I think the most powerful words of Remember The Titans come during the final scene. The entire movie is built on the premise of learning how to accept and grow together. To me, this movie is a classic and should provide the backdrop for a valuable lesson. For the Titans, it took a summer football camp and a school year to learn to appreciate others and their differences. The progression of the film showcased the growth of these men. By the end of the movie, years had passed, and a group of people who were less than thrilled to come together in the first place came back as a family for one more time. Gerry and Julius were the cornerstones of the team coming together. When the world around them was telling them to turn their backs on each other, Gerry and Julius proved friendship could work. We live in a world that scoffs at friendships that are unlikely. The world turns a cold shoulder on those who are doing their best, but their best is not good enough. If people do not agree on the same values, someone always has to be wrong. I do not know who made these societal rules, but whoever they are contributed one of the biggest injustices to our melting pot of differences. We may not have an entire football team to back us, but we owe it to ourselves and our friendships to look beyond what they look like and where they come from to decide if we can be friends. In a perfect world, there is no room for a mean girls’ club. And often there is, so look around and if you do not see it, chances are you are a member of that club driving a wedge between your comfort zone and a world of friendships waiting to be made. I say this not to brag, but to prove a point. As I look at the people I have met and now call friends, I am proud of the diversity present in my circle of friendship. A circle has no starting point and no ending point. I chose the word circle to describe friendship because we are stronger together. Without each person whom I call a friend, my circle would be incomplete. They make me a better person. I have learned so much from those who are of different ethnicities and religions. I value friends and honor our differences. Playing the ignorance card and isolating ourselves to only associate with people who are exactly like us is unacceptable. Black, white, yellow, or red. Baptist, Catholic, Jewish, or Muslim. We can make it work. Learn to like each other, and you may end up having the best friends you could ever ask for in life. Diversity should be celebrated, always, always. Stay Curious, Kayla ©Inquisitive Perspectives 2018
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I get misty-eyed during the scene exchanged between Gerry Bertier and Julius Campbell in the hospital room. The entire movie was built on the premise of bringing two worlds together. When Gerry extends his arm and says, “left side,” while Julius meets with a handshake to reply, “strong side,” it puts into perspective that we are capable of acceptance and cohesion. The key word in my last statement is capable. We should strive to reach a point in society where we can live somewhat harmoniously, but with each day, I grow weary of that possibility. The recent events swirling in our country and the debate of right and wrong makes me think about where I stand on matters. I stand on the side of justice. I stand on the side of equal opportunities. I stand on the side of humanity. Greed is on a winning streak in this country, and change is necessary. We need to work together instead of pulling apart just for the sake of individual gains. A line must be drawn in the sand to mark a shift in thinking and actions. It is not enough to talk a good game; we have to show it too. Making history is an ongoing venture. My future children are going to someday look back at this time, and I have to be prepared to face them and share what I did to impact the course of history for them. The efforts I contribute to the cause is not just for me. I am advocating for future generations and hoping for a day when we are not divided by the type of person we are or where we come from. I will show my children how to be friends with people who are from different backgrounds. I will teach my children to advocate for themselves and others. I will involve my children in making decisions that will impact them and the world they will grow up in. All of these things and more are what it will take to grow kindness and acceptance. I sure do not have all the answers or any for that matter, but I never want to look back and see that I had an opportunity and did not take it because it made me feel uncomfortable. Future generations deserve a fair chance at a life without prejudices. What we choose today will decide what tomorrow holds. As for me and my actions, I will do whatever I can to contribute to the strong side of history. Stay Curious, Kayla ©Inquisitive Perspectives 2018 The infamous scene and game-opener of the mighty Titans coming onto the field in song and dance is arguably my favorite part of the movie. Not only was this a sign of unity between the teammates, but it also sent a clear message to the community members. Segregation was still how the community dynamics were set up, so to see this take the field sent a clear message that together they could be mighty. And so, the chain reaction began. Something had to happen for the moment of realization to take place. For a new coach and two teams colliding as one to be the spark for change, proved it was possible. While it could have been easy for a few teammates to refuse to join in on this song and dance, they all participated. They took it upon themselves to come together and show their families and community that joining races and living in harmony is possible. I look around the world we live in today, and I say more and more “what a time to be alive.” And I do not always mean that in a good way. As I watch the news, I shake my head at the divisiveness stirring from the top all the way down. It is hard to witness the steps back we have taken as minorities are punished for their presence. America is a melting pot, and it was never intended to be a cookie-cutter country. We have done ourselves the greatest disservice in thinking that there is a superior race and snub those who look different than us. We are a team, much like the Titans. They were the role models in their community to show that they were playing the same game and willing to set aside the differences that made them strong together. We need to start acting like we are playing the same game and working towards the same goal. It will not be an easy endeavor, as history has proven that much. Generations then and generations now have had the opportunity to create change to welcome inclusiveness and acceptance, but we have yet to have a lasting fix. Over the last year or so, I have seen the start of efforts to move towards this idea of acceptance and equality, but we still have much ground to cover to make the change stick. It seems for every step we take forward something happens that pushes us two steps back. If Remember the Titans taught us one thing it was that we have the capability to tear down barriers and crush the stereotypes of those different from us if we are willing to stand up and join something bigger than our self. It is about time we commit to the start of a movement. Stay Curious, Kayla ©Inquisitive Perspectives 2018 Coach Boone had a tough-love way of getting through to people. Segregation turned to integration in Remember The Titans, and some mindsets were going to change if he had anything to do with it. With training camp off to a rocky start and reluctant players in toe, the film not only shows barriers being broken in their lives, but it also breaks down walls in the hearts of a community. Training camp is only the beginning of a beautiful transition. The great divide between blacks and whites of the day set the precedence of a societal hierarchy for some form of segregation to always sneak back into our world. I see the divide happening again today, and it makes me sad. Groups are being alienated based on appearances, beliefs, and religions. The isolation of and pre-judgments bestowed on certain people feels like a giant step backward on the progress we have made. History has a record of repeating, but it does not have to if we open our eyes and start doing something to prevent us from returning to old ways. A pivotal and chilling scene in the movie was at the conclusion of a pre-dawn run as a team. Coach Boone was deliberate in bringing the boys to a battleground where Gettysburg took place. It gave them a visual to see where the same battle played out before, and if they did not sort out their differences and embrace said differences, the fight would rage on for yet another generation. From that point on in the film, teammates started working towards acceptance. We are in a sad state of affairs with the divide fueled by hate in our country today. The privileges we think we have makes society feel like we have a pass on acceptance, but humanity proves we need to reevaluate where we stand on kindness and inclusion. This goes beyond choosing a side; it comes down to picking how to treat others. It is plain and simple. We expect children to be kind to everyone. Why is it so hard for adults to do the same? It is about time we start seeing others for their heart and not their appearance. If we expect this mindset shift, we have to become a team in this world. There should be a common goal, and spoiler alert, the goal needs to resemble change, inclusion, and understanding. Second looks at history should be happening before it is too late. Those battles happened once before, and the only thing that will keep them from happening again is us knowing the difference and choosing to join the movement forward. Nothing else matters at the end of the day or the fights we fight. Respect would get us a long way in making a difference. Our hearts are all the same, so in red we love, and in red we bleed. Stay Curious, Kayla ©Inquisitive Perspectives 2018 |
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