Week #7: Reactions to films re: Chapter 7
We viewed clips from "The Devil Came on Horseback" (Darfur, Sudan) and "Osama" (Afghanistan under the Taliban). What reactions do you have to these films? What questions would you like to raise? Has life improved in these parts of the world? Explain.
When I saw these videos today in class I was shocked! It truly broke my heart to see that I mean we hear about it on the news and from other people but to see it was so different. For the video on Osama I couldnt believe how the woman doctor had to hide when the taliban came into the hospital I mean she was helping someone or when I saw the little boy almost got knocked over I jumped because my reaction was for him not to get hurt. My question is will the way they see women ever change? And I dont know if it has changed if it has I wouldnt be surprised if it wasn't much.
ReplyDeleteOn the videos we watched in class, as lilangel I could feel myself jump to catch the children. The videos were so dis-heartening to see and hear. I can not imagine living a life with no rights. I could not be able to see those things in person because my natural re-action is to help and I would probubly get killed as well, to see these things and be able to do nothing must be a very hard thing to live through, especially for a soldier that is to protect all humans. The women in the Osama video actually in pressed me as they continued to stand for their rights even after being caged. How their husbands did not seem mad of this. As for both videos I think that the "terrorist's" of these people are not truely of human nature to do these acts and to torcher even innocent children you cannot clearly be any man of our world. As I still find myself revolted at the thought of these actions and what these people went or are going through.
ReplyDeleteMy reaction is to both of the films that we watch in class. I have seen both videos before during my years at Mercyhurst. Each time it has a profound effect on me. My natural reaction is to protect and defend the weak. To fight for injustice and to bring an end to intermediation and physical pain that one is causing to another human. I am sure we all felt helpless and some what guilty because all we can do is watch and not help. I almost cry every time I see the part of the teacher crying. One can see the fear in her eyes. Why should anyone like her have to suffer for trying to do the right thing? Where is her help? Where is her justice?
ReplyDeleteNow I would like to respond to the Osama video. It’s sad that women are treated like property of their husbands. I know about this practice because I have seen it back home in Somalia. Women in many parts of the world are not treated as equals to their male counterparts. I only imagine what that little girl had to go through as her mom tried to cover her identity. Really what does that say about that society? Where is the future in that? And worst of all to be sold to a hat is old enough to be her grandfather? Ladies what do you think about that? And lastly the scene where the women on the street protest, while all covered up and still obeying their religious values. The Taliban came and hosed them down like a frost fire. These are humans here, how could this be left unpunished? Women ran for their own lives leaving a young child to fend for himself in a crowd ladies how much fear does it take for a woman to leave her child behind and save her own life? Yes I would imagine many of you said an enormous amount.
The clips we saw in class where shocking, Yes i agree with everyone that the treatment by the governments to their people is horrific. Unfortunately though the governments of any country are not going to get involved mainly because it is not happening to them, they have nothing vested in either of these areas' so they will not get involved. On the other hand other governments feel like if they do get involved their ally's will turn against them for getting involved.
ReplyDeleteI would have hated to be that gentleman over there filming this and seeing this and being handed a line of crap from the agency he was supposed to be working for. People only want to see what they want to see and if someone shows them something different well it's all made up and false.
I didn't feel like we got to far into OSAMA to make a true comment. I do understand what the point was that Sue was making with us, but i would have liked to see more. It must have been a difficult life for these people and still is I'm sure. I don't have any idea what i would have done her the mothers shoes, i don't know if i would have been one of the women in the street trying to protest or if i would have been the one in hiding.
I have had my own challenges in life and never really knew what to do until the exact moment came when i had to act. Self preservation in instinct, therefore that is what leads a mother, husband, or human being to do the things they need to do to survive.
Even amid the darkness that descended on Darfur and Afghanistan, we need to recognize the heroes and perseverance of those who struggle to expose and overcome the obstacles strewn in their paths. Osama, even when disguised as a boy and struggling through the Taliban persecutions, and Marine Brian Steidle, through his photos and commentary, send us a strong message of hope-don’t they?. People find a way through darkness. Has anyone read “A Long Way Gone”? What a powerful memoir of a child soldier who finds hope at the end of his journey! We live in a country where we should cherish our freedoms and security, yet we are all realistic enough to expect that the US will be a target of terrorism again. What is our role in a world that has always struggled with how to treat our fellow man? Does anyone sponsor a child in a third world country?
ReplyDeleteThe Devil came on Horseback was very disturbing because of the fact this is something that is going on today. This tragedy is taking place in Darfur and is seen through the eyes of a former U.S. Marine Captain and who has since returned to the US to take action to stop it. The Arab run government is systematically executing a plan to rid the province of its black African citizens. This is clearly an act of genocide because the United Nations definition of genocide is: any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such:
ReplyDelete• (a) Killing members of the group;
• (b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;
• (c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;
• (d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;
• (e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.
• The following acts are also punishable:
• (a) Genocide;
• (b) Conspiracy to commit genocide;
• (c) Direct and public incitement to commit genocide;
• (d) Attempt to commit genocide;
• (e) Complicity in genocide.
There is no doubt that this is an act of genocide so why did the world sit around and do nothing for so long. In 1948 the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide stated that is a crime under international law which they undertake to prevent and to punish. Persons committing genocide or any of the other acts shall be punished, whether they are constitutionally responsible rulers, public officials or private individuals. Finally charges of genocide are being filed against Sudan's president, Omar al-Bashir, in the international criminal court after a legal ruling over his role in the conflict in Darfur. But how many lives were lost that could have bee prevented before something was done? We need to stop dragging our feet when it comes to human life and worrying about the monetary aspect of the situation. If Darfur had been a rich country, there would have been action taken earlier.
After watching, “The Devil Came on Horseback,” I was disgusted by the fact that people rape, kill and burn people alive and have no remorse. I guess it may have something to do with the way they were brought up but it just seems like human nature to me, to have consideration for other people’s wellbeing. I don’t understand it and I don’t think I ever will. I can’t believe that the letters and reports they were sending never reached their destination and they nobody believed him, even with video footage and photos. I may be wrong, but isn’t it considered conspiracy if you know about a crime and don’t report it? I can’t believe things like this still go on in our world. It definitely makes me glad to live in the U.S.
ReplyDeleteThe 2nd video wasn’t any better. It made me sad and after hearing what happens at the end, I am glad we didn’t watch the whole thing. It was very depressing and disturbing. The way women and even children are treated, is horrible. I don’t understand how human beings could be so cruel to an innocent child. I know sometimes children aren’t so innocent but it’s because they learn evil from those around them. Someone has to teach them the difference between right and wrong. The problem is…How can they learn to do what’s right when everyone around them is doing wrong?
Here is my reaction to the film “Devil came on horseback” in class.
ReplyDeleteFirst, I agree with Michele that we did not see enough of the Osama video to have a real true heartfelt reaction. At some point the nation as a whole needs to provided the women there with equal rights. I couldn’t imagine hiding myself and not being able to leave the house unless my husband or my male child escorted me. I am not familiar with this religion so I am unsure as to why the women abide by this regulation. To me this type of regulation is just like when Hitler made the Jewish community standout in Germany.
Now onto the Devil came on horseback. This video was so disturbing. As others stated this was horrific. I am with Krystal, where are the letters/ reports that were sent. 4 out of I think 80 were actually received? It was hard to watch the video. Seeing the people suffering and the dead bodies sprawled out on roadsides, in villages, and pretty much everywhere was terrifying. These terrorist must not have a conscience. To tie up women and children and burn them alive is just sickening. What religion do these Janjaweed follow? Do they even worship? Is the government corrupt? I believe so. I couldn’t imagine taking a stroll to the grocery store and passing people that had assault rifles. I am so thankful for the people that serve our country. The United Nations is another story. Why was and is nothing being done. There are pictures, videos and statements of what is happening why did not one person listen?
I would have to say that my reaction to the films we watched in class were very similar to the opinions expressed by the other posts thus far. It is almost unthinkable that people could be treated in such a manner. The ploy of the government using a militia (a government trained, armed, paid, and supported militia) is merely an attempt to distance the government from actions that they know are reprehensible. To attack unarmed civilians in an attempt to drive them from the area because they are not the same ethnic or religious group is an abuse of power that boggles the mind of the modern American. The fact that the international response was so minimal, when it finally got underway at all, is a disgrace. I realize that we are not the worlds police force, but what is the U.N. for if not for situations like that? Yes, the U.N. does so lots of good, I'm sure it was the U.N. that was making efforts to feed and shelter the internally displaced peoples (IDP's), but what power does the U.N. have? The U.N. is a unique organization in that it has as much power as is viewed as having. If a government views the U.N. as powerful and important, the status and influence of the U.N. will increase. Unfortunately, the majority of the world's governments do not view the U.N. as having much power. In addition the actual power that is wielded by the U.N. is usually regulated to peace keeping forces that are so numerically outnumbered that they are lucky to be able to protect themselves, let alone make an impact on the local issue. Also, there have been so many recent instances of reported sexual abuse and harassment and rape by peace keepers that the image of the U.N. Peace Keeper has been tarnished to say the least. I didn't mean for this to turn into a rant about the U.N., but it looks like it took that direction. I guess that my point in a nutshell would be that the U.N. is such a large bureaucracy that requires SO much agreement that it can take far too long for it to act in an emergency, and when it acts, there is usually such a small impact that one wonders if it was worth the effort at all.
ReplyDeleteThe Osama film brings attention to injustices but also a universal need for the human rights. The film portrays the condition of women under the Taliban’s rule in Afghanistan both socially and economically. All the women were required to cover their faces, arms, and legs in order to protect their virtue. Economically, women were forbidden to work. In the film, the Taliban shuts down the hospital where the girl’s mother works. I do not understand why women whose husbands are killed and they’re not allowed to work. How could single moms feed themselves and also raise their child or children when they have no money to buy food? Also women were forbidden to go outside their home unless accompanied by a male relative and girls were forbidden to go to school. I could not see myself lock up in the house all day doing nothing but housework. Another scene that really shook something inside of me was when everyone is leaving the hospital, and a disabled lag behind walking through an empty corridor. No one care and have desire to look back this little boy. I was so worry and nervous what happen to him throughout the film since we did not finish the film. This is the saddest film I’ve ever seen.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I noticed for both videos is the racism and segregation. With the genocide in Darfur and the disrespect and segregation of women in Afghanistan. Both countries are prehistoric in terms of equal and human rights. And maybe we can guess that both of these countries are weak, with it's citizens starving and killing eachother because there is in fact so much segregation and racism. If the people united like the people of the United States did in the 60's, then who's to say that these countries couldn't be strong and powerful with so many more minds and ideas?
ReplyDeleteAs for the issue in Darfur, the genocide really confuses me. The United States has this idea that it is the Chief of Police for the entire planet, but we can not help a country when thousands are dying everyday, and the deaths are preventable? It seems that the U.S. only gets involved when it can benefit them. Just like the supposed weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Many argue that we made up that up in order for a reason to invade their country.
Sadly in Afghanistan, I don't believe that will change anytime soon. Its been that way forever. Its become part of their culture, and it is sad to see. All those potential strong women who are capable of bettering a country with their ideas too are a waste to their country. But then again look at Afghanistan. Its not really a powerhouse is it?
During the movies I felt a range of emotions; helplessness, anger, sadness, but most of all fear for the people living in such circumstances. They way these people are treated is horrendous. How and why could one being do this to another? Ignorance. Power/dominance issues. Race/Gender/Religion issues. There are a number of reasons and we all can sit here and ask why for a million years but the fact of the matter is it will never change unless the world as a whole can put aside these differences and work together to fight off these in-justices. It is up to the world powers and governments to assist in nations like these. All people (citizens) can do is just ask how and why and sit back and watch because we were lucky enough to be born in America or other “free-like” countries. You can’t help where you were born some people are just luckier than others I guess. My question is when or even how will the world powers put an end to this chaos?
ReplyDeleteAgain, some group not necessarily knows each other are benefit of what is going on in both country (Afghanistan and Sudan). "The Devil Came on Horseback" (Darfur, Sudan) and "Osama" (Afghanistan under the Taliban) explain that our world is under threat of those who claim that they are the guards of the world, if we go back three decades ago we found the same people who are now crying for those two country are responsible for dragging both country to hall to stay on power, in the 1980’s the Arab leaders were aware of strong Islamic fundamental (radical Muslim) movement are spiriting in their regains one of the bed things those leaders did took advantage of the Russian in Afghanistan and sent or open the road to those extremist Muslims to join the battle against the red Army, So I am not surprise by what I see in both move, not more than making me sad for what I see again and again.
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ReplyDeleteJust as other have mentioned it was very hard for me to watch this video. I also caught myself trying to reach out and help those little kids. Its crazy to think how women are treated in other places of the world. To have to watch your back everywhere you go and to have have a man with you at all times is unthinkable. It was also sad to hear that about the girl that dressed like a boy because It would be best for her. I also have have such a respect for those women for standing up for themselves no matter what the cost. Its crazy how women in the U.S. had to do the same thing but we have came a long way, but women's struggle is still going on.
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