While I was visiting my family in Virginia over the weekend, my younger brother and I watched the movie “Keeping the Faith� starring Ben Stiller and Edward Norton. This led to a conversation about how we both liked Edward Norton, especially after seeing him battling his inner demons — quite literally — in “Fight Club.� My brother then asked me if I’d seen another Edward Norton movie, “American History X.� I said I hadn’t, because I heard it was really violent and preferred more quiet, introspective movies.
He refused to listen to my protests and said that I had to watch it.
So I did last night.
And I agree with my brother that it was a movie I needed to see.
For those of you who haven’t seen it, “American History X� (1998) tells the story of Derek Vinyard (Norton), a former neo-nazi skinhead who after serving time for killing two black men, tries to prevent his younger brother (Edward Furlong) from following in his footsteps.
The movie was certainly violent, the R rating is for a reason. But it was also certainly introspective.
We watch as Derek, a bright middle-class kid, transforms into an angry, vengeful and hateful monster sneering as he shoots a man at point-blank range. Fortunately, we also get to watch as Derek transforms back into a thoughtful, loving man hopeful about starting a new life, desperate to save his little brother.
The lasting message of this amazing, thought-provoking film is that the seed for hatred is small, but once planted grows like a weed watered by fear and misconceptions.
We learn that Derek’s hatred springs from a comment his father made about race when Derek was a teen. The way the scene was filmed made it seem as if time had stopped -- I wanted to jump into the TV and slap my hand on his father’s mouth to prevent his words. Derek’s father died never knowing the tragedy of his words.
Everyone should see “American History X� because it will make you think twice before saying or doing hateful things to or in front of those who look up to you. Be they your children, your brothers and sisters, your nieces or nephews.
The film ended with a quote from Abraham Lincoln’s first inaugural address in 1861. In the throes of a war of brothers against brothers, Lincoln was still hopeful:
“We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.�
We all have opportunities each day to embrace the better angels of our nature, and it is important that we do. As easy as it is to sow seeds of hatred by our words and action, we can also sow seeds of love and understanding.
It is you and only you who can choose which seed to nurture. And if there is any question about which one you think is the right one, watch “American History X� before making the choice.
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