SPIRITUALITY, FAIR TRADE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
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01	October 2013

Monseñor: The Last Journey of Oscar Romero

I had some difficulty watching the movie all the way through because I do not do well with horrific and graphic scenes. However, the vividness of the movies is appropriate because it symbolizes the passion and power Oscar Romero had in his work in El Salvador.

Quote 1: "Christ passed through El Salvador"

Response 1: This quote by a woman in the movie is the essence of Oscar Romero and his impact on the people of El Salvador. He is a Christ-like figure who worked towards justice for the church and its members and leaders. One of the main themes of the movie was Archbishop Romero's determination, which was clearly seen when he continued to give homilies and services even though he was being threatened and attacked. He is most like Christ is that he was a savior for the people of El Salvador, as he provided a source of strength and unity. As Christ was influential and powerful, Archbishop Romero showed similar attributes, as his Sunday 8 PM homilies were heard by all, no matter what someone was doing. Although they faced great oppression, Archbishop Romero and the members of the church kept a strong faith in God during times of turmoil. Oscar Romero is a clear vision of a Christ-like figure because he led by example and used his faith as a source of strength.

Quote 2: "They learned that it was not God keeping them hungry, but the government and the wealthy institutions."

Response 2: As many other students have commented on this quote, I also find it powerful. I have always been interested in politics and international affairs, so this movie was particularly interesting for me because of the role the government played in the conflict. It's clear that the oppressive government was the source of the problem because those being persecuted were the religious. Even though God is the most powerful being, it was the government and their policies that led to tragedy. Whenever I hear the quote, I look particularly at the "wealthy institutions" part. Immediately I think that the United States is at fault, and then I think of the greater issue of the wealth gap between the US and nations like El Salvador.

Throughout the movie, I kept seeing similarities between El Salvador and the Civil Rights Movement. I have seen many documentaries and movies on the topic, and the themes of oppression and persecution are very parallel to each other. It's disturbing to think that these catastrophes are still happening in the world.