Post by wiganshrew2 on May 10, 2004 16:04:01 GMT 1
Last night I was watching a DVD "Angela's Ashes" by Frank McCourt- about a very poor, miserable Irish Catholic childhood.
Dealt with some profound issues- I was really "blown away" by it!
Frank McCourt exposes all the issues about prejudice and institutions that seek to mould and control people, and all the time they're keeping people "in their place", socially and economically, whilst pretending they're "improving " them.
It's things like established "religion"- and education. There was so much predjudice and cruelty went on.
But McCourt has a balanced view, because, among all these terrible authority, establishment figures- teachers and priests with no scrap of kindness or real sense of what their real purpose should be, he shows a kind teacher- and a kind priest.
He also shows how these people made a difference to his life. The teacher who knew that teaching is all about unlocking the excitement and wonder of learning and creativity- and who sees the potential in his students, whatever their background.
The priest who understands what Jesus really wanted people to do- to help people- and to give them a sense of their own unique qualities and value in the world- and, far from instilling guilt, freeing people from "beating themselves up" over old mistakes- leaving them free to love others and to respect themselves.
Phew! That's a bit heavy- but it was powerful stuff! I really needed to share that!!
Watch it, if you haven't already. (Also makes you realise how blessed we are, not to have to endure all that these people had to endure.)
Dealt with some profound issues- I was really "blown away" by it!
Frank McCourt exposes all the issues about prejudice and institutions that seek to mould and control people, and all the time they're keeping people "in their place", socially and economically, whilst pretending they're "improving " them.
It's things like established "religion"- and education. There was so much predjudice and cruelty went on.
But McCourt has a balanced view, because, among all these terrible authority, establishment figures- teachers and priests with no scrap of kindness or real sense of what their real purpose should be, he shows a kind teacher- and a kind priest.
He also shows how these people made a difference to his life. The teacher who knew that teaching is all about unlocking the excitement and wonder of learning and creativity- and who sees the potential in his students, whatever their background.
The priest who understands what Jesus really wanted people to do- to help people- and to give them a sense of their own unique qualities and value in the world- and, far from instilling guilt, freeing people from "beating themselves up" over old mistakes- leaving them free to love others and to respect themselves.
Phew! That's a bit heavy- but it was powerful stuff! I really needed to share that!!
Watch it, if you haven't already. (Also makes you realise how blessed we are, not to have to endure all that these people had to endure.)