| With
the background of this military coup and vicious civil war,
we are introduced to Lieutenant A.K. Waters, a veteran officer
of a navy SEAL unit aboard the aircraft carrier USS Harry
S. Truman off the coast of West Africa. Lt. Waters is ordered
to lead his extraction team to evacuate an American medical
doctor and some foreign missionaries at a mission station
in the east of Nigeria.
Dr.
Lena Kendricks is the only physician available to the war-mutilated
people of her Christian village. From the beginning she
is seen to be stubborn and steadfast, refusing to leave
her mission hospital unless the about seventy of her people
who want to leave with her can go too. With Muslim forces
only hours away from the village, the SEAL team begin the
evacuation. At first, Waters tends to obey his orders, and
not get involved in what his captain describes as "not
our war". However, when the missionaries who refused
to leave with the evacuation team, and the patients who
could not move, are slaughtered, Waters determines to take
the survivors of the village on the perilous trek through
the dense jungles to neighbouring Cameroon.
As
they move through the jungle on foot, the SEAL team and
refugees are themselves inexplicably pursued by a relentless
army of Muslim Fulanis.
As
they pass by a village where Muslim soldiers are torturing
and slaughtering Christian villagers, Lt. Waters has to
choose between following his orders and obeying his conscience.
Tears
of the Sun is an intense and suspenseful action film
depicting graphic and brutal violence. There are scenes
of excruciating cruelty depicted. However, Tears of the
Sun is no mindless Hollywood fiction. It graphically
and accurately depicts the kind of atrocities perpetrated
by Muslim forces against Christians in many parts of Africa
in recent years, including Sudan. The burning of churches,
massacring of Christians, beheading of ministers, chopping
off of the breasts of nursing mothers, burning alive of
Christians, and other atrocities depicted in this film,
are exactly what has happened in many of the conflicts where
Muslims are waging war against the Christian population
of Africa.
When
Waters witnesses the slaughter at the Christian village
and mission station where Dr Kendricks had been serving,
his heart is softened and he decides to turn back and save
as many as he can.
The
slogan on the posters advertising Tears of the Sun
declares: "He was trained to follow orders. He became
a hero by defying them."
The
entertainment industry is saturated with examples of rebellion
against authority. Glorifying disobedience is a standard
stereotype in Hollywood. Indeed, one could ask why should
a commander of a SEAL team expect his men to obey him if
he won't obey his superiors?
In
the context of this scenario, the Special Forces officer
on the ground takes the initiative expected of Special Forces
operatives by acting on the information he alone had in
order to save lives. One can indeed clearly see depicted
in this film, that we are also answerable to a higher Law.
In fact, the film ends with the powerful quote from Edmund
Burke "The only thing necessary for the triumph of
evil is for good people to do nothing."
As
the SEAL team witnesses the carnage waged in the name of
Allah, they willingly go along with their team leader in
engaging the enemy and saving lives.
In
addition to the extremely graphic and intense scenes of
violence, the film unfortunately has very unacceptable foul
language and profanity. The language used is offensive,
but nowhere near offensive as the reality of the atrocities
waged by Muslim militants in Africa.
The
film begins with the suggestion that God has left Africa.
When one of the foreign missionaries who elects to stay
with the invalid patients at the mission hospital says to
Waters: "Go with God." Waters replies: "God
already left Africa!"
When
a missionary is beheaded (not seen on the screen) there
is strong symbolism with white doves flying away from the
village. Missionaries are killed, innocent women and children
suffer, people are tortured and brutally murdered. So has
God left Africa?
At
the end of the film it becomes apparent that God is at work
through those who care enough to risk their lives for the
sake of others. Some who have seen the film have commented
that the perilous trek through the dense jungles is reminiscent
of the story of Exodus, with Moses leading his people out
of Egypt and with Pharaoh's army in hot pursuit. Others
have wondered whether the title of the film should not be
more appropriately called Tears of the Son?
The
major themes in Tears of the Sun are unselfish sacrifice
and courage in the face of intense danger, compassion for
the poor and needy, especially for widows and orphans, a
passion for freedom, and the need for trust and teamwork.
The Christian missionaries are depicted as true samaritans,
good neighbours caring for those in desperate need. The
American soldiers who give their lives to save African villagers
from Muslim mass murderers epitomize the Christian principle
of self-sacrifice: "Greater love has no one than this
than that He lay down his life for another" (John 15:13).
One
of the Nigerian women is quoted as saying at the end: "God
will never forget you."
The
heroes of this film are reluctant at first, committed by
the end. The rigours of the mission and the struggle of
the inner man are plain in their faces. The torments of
witnessing vicious atrocities and the turmoils of conscience
are well depicted. It paints a bitter picture: disobey orders
to save many others while losing some of your own, or obey
orders and lose many others but save your own.
The
SEAL team are a perfect example of supportive team members,
never questioning their commander during combat or offensive
maneuvers, and following their orders to the letter. Lt.
Waters is also a good example of a commander, leading by
example, even asking his men for their opinions and input
before embarking on a particularly dangerous course of action.
The
technical advisors have brought to the film a look of military
authenticity and accuracy as to the atrocities perpetrated
by Muslim militants in Africa. Tens of thousands of Christians
have been killed by Muslims in Nigeria in recent years.
Ultimately,
it would appear that a major purpose of the film is to cultivate
compassion for those suffering injustices in Africa. May
the people of America not forget Africa, and may we who
are Africans not forget God. The only hope for Africa is
to turn back to God in repentance and faith, and apply the
Lordship of Christ to all areas of life.
Peter
Hammond
Related
article
Resisting
Sharia in Nigeria
|
