Sunday, November 24, 2013

HUNGER GAMES

Watching Hunger Games: Catching Fire yesterday sent me hungry for more. Both Katniss and Peeta's characters left me with a mind to wonder...what will become of them? I must say Jennifer Lawrence has once again proved to be a remarkable actress with more than intelligence and vulnerability combined. What's more intriguing about this film is that it has a striking resemblance to the world we lived in today. This movie has sparked a fire in me to reflect on life.

Today we live in a society where the rich becomes richer and the poor becomes poorer. Yes, there are ongoing talks about helping the poor and thousands if not millions of humanitarian aid organizations out there. Every company is doing something to help the poor to keep tabs with their corporate social responsibility. Otherwise, their customers might just run to the next company who appears to be more 'caring'. Everyone seems to be doing their part. Do they really care or it is just another marketing gimmick like what Katniss and Peeta was sent to do in their tours?

Hungry children die of starvation every other day. Human trafficking exploits them and takes advantage of their vulnerabilities. Poor mothers with babies are forced to beg on the streets with rich neighbours living next to them who are oblivious to their existence. Millions of people die of diseases due to lack of clean water and basic necessities that we so often take for granted. How many more can't even afford to go to school while spoilt rich kids skip classes to go shopping? It is absurdly appalling that many go hungry while so much food is thrown away in other parts of the world. Remember the party on the eve of the Hunger Games? Many such feasts are held everyday in this world with food deliberately wasted. How many wish they can puke all the food out so they can try more delicacies? Nowdays, that is not a rare wish at all.

Then again, are the rich with all the wants and materials they can have more happy than the hungry and poor? It is undeniably a fact that suicidal and depression is higher in richer countries. Why so? Perhaps we should really look back and think. 

Are the poor really powerless with no hope to live? Are the rich so high and mighty that they would never suffer from sorrows? Far from true. So why then do we continue with the ongoing pursuits of wealth and pleasures that can never last? What games are we playing that are leaving us hungry for more? 

We can feel if not see clearly the invisible walls that separate the rich and the poor, like the District 12 and the Capitol. People screwing and 'killing' each other to go to the top. Hunger Games paints a clearer picture of the world we live in.

So are we left with no hope? Not at all...Watching Katniss and Peeta gives me a glimmer of hope to keep fighting as they keep fighting to rise above their persecutions, trials and oppressions. Above that, to give a voice to the voiceless and help them fight.

The greatest lesson is FAITH. Fight in faith. And when all is said and done, there's still heaven. We can hope in that. Life's on earth not all that's left. As Katniss longs to run away to a safer place in the hope to have a better life, we can trust in that longing too, with hope. 

I totally agree with the words of Bruce W. Mcdonald in his book, "The Fight of Faith." He wrote,

"There is nothing wrong with longing for heaven....'I consider the present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18'

Shall we then strive in our own Hunger Games? Let's not give up on life ;)

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