Tonight(actually last night by the time stamp) was a very interesting night. It was of course thanksgiving. I should actually start with Wednesday night.
Wednesday our Home Church met and we had Thanksgiving dinner for everyone there. Everyone brought food. Everyone had a great time. I would have to say that it was the best Thanksgiving dinner I have had in some time.
OK....Now today....I had another Thanksgiving dinner a the home a family friend. The good and the company was good. I didn't stay long though I really just wanted to come home relax and maybe get some writing done. ... well I get a phone call from my friend Jeff, he wants to go check out this new indie
Somalian film called "Rajo"(Hope). While he is on the phone he has me look up the website...it is apparently been billed as a Somali action film...And the first Somalian movie ever made. I was intrigued, and agreed to go. I really didn't know what to expect...I think I half expected something between "Miami Vice" and "Black Hawk Down" based on what I saw on the trailer for the movie.
Anyway Jeff and I get there and we are the only two anglos in an entire movie full of Somalis. This of course rules out our usually vocal movie criticize..
The movie starts with a credit to god....Obviously this is not your standard Hollywood blockbuster. Honestly I was impressed.....Ok OK OK I know the production value wasn't that great, and the story was a little contrived......But I learned something....Not so much from the film it self but from the combination of the film and the audience. At this point I should mention that Columbus has very high population of Somali immigrants several of which live on my street. Prior to this evening my experience with the Somali community was riding in a Somali driven taxi, and multiple viewing of "Black Hawk Down". But, I learned something tonight.....Learned something about my immigrant neighbors. I experienced them as real people, with names and faces and real dreams and goals.....And as people with an very strong sense of morality.
At one point there is a couple walking along the lake shore talking about what is important to them. The female lead states something to the effect that the most important thing to her is the keeping of their faith and religion. At this point the vast majority of audience begins clapping a cheering. Later on in the movie we come to the big dramatic conflict sequence when our hero confronts and gets in a fight with the corrupting evil drug dealer. At this point the audience is out of thier sets; fists in the air yelling and applauding the hero's struggle against evil. This was not just a few isolated viewers, but the entire group. I was almost stunned by this. I would love to see this movie played to non Somali audiences, although I believe that seeing it with this audience made the biggest impact on my....especially in the way that I react to my neighbor
Well after this object lesson in understanding. Jeff and I head back to his place so I could pick up my car. We sat and talked for bit. I raised some concerns that I had about somethings not realizing that the majority of the problem in this case was my own making.....Jeff called me out on it, and set me straight, only the way a true friend can.(Thanks Jeff)
So overall this has been a really good couple of days.....I have been truly blessed and have so much to be thankful for............
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