"Develop interest in life as you see it; in people, things, literature, music - the world is so rich, simply throbbing with rich treasures, beautiful souls and interesting people. Forget yourself."
- Henry Miller (1891 - 1980)
Six Degrees
The Six Degrees of Separation or "Human Web" concept has been explored in various literally works and the creative arts for many years all over the world.
Essentially, it asserts that all human beings are largely interconnected.
Since the 1990 play and the 1993 film of the same name, the Six Degrees of Separation concept has been prominently deployed in the immensely popular TV Show LOST. It has also inspired films such as Crash and Babel.
Babel
This is a movie that stars an ensemble cast. It focuses on four interrelated sets of situations and characters - in Morocco, Japan, United States and Mexico.
Basically, a high-powered rifle originally owned by a Japanese hunter is used by two boys in Morocco to critically injure an American tourist [Susan].
At home in the USA, the Mexican nanny in charge of Richard and Susan's twin children is involved in border trespass after attending her son's wedding in Tijuana, Mexico.
Noteworthy themes
Throughout the movie, misunderstandings abound:
> The immediate classification of the American tourist's shooting as a terrorist act, Amelia's [Mexican nanny]treatment by the border police and the treatment of local Arabs by the American tourists. All this has obvious racial undertones.
> Suspicion and misplaced priorities - the tourists in the bus are quick to leave to avoid the desert heat as well as forestall "further attacks" by the locals.
> Political issues between governments significantly hinder quick help for Susan.
Despite the above, and what I found most inspiring, is the willingness of strangers [the local veterinarian and the bus tour guide] to be of help. In fact, the tour guide declined financial compensation from Richard [Susan's husband] as Susan was being carried away in a helicopter.
Somebody for Someone
In their song Somebody for Someone, The Corrs capture the very essence of being there for other people:
"Look at me, see me' 'look at me, save me'
'Free me, find me 'cos if there's
Somebody for someone, yeah look at me"
Somebody for someone
Bridges
A while back, I blogged on the Walkabout about the need to communicate, create human bridges and be united in purpose.
The human bridge is nurtured by introduction, familiarity and co-operation. With a common purpose, everything becomes possible.
We therefore need to be there for one another, even without the presence of a crisis. We have to go beyond merely being there with one another. Read more about: Babel, communication, connections, Crash, Growth, human condition, human nature, life, LOST, Movies to Watch, tolerance
