Rev Bill

I went to see Steven Spielberg’s new movie Munich tonight. I must say it was one of the most powerful films I have seen in a long time!  Based on the book Vengeance: The True Story of an Israeli Counter-Terrorist Team  the movie details the mission of the counter -terrorism team the Israeli government commissioned after the Palestinian group Black September kidnapped — and subsequently killed — Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympic games.

The movie is much more than a historical account of the "Munich Massacre" – but it is a study of what happens when people allow violence to continue and how the demand for vengeance can destroy people.  Quotes such as: "Every civilization finds it necessary to negotiate compromises with its own values." (made by Golda Meir, Prime Minister of Israel, in making the decision to create the counter terrorism group to hunt down and kill the members of Black September responsible for the Munich tragedy) fill the movie.  The head of the team, Avner, is continually haunted by the killings.

To me, the movie’s message is that the demand for vengeance is an emotion that will destroy a person.  The members of Black September kidnapped — and subsequently killed — the Israeli athletes because they were demanding vengeance for wrongs perpetrated on their people by the Israelis.  The Israelis then become terrorists themselves to get vengeance for the Munich Massacre.  By the end of the movie, Avner has left Israel, and has serious doubts about what he has done.  The quest for vengeance destroys lives — only leads to more violence — and makes terrorists of all involved.

If you’ve seen the movie or read the book, I’d love to know what you thought about it.

Until next time — Shalom! Bill   

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