Munich Olympics and Chicago Basketball
The other night some friends and I saw the movie Munich. At a superficial level the movie seems to be a condemnation of "eye for and eye" foreign policy. It shows preemptive and retaliatory violence as a self fulfilling prophecy that will continually be realized. It offers few answers though as to an alternative solution to the international terrorism that occurs in our world. As the credits rolled with the haunting picture of the newly finished World Trade Center standing majestically in the background the question seemed to be asked, how are we dealing with violence in our world today?
To say the American foreign policy since the destruction of the WTC is in some ways similar to the Israeli foreign policy depicted in Munich seems justified. The result of this policy is portrayed as tragic in the film and it can be implied that the result will also be tragic in today's current events. Munich eloquently shows the futility of using violence to stop violence. This concept is difficult for us to comprehend when depicted on a large international canvas but when the cameras focus in on the life of one hired assassin and the damage done to his family and him the tragic farce is evident. The same result may be waiting in the near future for those involved in the retaliation for the events of September 11, 2001. Is it likely that continued violence between the Western and Islamic worlds will result in a conclusion any different than that in Munich?
So what then is the alternative?
Driving home from the film I heard on ESPN radio about Antonio Davis and his trip "into the stands" to defend his wife. It was the play by play announcer that shocked me. He comments were similar to, "DAVIS IS GOING INTO THE STANDS! HE'S CONFRONTING A FAN! DID HE KNOCK HIM DOWN!? DID HE KNOCK HIM OUT!?" It turned out that Mr. Davis neither knocked down nor knocked out the man who was verbally harassing his wife. Instead he spoke quietly with the man and then left to return to the floor. Like the announcer we have begun to look forward to violence for the immediacy it allows. Whether it is a domestic fight or a country prescribing "eye for and eye" solutions, the result is quick and dramatic. Can Mr. Davis' choice to use words first be used as an example for international disputes? It at least a good place to start.
To say the American foreign policy since the destruction of the WTC is in some ways similar to the Israeli foreign policy depicted in Munich seems justified. The result of this policy is portrayed as tragic in the film and it can be implied that the result will also be tragic in today's current events. Munich eloquently shows the futility of using violence to stop violence. This concept is difficult for us to comprehend when depicted on a large international canvas but when the cameras focus in on the life of one hired assassin and the damage done to his family and him the tragic farce is evident. The same result may be waiting in the near future for those involved in the retaliation for the events of September 11, 2001. Is it likely that continued violence between the Western and Islamic worlds will result in a conclusion any different than that in Munich?
So what then is the alternative?
Driving home from the film I heard on ESPN radio about Antonio Davis and his trip "into the stands" to defend his wife. It was the play by play announcer that shocked me. He comments were similar to, "DAVIS IS GOING INTO THE STANDS! HE'S CONFRONTING A FAN! DID HE KNOCK HIM DOWN!? DID HE KNOCK HIM OUT!?" It turned out that Mr. Davis neither knocked down nor knocked out the man who was verbally harassing his wife. Instead he spoke quietly with the man and then left to return to the floor. Like the announcer we have begun to look forward to violence for the immediacy it allows. Whether it is a domestic fight or a country prescribing "eye for and eye" solutions, the result is quick and dramatic. Can Mr. Davis' choice to use words first be used as an example for international disputes? It at least a good place to start.
posted by Luke at
6:00 PM
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