Blood Diamond What human rights issues were illustrated in the film? Ans. 1) Genocide, child soldiers, slavery. Solomon was forced into slavery in a diamond mine, working in terrible conditions against his will by Captain Poison. After Solomon escaped his son Dia was captured by Captain Poison and he too was forced into slavery as a child soldier, Dia was brainwashed by the RUF and forced to take part in the torture and murder of innocent civilians, he was drugged and mentally tortured. Solomon’s whole village was burned down and the villagers who were not fit for work has their hands cut off. Those who were fit for work were torn from their families and forced into slave labour. Refugees including Solomon’s wife and …show more content…
younger children were forced into detention centres and were not released until the conflict was over. The declaration of Human Rights and judicial laws were in place to prevent the abuse, as well as foreign countries obligation to intervene and stop the reign of the RUF I think the most important human rights are freedom and equality. And this both human rights are violated by terrorist and diamond dealers. 2. Do you think the violence depicted in the film is necessary to accurately portray the situation in Sierra Leone in 1999? Ans. Yes, because that's what's happening. -Yes, I think they are necessary. There were very shocking violence scenes that make us think seriously about the terrible situation in Sierra Leone and in other parts of the world where the people is been exploit. Set during the Sierra Leone Civil War in 1999, the film shows a country torn apart by the struggle between government soldiers and rebel forces. The film portrays many of the atrocities of that war, including the rebels' amputation of people's hands to stop them from voting in upcoming elections. 3. After the RUF burns Solomon’s village, they chop off the hands of the villagers. What is the significance of this action? What does symbolize? Ans. The Slogan of the ruling regime was "The future is in your hands." So the rebels chopped off the hands of the villagers to make a cruelly ironic point that it wasn't. The RUF cut of the hands of the villagers to ensure that they cannot vote, this action is significant as it takes away not only the villagers freedom, but their voice within society forever. It removes all power the villagers had and bestows it upon the RUF, feeding into the deviation they cause. 4. The film began and ended in Antwerp, Belgium. How did events in Belgium relate to the events in Sierra Leone? Ans.
Because the people responsible for financing the warfare were the diamond traders in Belgium 5. Why did Danny Archer become involved in the conflict diamond trade? Ans. He was a former soldier turned mercenary who wanted to make quick cash During the film Danny Archer expresses wishes of wanting to leave Africa. To get away. He also says and I quote “that diamond is my key to get off this godforsaken continent.” Danny wants to leave Africa to escape the conflict but he too is feeding into it by neglecting his responsibilty to the law and he does not feel responsible because he truly believes that crime is the only way out. Danny turns a blind eye to the treatment of the people who mine the diamonds that he smuggles. 6. In the beginning of the film, all Danny seems to care about is himself. At the end of the film, however, he is willing to die to protect Solomon. What prompted Danny’s change of heart? Ans. His relationship with the American journalist. people are shaped by their experiences, and they can be as good or bad as the world allows. In the beginning of the flim, Danny Archer is extremely selfish and plans to steal Solomon's diamond. After he learns Solomon's situation, he feels guilty for ever intending to steal the diamond. Danny realises that Solomon needs the diamond more than he does. In the end Danny sacrifices himself by giving solomon the diamond. He also gives Maddy the names of the people who raught the diamond system to make profit so that she can include it in her
story. 7. For each character in the film, diamonds represent a different idea or symbol. Captain Poison, for example, sees the pink diamond as his ticket to a better life. What do diamonds represent to each of the characters? Ans. For Solomon it's a way to find his family, for Danny it's also a way out of the life, for Maddy it's a way to get her story published (and possibly end the violence), and for the Colonel it's just more money. For Solomon, diamonds were his ticket to freedom for his family. In particular, the diamond he discovered while mining. He realises that this diamond gives him the power to free himself and his family from violence and certain death. For Danny, diamonds were the only way he could “get off this god forsaken continent” (meaning Africa) and go to London. For Maddy, diamonds were her story. They were the way that she could raise awareness for people buying diamonds. She could inform the public as to just what cost these diamonds came at.
Danny is a Hassidic Jew, who believes that there should not be a homeland for the Jews that is established without the Messiah. Reuven, as a Zionist, believes that they should just establish Israel themselves and stop waiting. This distinction between the faiths is extremely obvious when Reb Saunders exclaims during dinner, “There must not be an Israel without the messiah!” Reuven’s father is the complete antithesis of Reb as he is passionate about the founding of Israel as a measure to prevent anti-Semitism. He is constantly going on speaking tours and writing articles to get the people of the world interested and pushing for the founding of the Jewish homeland. Reuven grows passionate about this too after he has been excommunicated by Reb and not allowed to talk to Danny when he goes out at night to help ship guns to Palestine. Hassidics and Zionists also differ in their reactions to the Holocaust. Reb Saunder responds to the Hassidic with, “… though God slayed me… still I trust in Him.” His faith does not change and he views it as God’s punishment for straying from their beliefs and traditions. Matler again has a completely opposite viewpoint of the events and says “We are survivors… we need to keep ourselves alive and cannot count on God for our help.” When he is making his grand speech in front of the people, he mentions how the only way for these events to happen
During the final conversation between Reb Saunders, Danny, and Reuven, Reb Saunders defends his method of raising Danny by noting that, “...I did not want my Daniel to become like my brother...Better I should have no son at all than have a brilliant son with no soul” (285). Reb Saunders assumes that if Danny were raised in silence, then he would obtain a soul unlike Reb Saunders’ brother who did not have one. Reb Saunders raises Danny in isolation due to his assumption that having intellect without a soul would make a person indifferent and uncaring. By only wanting what he presumes is most beneficial for Danny, Reb Saunders forms a barrier between him and a meaningful relationship with Danny. This approach of bringing up a child is the only one that Reb Saunders has previous knowledge and he realizes that, “..a wiser father... may have done differently. I am not... wise” (288). Once Reb Saunders understands the consequences of his irrational decision, it is too late to make amends. Silence strains their relationship and forces both Danny and Reb Saunders to become depressed and miserable. Despite raising Danny with good intentions, Reb Saunders feels remorse for not establishing an affectionate relationship with his son while he still had the chance. Furthermore, Reb Saunders yearns for Danny to become a tzaddik and tries fulfills his desire through restrained communication between his son. If Reb Saunders had created a lasting relationship with Danny then the same hope could have been achieved. For Danny to become a tzaddik without feeling compassion during his lifetime is difficult to demand. It may have been possible for Danny to develop the traits that his father requires of him if he was raised in a nurturing environment. Overall, Reb Saunders’ rationalization of his parenting technique is rendered useless as he comprehends what an ill-advised approach it
The relationship between the two fathers and the two sons is a very important theme in this book. Because of their different backgrounds, Reb Saunders and David Malters approached raising a child from two totally different perspectives. Despite the obvious differences in the two men’s beliefs, both did what they thought was right for their sons. Reb Saunders was a Hasidic tzaddik and wanted his son to follow in his footsteps. He raised Danny in silence, hoping to teach him to listen to silence, to learn compassion, and to develop a soul to go with his mind. Unless it had to do with religious studies, Reb never had an actual conversation with Danny after the age of 3. Reb wanted Danny to find things out for himself. On the other hand, Reuven’s father, Mr. Malters, felt it very important that he had good and frequent communication between himself and his son. The two would sometimes talk for hours about life, different religions, friends and anything else Reuven would want to ...
live in harsh conditions where they stripped each man of their dignity. As his life got
As the story evolves, Danny and Reuven become very good friends. This is a highlight for Danny, given that he has never had a close friend before Reuven. Danny has lived a very lonely life. He has not had any friends because he feels that no understands him. Reuven's father realizes Danny's loneliness, and gives Reuven some fatherly advice. He comments, "Reb Saunders' son is a terribly torn and lonely boy. There is literally no one in the world he can talk to. He needs a friend." (pg. 110) David Malter continues by saying, "The accident with the baseball has bound him to you and he has already sensed in you someone he can talk to without fear. I am very proud of you for that." (pg. 110) Reuven's father expresses his confidence to his son very openly which is an important aspect in comparing with Danny and his father's relationship.
During those five days, Danny came to visit Reuven and told him he was sorry. Reuven accepted his apology and they began to talk about different things. They became friends and kept seeing each other after Reuven got out of the hospital. One day Reuven went over to Danny’s house to meet his father. Danny’s father was a rabbi and raised his son by means of silence. They never talked except when they studied the Torah together. Reuvens’s father was a Zionist and Danny’s father was an anti-Zionist so neither was fond of the other but allowed Danny and Reuven to still be friends. Because Danny’s father was a rabbi, it was Danny’s inherited trait to also one day become a rabbi and take his father’s place. Danny, how ever, wanted to be a psychologist not a rabbi. Reuven did not have to be a rabbi but wanted to be one.
Danny Saunders is the other main character, who lives under the shadow of becoming the next rabbi (the preacher of our culture.) He...
All through the entire book, Chaim Potok attempted various endeavor in order to express the emphasis on developing his central characters, Reuven Malter and Danny Saunders. One of the main themes Chaim Potok tried to express in The Chosen is that true friendship plays a vital role in maintaining the welfare of any friends. To backbone his idea, Chaim Potok demonstrated several scenarios when Reuven and Danny are in difficult situations and ultimately have to sort out solutions before the problems could corrupt their relationship. Reuven Malter, son of a Modern Orthodox teacher, is smart, athletic and has a particular nick for mathematics. However, Reuven's desire is to become a rabbi of his own sect for he feels that he could " be more useful to people as a rabbi ," ("The Chosen" 74) by doing things such as to " teach them, and help them when they're in trouble " ("The Chosen" 74) Danny Saunders, on the other hand, is the son of a Russian Hasidic rabbi leader, Reb Saunders.
Reuven and Danny are friends when they enter Hirsch College. While they are at college, many of the students and faculty members have different stances on Zionism. During this time, David Malter organizes a pro-Zionist rally at Madison Square Garden that turns out to be very successful and over joys Reuven. However, when Reuven returns to school, he finds out that Danny is not allowed to be friends and talk with him anymore because of the rally. Reuven is extremely upset and furious. He calls Reb Saunders a "fanatic" and cries about Danny. Danny and Reuven do not talk for the whole semester and Reuven feels horrible about the situation. He thinks that silence is "cancerous, [and] was death" (221). By the next semester, Reuven promises to forget Danny and his silence; but he can't, even if he's mad. Later, Reuven and Danny start communicating in silence. David Malter told Reuven in the beginning of the novel that "two people who are true friends are like two bodies with one soul." (74) This shows the reader that Danny and Reuven still had to communicate with each other, even in silence, because they were bonded with a "true" friendship.
Danny’s life fell apart after that interview. If Danny got help maybe his life could have gone the other direction. Gender did play a role in Danny’s case. If Danny was a female maybe he wouldn’t feel the same way about what his father would have thought and seek help.
Danny then decides for Sandy to notice him that he needs to become athletic, so he starts try...
By inserting the past experiences of the people Solomon interviewed, he was able to to accomplish his goal by letting one know that anyone can go through a hardship but just like the mother who was raped or Dr. Ma Thida, that instead of dwelling in the past, they used their struggles to construct a new identity for them and become stronger. Never allow the traumas one has experienced to stunt the growth of one’s intellectual mind or personality. As Solomon states, “Forge meaning, Build Identity. And then invite the world to share your
They starved to death and many got infections that were not taken care of properly. They were beaten for the simplest things and they were used as experiments. They were taken into gas chambers where they were tricked into thinking that they were taking baths. They lost their friends and family they were torn away from their children, mostly they were never seen again. In the final months of the war they were taken on marches killing off even more of them.When they came to their old homes ( even though some ceased to exist) they were still hated they were beaten and killed by rioters. Many were lost, but in the end there were survivors people that made it through this torturous place. “ No tiger can eat me no shark can beat me... even the Devil would lose his teeth biting me I feel it ; I will get out of this place.” - Fritz Loehner.( Aretha)
The film marker is trying to raise awareness of the illicit conflict diamond trade and reinforcing the Kimberley process1 and showing how it will stem the flow of conflict diamonds. This is successful mainly due to the public outburst after the movie. The great impact of the movie has caused diamond companies like De Beers2 to start a pre-emptive PR (public relationship) campaign, even before the movie was released to inform people that their diamonds are conflict-free.
“12 Years A Slave” can be analyzed in serveral different ways including several different topics. It shows of course how awful the treatment of