Technical RW

There are a lot of different things that have different implications on culture. A few of such things were shown in the movies ‘The Blindside’ and ‘Invictus’. The American culture was that the whites were considered a better race than the blacks and the same was the case in South Africa where the apartheid was used to curtail the rights of the black inhabitants. The basic theme of both ‘The Blindside’ and ‘Invictus’ is the same that is to strengthen the bond between the two communitiesand to reduce the gap between the two communities in America and South Africa respectively. ‘The Blindside’ is a movie based on the true story of Michael Oher, an American Football athlete who was adopted by a white woman and her family that helped him lead a better life and ultimately become a useful citizen of the society while at the same time reducing the gap between the two. ‘Invictus’ on the other hand is the story of the South African president Nelson Mandela who uses Rugby to unite his nation and help his cause to reduce the differences between the blacks and the whites created since the world war II by the apartheid. Despite basically carrying the same message, both movies present that message in completely different ways. Blacks were suppressed in both America and South Africa, with time people changed their minds. Though some strong actions were needed to alter the thinking of the people of both communities. Forgiveness was one method Nelson Mandela used to unite and help start the ‘Rainbow Nation’. The blacks after attaining power were planning on using that power to take revenge and suppress whites, Mandela stepped in and stopped any such move and made his nation realize that by forgiving each other they could achieve peace and improve the impression of their nation worldwide while at the same time progressing as a nation. Mandela started the forgiveness process himself by stopping the white people on the staff from leaving the office (who were packing) and asking them to help him in efforts for the progress of the country. At first both the blacks and the whites were resistant to the idea but seeing how the president himself was setting an example for them at every step they started to accept his scheme of forgiveness. Mandela chose Rugby as the means to unite his nation. As shown in the movie the captain of the Rugby team was from a sufficiently rich family who’s thoughts didn’t differ from any other white family about the president but by talking to the team captain a few times, Mandela completely changed his point of view and assured him of his full support and asked him to try his best to win the world cup. By stepping in and reversing the decision of the Sports Board to ban the emblem and anthem of the Springboks, Mandela proved his support was fully behind the team that was trying its best to win the world cup. In an effort to improve the relations between the blacks and the whites nationwide, Mandela ordered the team to coach children around the country. The team that had only one black player quickly became popular all over the country (both amongst the blacks and the whites). This resulted in increased support throughout the nation for the team and the blacks who always used to cheer against the Springboks so that they won’t win were cheering as one along with the whites for one single purpose that was winning the world cup. This overwhelming support raised the spirits of the team and it ended up winning the world cup and the nation became united on one front. The paradigm of the whole nation changed as a result and the whites and the blacks started to work together for the betterment of the nation. In ‘The Blindside’, the story revolves around a young black kid who is neglected by everyone and has nothing of his own. He has lost his father and his mother was a drug addict who couldn’t do anything for him. He was not particularly good at anything and was able to stay at the school owing to his athleticism and speed along with his huge body structure which looked intimidating on the football pitch. The boy gets adopted by a rich white family that helps him turn his life around and go from a homeless boy to entering the Dean’s list twice and then getting selected in the first round of the professional draft of the National Football League. Michael Oher after getting adopted starts to open up to his new family after first being scared and reluctant to share himself. His mother goes to his real mother to find more about him and helps him feel comfortable in the society. His new siblings back him at the school that makes him more confident. His mother defends him in the society. This support by the white family changes his personality as a whole. The movie shows that while there are people who suppressed the rights of blacks, there are those who hold different thoughts on the issue and try to change the traditions of the society regarding the relations between the whites and the blacks. People change their style of thinking when they see others working towards some positive goal. This same idea is depicted in the movie and it shows that while at first people are reluctant but with time and due actions by the white family, they start opening themselves to the idea of one society with equal rights for both the blacks and the whites.