I finally watched Avatar....
First let me say that it was a really excellent movie---I think it is definitely worth watching. Of course I could not help but analyze the movie from a social work perspective...
It is interesting to me that in the movie the military, seeming of American decent, was attempting to push out the natives...big surprise because they had something of value within their community. As an attempt to understand the community to facilitate a take over, the military inserted someone to become familiar with the way of the land---what ended up happening is that the implant began to understand the connection that the people had between their environment and in the end advocated and fought for the population despite what might happen to him--as a result of being viewed as a trader. At various points during the movie I couldn't help but wonder about how often this situation occurs--and more often without public knowledge. I thought about how awful it must be to have foreign entities invade a territory suggesting that the indigenous population must vacate immediately--without any understanding of the the culture or the practices of the population.
What gives groups of people the right to assume the authority to make such decisions---and I wonder it the people under direct orders to carry out such activities have any thoughts or feelings about their assigned mission? As a social worker, I took an oath to practice my work in a way that promotes self-determination being mindfulness of cultural rituals and norms--it is painful to ponder the reality of this situation.
In closing--could you imagine being told that you must leave your home after a lifetime--leave everything behind--being told that you must practice a certain religion, eat a particular food, dress a certain way---or engage in behaviors and activities that are unknown in an unfamiliar place? Seems unfathomable--but for some has become their reality.
Embrace diversity, seek to understand...and help people where their are at.
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