DVD from the fantastic Queens Borough Public Library.
The movie followed two journalists (Dith Pran and Sydney Schanberg) who report on the startup of the Khmer Rouge. When the Khmer Rouge moved into the Cambodian capital, Pran and Schanberg were immediately captured by a squad of rebels. Schanberg was about to be executed for his role as a journalist, but Pran, a Cambodian citizen, negotiated with an officer to set him free. Pran and Schanberg soon quickly flee to a French embassy. Because the powerful Khmer Rouge had demanded all Cambodians to be turned over, the embassy turned over Dith Pran. Pran was promptly put into a labor camp where he stayed for several years.
Meanwhile, Sydney Schanberg won an award for his coverage of the Cambodian civil war. He was criticized by his colleague for using Pran to win the prestigious award and doing nothing to rescue him. During this part of the movie, I realized one of my flaws. I had a tendency to use people so I can advance forward. Watching an extreme example of this action happening before my eyes, I realized how much my selfishness can affect other people.
The movie concluded when Pran escapes to a Red Cross camp in Thailand and was met by Schanberg. Schanberg asked Pran to forgive him for allowing him to suffer for so long and Pran answered that there is nothing to forgive.
The film also let me comprehend how easy it is to be swept up into a movement and not realize the consequences of taking aggressive action. Not considering the arguments of the opposing party often results in poorly planned solutions. The Khmer Rouge’s claim to solve Cambodia’s poverty and famine by revitalizing its agriculture quickly turned into evacuations of urban areas and forced labor camps. Seeing the failure of a revolution has opened my eyes to the importance of having a diplomatic personality.
This movie should be included on every student’s movie list. The movie was not just a tear-jerker, but one that taught the importance of friendship and loyalty.
The Kite Runner (novel)
Written by Khaled Hosseini
Having nothing to do during the Finals Week of my junior year, my sister recommended me read The Kite Runner. I was first turned off by its length and its title, but I quickly grew attached to Hosseini’s style of writing and skillful character development.
The novel’s themes of honor, guilt, and loyalty were clearly portrayed. The most shocking scene was when Amir, the protagonist, won a local kite tournament. Hassan, Amir’s friend of lower social status, ran down Amir’s winning kite, but encountered Assef, an older boy with a reputation for bullying Amir and Hassan. Assef demanded that Hassan give up the kite, but Hassan refused, hoping to gain Amir’s respect. Amir rushed through the town to find Hassan, only to see him being raped by Assef. Amir ran away, too scared to intervene. For quite some time, Amir avoided the Hassan, ashamed of his cowardice. But, Hassan continued to serve Amir and treat him nicely. Hassan eventually departed and allowed Amir to not think about his cowardice for a while.
Hassan’s similarity to Dith Pran in The Killing Fields was remarkable. Hassan, knowing that he had a lower status than Amir’s, tried to earn Amir’s respect throughout his childhood. Dith Pran, a native Cambodian, considered himself lower than his American colleague, Sydney Schanberg. Because of this, Pran allowed Schanberg to take credit for the acclaimed reports by spotting the controversial scenes in war-torn Cambodia.
This scene also reminded me of the attacks that were inflicted against Stuyvesant students in the autumn of 2007. My friend had been assaulted by several black teenagers from a local high school. Similar to Amir, I was afraid of protecting my friend. I stood and watched him suffer through thirty seconds of pain. After the students ran away, I took him into the school and called the police. For the next several weeks, I tried to avoid my friend, even though he tried to arrange a time for us to hang out. Eventually he graduated and I tried to forget about the incident which still brings up feelings of guilt and cowardice. The novel had brought back the feelings of guilt for my cowardice during the attacks. But, it also allowed me to accept that I was spineless during the attack and helped me learn to be more confident so I can eliminate the coward in me.
This novel was one that taught the importance of loyalty and how powerful guilt is. It is a must-read for high school students as high school is the period when most people encounter serious dilemmas.
Into the Wild (film)
Directed by Sean Penn
I watched this film as part of a class in the Youth Theological Initiative at Emory University. This film was supposed to conclude the theological course about pilgrimages.
This movie documented the true story about an American wanderer, Christopher McCandless, who tried to separate himself from mainstream society. After he graduated from college, he decided that all of his accomplishments and possessions were worth nothing. He discarded his money and identification, burned his car, and destroyed his credit cards. He then broke off contact with society and wandered into the Alaskan wilderness to find his true self.
Into the Wild caused me to ask myself why I had certain opinions about certain issues. I soon realized that my environment played a large part in my life. Everything I know or think was influenced by my background. I also realized that a large part of my life has been trying to fit in with the majority. Watching this movie had caused me to try to be unique. I would rather wear flashy clothing than dark clothing and I tried to differ from my classmates in terms of political opinions.
Christopher McCandless had traveled through most of the United States to find the small things in life that make it worth living. Although most of us won’t be able to traverse the continent, this movie allows us to see through the eyes of somebody who did. This movie could help instill some thoughts that can help people live more fulfilling lives.
American History X
Directed by Tony Kaye
My middle school friend had recommended the movie, American History X, to me during the summer of my ninth grade. In the first scene of the movie, a white supremacist curb stomps a black man to death. I was traumatized by the violence and racism presented, but was also fascinated by the political issues that the film brought up.
Derek Vinyard, the film’s protagonist, became an active member in the neighborhood neo-Nazi movement after his father is murdered by a black criminal while putting out a fire in South Los Angeles. While interviewed by a reporter, Derek screamed out that illegal immigrants exploit the country, instead of embracing it. His hate of all minority groups caused him to lead an invasion of Venice Beach, taking over basketball courts originally belonging to blacks and raiding supermarkets owned by Koreans and Mexicans. Meanwhile, his younger brother, Danny Vinyard, followed his footsteps, slowly rising up through ranks in the white supremacist group. When Derek Vinyard murdered two black males that try to steal his car, he was charged with manslaughter and incarcerated.
In prison he joined the Aryan Brotherhood prison gang, but quickly abandoned the group after discovering that they are allies of a Mexican gang. With no one to protect him from black prison gangs, he was forced to rethink whether being part of a neo-Nazi group ever helped him. Fortunately, he did not get attacked by the black prison gangs due to a black prison inmate that he befriended in the penitentiary. Being forced into an unknown environment, filled with dangers and surprises, for three years, Derek discovered his true inner self. He was no longer the tough radical he thought he was. Especially since the person who saved him from being murdered in prison was black, Derek discontinued his racist thoughts and left the white supremacist group.
After being released from prison, Derek explained his thoughts to Danny. Danny promised to leave the neo-Nazi movement and tried to start anew. Sadly, Danny died after being shot to death by a black gang member in the school bathroom.
American History X was the movie that changed my perspective on illegal immigration. Both my parents and siblings favored decreasing border security, but I strongly resented illegal immigrants. In one scene, Derek claimed that illegal immigrants came to the United States not to embrace the country, but to exploit it. I have heard of stories where illegal immigrants work at jobs that allow them to claim that they have extremely low incomes so they can qualify for welfare and Medicaid. Also, the most dangerous gang in the United States was started by Salvadoran illegal immigrants that entered the US through Mexico. These bits of information have strengthened my arguments. With the knowledge that I currently have, I support measures that increase border security and the efforts to prevent of illegal immigration.
Because this film brought up questions about racism, immigration, and law enforcement, this movie should be part of every high school’s curriculum. These issues are always on the top of our nation’s agenda and every student should realize the conflicts that surround these issues.
Conclusion
Part of what I am today was affected by the books I read and the movies I watch. I could even go as far to say that the books and movies allowed me to understand myself better. Since the beginning of my high school years, I have been trying to be different from everyone else. But, all I had been doing was running away from my true self.
The movies and books have indirectly displayed my flaws such as cowardice, selfishness, and lack of confidence and independence. They have helped me improve my character and will hopefully help other students improve theirs.
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