“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” — Margaret Mead.
If you want to see a documentary film that conveys Margaret Mead’s message clearly, see “Pray the Devil Back to Hell”. I recently was invited to attend a screening of it, and came away with renewed hope that many of the world’s seemingly-endless armed conflicts can be ended if citizens — particularly the women — of the affected countries take action.
This multi-award-winning documentary was directed by Gini Reticker and produced by Abigail E. Disney (yes, that Disney family, but this ain’t no Disney movie). It weaves together recent interviews and archival footage to show how Liberia’s women came together from a variety of religious, political, and ethnic traditions to help bring an end to a bloody, decades long civil war in the West African country to which some former U.S. slaves relocated (and took over from the locals) after being freed long ago.
The civil war killed hundreds of thousands, injured and displaced millions, created orphans and child-soldiers, and laid waste to the country.
The women used tactics ranging from simple, persistent street demonstrations to literally locking rebel leaders in a negotiating room with government officials until they signed peace treaties.
If the women could do organize to do this in Liberia, women could do the same in Palestine/Israel, Iraq, Afghanistan, Columbia, Sudan, and elsewhere.
Highly recommended.
Links to further information about the film:
- Official “Pray the Devil Back to Hell” website
- Upcoming Screenings
- IMDB entry about the movie
- Wikipedia entry about the Liberian Civil War (the more recent of two
- Movie trailer at YouTube
