Thursday, August 12, 2010

Extraordinary Measures For Extraordinary Circumstances

By Mari Schultz

Extraordinary Measures is a movie starring Harrison Ford. The movie is based on a real life family who take a remarkable approach to the degenerative disease their children suffer. Frustrated at being unable to find a cure for an illness affecting their children and unwilling to sit back and do nothing the parents risk everything they have to fund researcher in this field. Is this a remarkable step to take? Would not every parent do the same for their sick child?

Without a doubt most parents would be devastated to learn their children had inherited a degenerative disease. Most parents would take any steps possible to ensure their child received the best treatment available. However, not every parent has the confidence to challenge systems designed to keep the cog in the wheel so to speak.

Extraordinary Measures was released at cinemas during the Month President Obama was sworn into office. The film is a representation of the new mood of optimism sweeping the country. The movie highlights in a positive way how individuals can stand up and be counted despite the odds stacked against them. It is a movie that is indeed heart warming in its portrayal of unconditional honest love of parents for their children.

Human beings resilience, their ability to bounce back, is a much underestimated trait. Without resilience human beings would not have survived this long. The main theme of the movie demonstrates the resilience of families faced with difficult situations and having to make hard choices. It is not about finding a cure it is about finding humanity.

The thorny debate surrounding the health care reform bill the new President hopes to push through is also evident in the narrative of the movie. The role of the Doctor, played by Harrison Ford, is to let people know that despite his expertise taking him to the top of his field he is nonetheless still just a human being with faults. He is trying his best, his best might not be good enough but it is all he has to offer.

Somehow the movie also gives the impression that taking a stance against injustice and carrying on despite incredible hardship is solely an American trait. Most people live in hope of a better, more cohesive society. Without inspiration from those who do survive despite the incredible circumstances of their lives, people everywhere would not be able to carry on living in hope.

Single parents struggle, sometimes in poverty, to bring up health, happy children. The fact that many do so, some without support networks, is an achievement worthy of note. A married couple staying together through good times and bad times is a triumph of hope over cynicism. People with disabilities striving to live independent lives within societies which have little patience for those who can not keep pace and managing to do so with grace and optimism is hopeful. Children surviving war and abuse and going on to promote peace and non aggression inspire hope. Volunteering is an example of how many human beings give of their time and skills to others for the benefit of mankind. Many communities and charities would not survive without an army of volunteers.

Extraordinary measures are taken by people the world over. Going above and beyond what is expected of human beings as parents, children, colleagues, brothers and sisters, neighbours, communities occurs on a daily basis in all walks of life. People are social beings and positive, meaningful interaction with each other is necessary for societies to survive. A new President, what is more a new Black President, has ushered America into a period of optimism. Here is hoping cynicism is kept at bay for quite sometime to come. - 40732

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