Turning A Blind Eye

Commentary By Ron Beasley

When a government is responsible for immoral acts in it's citizens name those citizens must decide how to react.  The flood of information on torture has put the American people in that position.  I was disappointed to see that a majority think that torture was justified.  That may be in part the result of ignorance and a hangover from the atmosphere of fear pushed by the Bush administration and the right since 911.  I was at the same time glad to see that a small majority favor an investigation.  Such an investigation should help to neutralize the ignorance.

I watched a movie this weekend, The Boy In The Striped Pajamas  based on a novel by John Boyne.   It is about a family in Nazi Germany and how each responded to the attrocities carried out their name.  

This is an interesting film on many accounts, the most fascinating being the changes that each member of Bruno's family undergoes.  His father, a seemingly reluctant, "political only" Nazi at the beginning, devolves into a hardened, harsh man.  Bruno's sister Gretel (Amber Beattie), encouraged by a handsome lieutenant working with her father, falls victim to the Aryan propaganda so much that her room is soon filled with posters of the Fuhrer, much like young girls today would adorn their walls with images of the Jonas Brothers. Finally, there's Bruno's mother (Vera Farmiga), who is the antithesis to the growing Nazism in her family.  At first she is happy for her husband and the success he has as a soldier in the German army.  However, as she learns more about her husband's new charge, and the truth is revealed about the camp, she becomes bitter and angry.

And then there's Bruno.  All the signs are there.  Bruno comes across every hint he possibly could as to the truth behind the "farm" where his friend Shmuel lives and works.  Yet he remains utterly oblivious.  Caught between the two stages of "sounds and smells and sights" and "the dark hour of reason," the filmmakers show the great price of failing to deal with the world around us.

   As the truth is revealed different characters respond in different ways - acceptance, rejection or denial. As information continues to indicate that torture was both ineffective and illegal the American people will have to decide how they will respond.