Interstitiality

Forgiving Dr. Mengele

Sharon, Michelle, and I went to see a provocative documentary last night. It was called Forgiving Dr. Mengele. Cheri Pugh and our friend Bob Hercules directed the movie. The film is about the life and message of Eva Kor, a survivor of Auschwitz. She and her sister Miriam lived through horrible experiments while in the camps. A Nazi doctor, Josef Mengele, perpetrated these inhuman acts in the name of science and genetic research.

Kor created controversy nationally and internationally when she publicly declared amnesty for all Nazis, forgiving them for the crimes committed against her and her family during World War II. She makes very clear that her act of forgiveness represents only her own personal viewpoint. She does not pretend to speak on behalf of others. She speaks only for herself. Throughout the documentary, she describes her rationale for forgiveness. She wanted to be free from the suffering and misery of the camps. One day she realized that she had the power to forgive the Nazis personally, a power that was hers alone to give. Her primary motivation was to be free from the pain while not forgetting the past.

Kor, a real estate agent and mother of two, built a Holocaust museum in Terre Haute, Indiana, her place of residence. The movie documents her travels around the world. She has spoken at international conferences but has also dedicated much of her time to address teenagers. Wherever she goes, she shares boldly and without reservation her controversial and moving message of forgiveness. Her point of view, as one could guess, often creates controversy. Other surviving Mengele twins and many within the Jewish community and beyond have been openly critical of her. One of the most powerful and difficult scenes in the film occurs when she goes to Israel/Palestine and has a heated exchange with Palestinian Arabs. The participants at this meeting share with her openly their own pain and struggle with the Israeli occupation. Kor is unable to deal with their pain. Everyone walks away from the discussion hurt and disappointed (including the filmmakers). Even though her life is an embodiment of the power of forgiveness, Kor’s strength and resolve fail when discussing peace and reconciliation between Jews and Palestinians.

Even with the controversy and complicated nature of her proclamation of forgiveness, there is no denying the power of Kor’s message and its effects upon certain audiences. Two other powerful scenes include Kor walking through Auschwitz with a former Nazi SS and doctor (Dr. Munch). The scene closes with her forgiving him openly in public. Another scene shows her lecturing to young people. Afterward, she is seen talking with a long line of obviously moved teens. She comforts and encourages them as they weep openly about their own problems with parents and society. Throughout, the movie tries to make clear that Kor is not promoting the universal applicability of forgiveness. Rather, the film documents one person’s way of healing the violence within her past.

After the film, the filmmakers and Kor were present for discussion. As one would expect, the film touched many people. Many were inspired by Kor’s life and message. I too was moved but not in the same way. While the message of forgiveness moved me to tears (esp. the scene with teens), I thought the beauty and power of the film was located among the contradictions within and around Kor’s life. Forgiveness is powerful and problematic. It is powerful because it has the ability to transform people’s lives, providing a vision of the world that is based in hope and healing. It is also problematic, not because other people fail to see the power of forgiveness, but because forgiveness does not fit neatly in situations that demand justice.

This film will make you think. For those of you who are in the Chicago area, I highly recommend it to you. It will be at the Siskel all week.

The Chicago Auto Show

The Chicago Auto Show is an annual highlight for our kids. They love to look at cars. One day soon, they will like driving cars; but let's not talk about that day just yet.

The auto show reminded me of the self-destructive and conflictual nature of American consumer appetites. On the one hand, there were hybrids and cars that ran on ethanol based fuels. On the other, I noticed that cars are getting bigger with poorer gas mileage. Why Americans are obsessed with gas-guzzling, high-priced SUVs and CUVs is beyond me.

Question: How does one deal with a poor economy, raising gas prices, and an endangered environment?

Answer: Bigger cars that eat more gas and which also cost a small fortune. Oh, and to make us feel more concientious, we'll throw in a few hybrids.

Poli/Sci

This makes sense to me. I am just slightly too permissive to be a socialist. On the site, they give you the option of seeing which famous people you align with on your political beliefs. I am Hilary Clinton-esque.

You are a Social Liberal (66% permissive) and an... Economic Liberal (21% permissive) You are best described as a: Democrat Link: The Politics Test on Ok Cupid Also: The OkCupid Dating Persona Test

Happy V-Day!

What are you giving or getting for Valentine's Day?

Yes, it's just another commercial holiday; but this fact does not prevent some of us from having some fun with it. Valentine's Day is a great excuse for Michelle and I to plan a date night. We usually do not go out on Feb 14th. Dining establishments and entertainment options are always much too crowded. On or around the 14th, Michelle and I set a date that we designate as our Valentine's Day date. We also usually give each other small gifts.

This year, Michelle gave me a fluffy red lion that grrrs. It does not growl, it grrrs. It made me laugh out loud. Since she does not read my blog, my secret is safe. Along with her card, Michelle is getting the Red Hot Chili Pepper's greatest hits. She has wanted this CD for a couple of years. It should go well with her Xmas gift, her IPOD Nano.

"Jesus" Lays His Chips Down

I turned on the T.V. and happened to catch a couple hands of the World Series of Poker on ESPN. At the final table, Naseem Salem went all in on a decent but not great hand. The only player to call was Chris “Jesus” Ferguson. Ferguson has the nickname, “Jesus,” because he looks like Jesus (if Jesus was white and a cowboy). Anyway, Salem joked that Jesus should be kind to him, saying, “I’m Catholic.” Ferguson didn’t flinch. “Jesus” glared back at Salem through his sunglasses and replied in his characteristic monotone, “I’m not.”

...theological controversy at the poker table. Who knew?

A Night at the Opera

Michelle and I went to see an opera last Monday night. We were guests of our friend and my colleague’s spouse, Chuck. We saw Verdi’s Rigoletto. It was great! I am not well-versed in opera, but I really enjoyed it. I usually enjoy a good tragedy. I must admit that there were times when Verdi’s instrumentation seemed a bit sing-songy for the tragic themes that were being played out on stage. It made me realize how my personal musical predispositions affect how I understand the mood of any performance.

The Duke’s well-known aria, “La donna e mobile,” was a highlight. I must admit, however, that I was completely unaware of the misogynistic themes within the song. Of course the Duke is a sex-crazed egomaniac in the opera. Still, it surprises me (and it doesn’t surprise me) that the most well-known piece from this opera, indeed one of the better known pieces of opera among the general public, is about women as objects of men’s desire, sung be a character who is a sexist pig. Sigh.

On another opera note…Pavarotti’s performance of Puccini’s Nessun Dorma last night at the opening ceremonies for the Winter Olympics was amazing. It brought me to tears.

Numenorean?

I got this one from Yodabeth. Sounds kind of ominous...Graceful. Dignified. Tragic. Yikes! I would hope that I am a Dunedain-type of Numenorean, not the type that stormed the Undying Lands, seeking their "right" to immortality.

Middle Earth quiz

Numenorean


To which race of Middle Earth do you belong?
brought to you by Quizilla

Super Bowl, Super Weird

The Super Bowl was weird this year. Seattle looked better offensively and defensively for about 75-80% of the game. It was that other 20% that did them in. That 20% included two major breakdowns on defense--letting Willie Parker scamper for the longest TD run in Super Bowl history (yes Willie Parker), and allowing a gadget play score for a TD even when everyone else in the football world knew exactly which trick play they were running. Some of the miscues were not Seattle’s fault. There was some horrible officiating--a theme throughout the postseason. Yes, the officials were right on the Roethlisberger’s reviewed TD. The ball cleared the plane. The officials were maybe OK in calling Darren Jackson for offensive pass interference in the endzone, but it was a ticky-tacky call (and a late flag I might add). The holding call that nullified a play that would have put Seattle on the 2 yd-line, however, was a bad, bad call. It was not holding. If the outside tackle would have held the defender, the defender wouldn’t have had a free run to the QB. Other factors that hurt the Seahawks: the dropped passes and missed FGs. They had some key drops at critical stages of the game, which resulted in FG attempts that were missed. Lastly, Holmgren did not manage the game or the clock well. I could understand the confusion at the end of the half. The Hawks were in an awkward situation. If they didn’t convert on 3rd down, which they did not, then they would give the ball back to the Steelers. So Holmgren decided to let the clock run, making the (missed) FG the last virtual play of the half. The end of the game, however, was managed very poorly. So do the math: give up two big TD plays on defense + a couple of bad calls + dropped passes and missed opportunities on offense + bad decision making at critical junctures of the game = a loss even when you dominated the game statistically (without the two big plays, the total yds would have been Seattle 396, Pittsburgh 221). Congratulations to the Steelers who, again, made the most of their opportunities. Seattle will have all off-season to think about this one.

Short, Not Sweet

Trying to write tonight, so I’ll keep this short.

It looks like my ordination date is going to be more like later spring, maybe early June. The Presbytery and I had a misunderstanding involving paper work. The long and short of it: I won’t be going before Presbytery next week. I will have to wait until April (there is no meeting in March). This is not a big deal, just a minor glitch. After many years of candidacy, I guess a couple of months won’t hurt.