| The movie The Great Debaters debates universal | | | | was immediately evident that the color of one's skin |
| topics and themes which all human beings can relate | | | | need not be the determining factor of one's |
| to and understand. In regard to what is morally right | | | | character. |
| or wrong, which is to be preeminent? The law or | | | | Black poets such as Hughes, Bennet, and Hurst |
| one's own conscience? | | | | showed themselves intellectually strong and capable |
| This is but one of the many outstanding topics | | | | in their writings. Hatred is merely a game played by |
| debated and argued throughout the film, which deals | | | | cool hands. Wise and timeless words! |
| with racial inequality, injustice, and human rights | | | | Today we no longer demonize Indians, blacks, and |
| abuses. For centuries the legislature had written | | | | communists. Instead we prefer to demonize Muslims |
| unjust laws to enslave, disenfranchise, and oppress | | | | and label them terrorists (often people who we |
| blacks in America. | | | | know nothing about). Hence America's oppression |
| Thankfully because of some noble and intellectually | | | | marches on - it has just be taken off our soil and |
| astute men who wisely framed and articulated their | | | | moved to another "theater of war" afar where less |
| arguments peacefully, justice did come and | | | | public scrutiny will be given. |
| anglo-saxon hearts were won over to freedom. This | | | | It is therefore faulty logic and presumptuous to call |
| progressively and eventually brought about an | | | | America godly and good when it poorly represents |
| emancipation for blacks across the nation. Yet those | | | | the heart of the Creator both historically and now. |
| in power did not turn over their control and remove | | | | Who are we to do nothing? Such was an |
| their domination easily. They had to be confronted, | | | | unforgettable question asked in this marvelous film |
| exposed, and battled endlessly. | | | | that calls us to account. |
| Hence the beauty and burden of democracy is a | | | | A law that violates my conscience is void of justice. |
| wayward people can rule by majority and thereby | | | | So too are executive orders that send sons to war |
| legally enact immorality. As Ghandi stated civil | | | | to kill innocent people of another color or creed just |
| disobedience at times is just when the laws of men | | | | because they cannot comprehend the English |
| are unjust. | | | | language when a gun is put to their face. |
| Though those in power among the ruling class would | | | | Conscience precedes law and enables us to know |
| say civil disobedience is nothing more than the true | | | | right from wrong. |
| face of anarchy, nothing can be further from the | | | | Blacks were hung, lynched, and killed without justice. |
| truth when you look closer at America's historical | | | | Today history is again repeating itself. |
| atrocities inflicted upon the African race. | | | | Are we confused or convinced by our own media |
| Honestly no people is more positioned or poised to | | | | propaganda? |
| show true love and forgiveness to America and its | | | | An unjust law is no law at all. |
| people than the Africans who were oppressed by | | | | Your opponent is a mere dissenting voice to the |
| this nation. | | | | truth, which we in our hearts ultimately already know. |
| A march of civil disobedience done peacefully as | | | | God is the judge of the living and the dead. |
| instructed by Ghandi maintained human dignity and | | | | Intuitively Professor Tolson early on recognized in |
| respect for one's opponent, even to the extent of | | | | The Great Debaters the irony of Bethlehem Steel, a |
| humbly accepting the legal consequences for your | | | | company that makes weapons of war and yet uses |
| actions. Such acceptance of the repercussions for | | | | the name of the birthplace of the Prince of Peace |
| defying the law (even if the be unjust) can by no | | | | Jesus Christ. |
| means be anarchy. | | | | Whatever it takes to make us comfortable with |
| Another topic of debate in the film is welfare, which | | | | imperialism and the military-industrial complex I |
| some say discourages hard work. Survival, that is | | | | suppose. The denigration of people continues, only |
| eating and drinking, having a roof over one's head, | | | | afar. |
| undoubtedly is the greatest motivation for one to go | | | | Today blacks have freedoms they fought for and |
| to work daily. It is arguable therefore that welfare | | | | gloriously won! I encourage them and all people to |
| weakens the poor further making them lazy and | | | | continue the fight for freedom for others afar who |
| unwilling to work and be self-sufficient. | | | | are being brutalized by almighty America and abused |
| Yet the innocent children of parents without jobs | | | | under "the rule of law" which often is no law at all |
| who are both willing and able to work should not be | | | | beyond that of our own making, while we |
| made to suffer and go without, while a nation so | | | | simultaneously disdain international law and become a |
| prosperous as ours thrives. The government should | | | | law unto ourselves. |
| provide jobs before condemning the poor. | | | | Write your own dictionary! For America has skillfully |
| As blacks redeemed their dignity, got their births | | | | mastered the manipulation of the English language |
| recognized, and obtained meaningful employment it | | | | and their actions speak louder than their words. |