"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matthew 5:43-48 NRSV).
"The Freedom Writer's" movie displays clearly the failure of the myth of redemptive violence (as theologian Walter Wink has termed it), though I doubt the film writers had that specifically in mind. [Read an article by Mr. Wink on this topic by clicking here.]
Besides the obvious gang conflict and its never-ending violence and death, there was one segment where one of the young ladies in class was reading "The Diary of Ann Frank" and came in one day, asking the teacher when Ann Frank would "off" Hitler. This was the only story line the teenager ever knew, from TV, movies, video games and - sadly - real life.
When the student discovered, having finished the book, that Ann Frank died, she was furious. Storming the classroom, the student swears at her teacher and in a rage asks why the teacher didn't tell her Ann would die. She insisted, tearfully, that this wasn't how the story was supposed to go.
Only one other student was in the classroom at the time, a young man who interjects that Ann did win over Hitler. Both classmates had lost friends in gang conflict, but who would ever remember those who had died? Ann Frank, however, died but is not forgotten. Through her book she still touches lives around the world.
"Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.' No, 'if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:19-21 NRSV).
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Freedom Writers Movie: Review and Comments (1)
It's good. Just last night our Friday night Bible study group watched "The Sin Eater." I'll likely do a review on it soon. Have you seen it?
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