What matters

Greetings!

A book that I recently read proclaimed that "What things are, doesn't really matter, but what they mean to us is what matters". 

As if by cue, (or in other words, as the invisible hands of coincidences would have it), it clicked with a movie that was being reminisced by a good friend recently!

And here I share with you how the twains met, but before that, little bit about the movie.

Every once in a while, a masterpiece of a movie is created that brings out fundamental human qualities vs. fallacies, are acted brilliantly, cinematographed richly and directed impactfully – “Men of Honor” is one such masterpiece.

If you haven't watched it, then please do - I would definitely recommend it. 

This is the story of Carl Brashear, who joins U.S. Navy to become the first African American Master Diver and a no-nonsense, bitter but a true patriot "Master Chief" Billy Sunday. These are the two "Men of Honor". While they alternately spar and respect each other, they also form a bond of mutual admiration and fellowship. There are also a number of things that happen around them that show the ugly face of racism and mediocrity - primarily portrayed through a senile Captain "Pappy".

Anyway, Carl has a never-say-die spirit and Billy is the toughest of trainers. 

In a training exercise, an accident puts one diver (performing as machinist) in life threatening situation, while his mate is afraid and flees for his life. Carl actually saves the diver's life.

Now, the Captain is in a quagmire on how to deal with this situation as he viscerally abhors the very idea of a "colored diver". 

But an act of valor has happened and there should be an award proffered.

Finally, in a perverse irony, the award is given to the very mate who fled for the fear of his life. 

The awardee receives it with great shame, while machinist silently thanks Carl for saving his life.

Here what matters to the awardee is not the award (which should be a source of pride as per the definition), but what it means to him (a scathing reminder of his own failure).

This scene has been etched on my mind forever. Especially the expression on the face of a fantastic character actor, who performed this small but impactful role  (watch it below)

Later, Carl loses his leg, but still tries to get back to diving duty with prosthetic and Billy, now a recovering alcoholic, comes back from his despondency and trains Carl to get reinstated.

And what happens to the "Machinist's Mate - First Class, Rourke", the awardee with his award (nay his shame) lapelled on his uniform? 

Would he be able to serve with dignity? Would he always keep looking in others' eyes to find the shaming gaze? Would he spend rest of life running away from such eyes? Would he be able to see himself in the mirror? 

Would he develop a thick skin and adapt nefarious ways by rationalizing how he 'deserved' award to himself? Or would he get out of this shame the hard way, by atoning it, to restore his true honor?

Would he grow into a "Pappy", or redeem himself like "Billy" while taking it squarely on chin like "Carl"? 

The movie may or may not give these answers. But, with some courage, the dictum "What things are, doesn't really matter, but what they mean to us is what matters" may...

 

Sincerely Mine!

Anand Kulkarni