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April 13, 2007

American History X – an introspection

Maybe it’s a little out-dated, but I still want to talk about this movie, American History X (³¥Ã~¨}¥Á), released in 1998. I watched it last night, and again this morning, and I’m not sure for how long it will continue to linger in my head. Its power is such that I can’t free my mind to do anything else at the moment. I have to write this down, on OD.

The movie is about racial hatred, and it chronicles the rise and fall and redemption of Derek Vinyard (played by Edward Norton, one of my all-time favourite actors), a neo-Nazi gang leader in a city in the US, and his younger brother Danny Vinyard (played by Edward Furlong, the kid from Terminator 2) who aspires to become just like his brother. I won’t reveal any more plots here in case anyone wants to see the movie on their own.

The movie portrays the actions and beliefs of the white supremacy movement in a very realistic way, and I must admit I was quite disturbed throughout the movie. I didn’t know what to expect when I started watching the movie, so I was shocked by its raw provocative power – both the language and the graphic scenes. The ending is especially powerful; on first viewing I was very upset that the story ends this way, but on second thoughts I realized this is the most logical ending. In my opinion, the ending defined the movie.

This movie really got me thinking and reflecting. Racial hatred may not be a huge problem in Hong Kong, but it was much more visible back in my old days in Canada. I was ridiculed and called names ("dirty chink"), I watched gang fights between whites and Asians from afar, I heard passionate speeches during family gatherings in which my family and other relatives spouted ‘evidence’ of despicable races and nationalities such as Indians and Vietnamese. I can’t say I wasn’t influenced by them. I don’t want to be a hypocrite, so yes, I do harbour racial preferences. The worst thing is that as a teacher, I need to preach racial harmony. I do believe in harmony of course, and I do act in a non-discriminatory way, but deep down inside I do feel averse to certain races. I just don’t act it out. Now this movie has shattered my false shell of self-righteous smugness. It’s like the movie has yanked out the monster from within me, and brought it to my face for close examination. I feel ashamed. I feel guilty to have harboured racial discriminatory thoughts AND felt perfectly justified to do so.

Why do we hate people that are not like us? Or, to put it more mildly, why do we feel that certain groups are inferior or detestable simply because of their identity? Is it an inborn fear of the unfamiliar? Are we all xenophobic by nature? Historically there might be some evolutionary advantages in being wary of strangers (or anything foreign), but is it reasonable now? Do we still go around conquering other cultures? I don’t think so. This kind of hatred is a seed inside everyone, and we must not allow it to grow. If we let it blossom we’ll be consumed by it. The sad thing is, people around you continue to water this toxic seedling, and I suspect the family is often the inadvertent wrong-doer. Worse, there are manipulative individuals who thrive on propagandizing their "we-must-unite-against-them" agendas. The truth is, everytime we demonize another group for what they are, everybody loses.

Let me quote one of the movie lines: "Hate is baggage. Life’s too short to be pissed off all the time. It’s just not worth it." And another one, which is ‘stolen’ from Abraham Lincoln’s inaugural address: "’We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory will swell when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature."

It will be extremely difficult to undo all the damage done. But I’ll just say this: Do not ever, ever display racial hatred to your children. The impressionable youngsters will only perpetuate the vicious cycle.

momosir 2

right ! to establish a positive mind to the children will definitely change the future of our world

jenjenlai

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Swallowtail

April 14, 2007

i haven’t watched this film but i sort of know what it’s about (its plot). U’ve said it all already, i actually don’t have much to add except that sometimes we indulge in discriminating thoughts/actions subconscious/unconsciously, it’s just so hard to avoid. Not necessarily racial-related, but in other aspects such as physical appearance, status, background etc.. when i think about it,

i am guilty of many prejudices too (isn’t discrimination just a stronger form of prejudice?)… such as when i see a guy with long finger nails, i immediately dont want to talk to him, or if a film stars black actors/actresses or is about blacks (regardless of the story) i immediately feel not interested in watching it etc…

But u’re right in saying that parents shouldn’t display racial hatred (or any form of discrimination, for that matter) to children– for most cases they are just conveying the wrong messages and cultivating a wrong view of the world in their children’s minds.

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Oh,nicky!

April 15, 2007

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Munchy

cant agree with you anymore. 🙂 aside from racial differences, i find discrimination in general is somewhat a human nature. There are discriminations in different aspects, racial prejudice is only one of those kinds. Dont you agree that we, our very selves, possess at least a discrimination here and there? i do. 🙂 to pass on proper attitude to the next generation will require alot of work. on the positive side though, most of us are educated, and the scope of discrimination no doubt is narrowing down. but before moving on to a close-to-an-ideal-non-discriminating-socity-which-everyone-knows-there-is-no-difference-from-one-another-in-any-aspect will require a lot of work; might take generationSSSSSS to achieve that utopia. =)

amber opal sunshine

April 16, 2007

I think we all have a preferance to differant races and think it very wise to NOT act out with distaste towards the ones we do not favour. For two reasons… it’s disrespectful towards yourself and the other race and number two… there is some bad and good in all races and cultures… not just certain ones. Yes I believe in showing the best way for our children. They learn so easily. *smiles*

eternity-ronin

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Happy Daisy

April 17, 2007

No one can escape discrimination…either being discrimated or discriminate toward others. And it doesn’t apply only between races…but also to all aspects of a person…physical appearance, background, education, social status etc… The best we could do is not to act out or treat a person differently just because he/she is different from us. And you are right it’s important that we don’t voice or display any act of discrimination towards others in front of our children. I haven’t watched the movie you mentioned here…I will try to watch it with my kids if I ever get the chance. Thanks for sharing the message!

Angel City Outcast

April 19, 2007

I don’t know if it is “about racial hatred” as much as it is about some one who comes to see that ultimately those beliefs that he held onto so strongly were wrong. I love this movie, till this day it is one of my favorites. It is really well done.

Nariev d'Ivoire

April 30, 2007

It’s sad, but true. It still exists even in my own little sheltered world in which I’ve been “protected” for so long. I’ve really just noticed it when I made a non-white friend and found my father to be a little more than uncomfortable. I think I’d like to watch this film sometime.

qing wa

December 11, 2011