War is Over?

An hour ago I tried to change the channel, but my friend said, "No. Keep it on this first one." I replied, "I can't. It's too hard. Too difficult." He said, "No. Keep this one." It was a movie called "Beyond Borders" that was out in 2002 and stars Angelina Jolie. Jolie plays Sarah, a wealthy woman who attends a fundraising gala that is interrupted by a renegade doctor accompanied by a starving child from Ethiopia. As the doctor makes his fiery appeal, it was a revolting contrast to see that to garner up some funds for relief, the guests were gorging on gourmet meals and dressed to the nines. Sarah is so moved (or guilt ridden) that she decides to go to Ethiopia, see first hand the harsh reality, and try to do something about it. Thus follows a scene of an emanicipated child being stalked by a vulture while his mother lies near-by, dying from a huge gash in her chest that is swarmed with flies. Both are "saved" by Sarah and brought to a clinic in a refugee camp. When this scene closed, the Christian Children's Fund came on with images of skinny, sad eyed children as John Lennon's song "War is Over/Have a Very Merry Christmas" played in the background.

My friend who insisted that we watch this channel was becoming a little agitated. I sat on the loveseat and squirmed inside, feeling really uncomfortable with the way poverty and hardship were being portrayed on Canadian TV. It seemed pompous and patronizing and more so in light of the fact that my friend was from Ethiopia. As John crooned, "And so Happy Christmas for black and for white, for yellow and red ones, let's stop all the fight", my friend looked at me and said, "Is it finished?". To which I replied, "Yes.", and turned off the TV.

Jesus, help all of us to help better and please come back soon.