Amistad

Dear Readers--

Happy Saint Patrick's Day! I'll have you all know that as I write this I'm listening to the soundtrack of Riverdance and once I've finished, I'm rewarding myself with a delicious bowl of Lucky Charms.

Last week in Honors 240, we watched a pretty incredible film, called Amistad. It tells the story of the controversy surrounding the Amistad slaves and the trial determining their fate. Here's the premise. A group of Africans was taken from Africa in a Portuguese ship and then transferred to a Spanish ship, La Amistad. The Africans took control of the ship, tried to steer it back to Africa, but ended up landing on the East Coast of the United States (I'll be honest. There was footage of the ship heading East, into the rising sun and I don't understand how they got turned around and landed on the East Coast. Oh well, it happened). There was some other business with an American ship who tried to "claim the cargo" of La Amistad. There were four main competing claims (and several smaller parties that were also involved)--the Africans claimed their own freedom, the Spanish owners of La Amistad claimed private ownership, the Queen of Spain (Isabella II at the tender age of eleven), and the Americans who discovered and "salvaged" the "cargo."

The case proved to be very difficult. There was falsified logic, unprovable but true and valid evidence, and of course the problem that none of the Africans involved spoke any European tongue. The case was fought long and hard and decided in favor of the Africans. It was then taken to the Supreme court. The decision was the same, but it was a very difficult legal battle.

The movie stimulated a lot of thinking about a lot of issues. Here are some scattered ideas that stick out a week in retrospect.

First, I'm grateful to live in the circumstances I enjoy. Though the world today is by no means perfect, it's a lot better than it was one hundred and seventy years ago. I'm grateful to be part of an economy that is not founded on human bondage (although some would argue that it is, considering the vast majority of the goods we enjoy are manufactured in sweatshops). I'm grateful that human dignity is recognized and valued in my society. I'm grateful to live in a nation that was founded on the idea of freedom and that has realized that idea as well as any nation ever has.

Next, I'm shocked at the corruption that was and is in politics. It is sickening to know that, even in the nineteenth century, when right and wrong and personal integrity were valued much more than they are today, there were so many in power who were so obsessed with maintaining their power that they sacrificed their integrity. I imagine that the situation is even worse today. That being said, the film made me much more thankful for men of integrity and fidelity who stand up for what is right no matter how such action will affect their careers and integrity. This film showcased several men who were so committed to doing the right thing. It was very inspiring.

I was also very impressed at the power of ideas, educated men, and good public speaking. I don't quite know how to explain this one--you'll have to watch the film, but you'll know what I mean if you. Some day I'll figure out how to articulate thoughts pertinent to this subject and I'll blog about it.

Lastly, this movie made me love John Quincy Adams! For so long I thought of him as sort of a loser who wasn't very effective as president and whom no one really liked. This movie completely changed that opinion, especially if the speech at the end of the movie is similar or identical to the speech that he surely gave in real life. That speech alone is enough reason to watch the movie--it is stunning.

Well, that's all I have to say on the subject for now. Here's some Irish hardshoe for Saint Patrick's Day (random: I accidentally typed thanksgiving and then caught my mistake--I think I've had one to many yummy treats today).



Enjoy!

--Christian