Second, I think many of the things we learn as children are the things we benefit the most from. The stories I read or cartoons I watched have given me life lessons which help me to understand the current world.
Of course we all have seen the mindless cartoons filled with explosions and Acme pranks, but the morals can still be found.
One of the most heartbreaking scenes I have ever watched in a child's movie is in Pokemon the First Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back. At the end of the film, the clone Pokemon are forced to fight the original Pokemon.
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| Pokemon the First Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back, 1998 |
Of course, Pokemon are meant to battle, but it is interesting in this scene that the original Pikachu isn't putting up much of a fight. This scene came back to me when we discussed the meaning behind, "turn the other cheek." As much as we want real Pikachu to fight back, he does not. He just takes hit after hit. The clone does not look tough or brave, he looks like a jerk. He is being made a fool and no one approves.
By turning the other cheek and refusing to fight back, the real Pikachu is the victor.
If we are going to explain concepts of Jesus to children, we should use relatable and relevant examples. We should not sugar coat them by saying "If someone offends you, just look away," or "If someone asks you for some help, surprise him and go the extra mile to show how much you care!" These examples miss the point of what Jesus meant.
An excellent connection! I agree, that scene is a vivid example of nonviolent resistance.
ReplyDeleteLet's also not forget how powerfully subversive Jesus' nonviolent resistance was as well. Part of the revolutionary aspect of "carrying someone's cloak an extra mile" was that this act would get a Roman centurion in big trouble.