I have always been intrigued by the conflict in South Africa and especially the heroism of Nelson Mandela. When I was much younger, I learned about the par tide that had happened in South Africa. To me, this did not make sense. I had learned that blacks were from Africa so I couldn't understand why they were made the lower class and abused by racism. After asking my teachers about it, they explained to me what had happened to the Africans. I thought it was really unfair and hated that that had happened so long. But then I learned of the great Nelson Mandela. He had fought racism his whole life and was even sentenced to prison on an island for 27 years. But then, finally when he got out of prison he went on to lead the same country that had thrown him in prision. He changed the whole country for the better.
The movie Invictious is about the story about how Mendela united the country the Rugby. I had never watched this movie but I really enjoyed the clips we watched. The clip of the Haka was a good one. I've seen the Haka in realy live performed by a New Zealander and seeing it in person is way better than on a screen. In person it is really intense and loud.
I also believe that sport should be used to make a politcal stand. Countries have been doing this for decades and it's not going to stop. It proves a point and captures peoples attention to the issue at hand. Some things might go unnoticed if it wasn't for a protest through sports.
Movies help give the audience an idea of social problems around the world. Although America has settled racial issues over the past 50 to 60 years, other countries still fight social inequality. Some viewers, like me, get a better understanding of rising issues in other countries, such as racism in South Africa. We tend to think in a ethnocentric way and forget that other nations have unresolved racial issues. Global sports are often where these issues come to rise. Sports sometimes bring divided nations together.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the points each of you made in your comments and post. I do believe a movie like Invictus is important because of its portrayal of the social change that occurred as a result of Mandela's struggles and leadership in unifying the country. Derek, you said you had seen the haka performed live? Where was that? I saw a form of the haka (not the Ka Mate haka like the All-Blacks do) when I visited Rotorua in New Zealand.
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