Hacksaw Ridge (2016)
If I did not know better, that it was a movie directed by Mel Gibson (of 'Braveheart' and 'Passion of Christ' fame), I would have thought that it could be some kind of a divine satire. The idea of a pacifist enlist as a soldier in the Second World War just does not make sense. Surprisingly, it is actually based on true story and such a soldier did walk this Earth and was awarded the Medal of Honour for his work beyond the call of duties in the Battle of Okinawa. He was a non-rifle carrying, conscientious objector, a vegetarian, a Sabbath-keeping Seventh Adventist Church Baptist who believed that he was sent to Earth with a mission. The soldier, Desmond Doss, was convinced that his calling was to serve his country and save the soldiers but without touching a gun but through offering medical help to wounded soldiers in battle.
He keeps his faith despite the atrocities he witnessed on the battle field. With a Bible in his pocket and a photograph of his beau, he embraced the gruesome fight with harakiri practising Japanese on the island of Okinawa.
Sometimes, we go about our duties thinking that it is birthright to defend something that we believe is true. We are so convinced that our actions, no matter whether it makes sense or not, to be just. For example, the Commandment says 'Thou shalt not kill' but we always justify our killing by understanding that the killing to be our own kind or kin; not a non-believer or a foreigner! It appears that the codes of conducts are just to foster unity amongst one's race and ensure strength to maintain power. The moment we see all as one race, the human race, we only need one bro code - do unto others as you would have them do unto you!
It is funny that everybody thinks that they are special, that they sent on a mission that they themselves do not but like to believe that they will told in time if look hard enough. They interpret some random signs as divine communication with them and will be hellbent to carry out the perceived calling from God. How different does that make you from people who are labelled as fundamentalists, fanatics, terrorists? ISIS and ISIL think that way too!
He keeps his faith despite the atrocities he witnessed on the battle field. With a Bible in his pocket and a photograph of his beau, he embraced the gruesome fight with harakiri practising Japanese on the island of Okinawa.
Sometimes, we go about our duties thinking that it is birthright to defend something that we believe is true. We are so convinced that our actions, no matter whether it makes sense or not, to be just. For example, the Commandment says 'Thou shalt not kill' but we always justify our killing by understanding that the killing to be our own kind or kin; not a non-believer or a foreigner! It appears that the codes of conducts are just to foster unity amongst one's race and ensure strength to maintain power. The moment we see all as one race, the human race, we only need one bro code - do unto others as you would have them do unto you!
It is funny that everybody thinks that they are special, that they sent on a mission that they themselves do not but like to believe that they will told in time if look hard enough. They interpret some random signs as divine communication with them and will be hellbent to carry out the perceived calling from God. How different does that make you from people who are labelled as fundamentalists, fanatics, terrorists? ISIS and ISIL think that way too!
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