Dead Man Walking
Dead Man WalkingReflection on Dead Man Walking
I have taken a most hesitated step from my world of serene tranquility to one of complete judgment and sin. I transgressed away from the petty feelings of unwarranted hate and suspended myself within the realms of cold-hearted, revengeful disgust. I left behind my familiar world and suspiciously entered the broken life of Matthew Poncelat. I evolved from stereotypical feelings of judgment to understandable feelings of hate and disgrace. From the sidelines, I have witnessed Matthew Poncelat's faith unfold through the arms of the American government. I saw with my own two eyes, a 'dead man walking,' and from here on in my life with never be the same again.
In all honesty, my friends and I lounged about a large auditorium merrily fixated on a large-screen, tube TV. We took advantage of the 'movie hour,' which replaced Social Justice for approximately three class periods, and innocently relaxed on the cold tiled floor. What I did not know was that my life would be altered forever and that my outlook on the world would seemingly change. My eyes fixated on the movie screen, while my heart, soul, and mind slowly began to wander into the life of a murderer, but more importantly, a human-being.
Dead Man Walking truly captivated my conscience and made me think about the controversial standing of Capital Punishment. The movie appropriately portrayed two sides of the coin. Not only were we enlightened by Sr. Helen's compassion for Matthew, but we were also witnesses to the overwhelming feelings of grief and despair experienced by the parents of the innocent victims of Poncelat's crime.
Sr. Helen, unfamiliar with the life of death-row inmate, Matthew Poncelat, willingly decides to serve as his counselor of faith. She almost acts as a spiritual guide, enlightening Matthew to the grace and mercy of God. Matthew who originally rejects God's grace, is slowly touched by Sr. Helen's love. He develops a special relationship with this sister of faith and subdues to his hidden, formally unrecognized feelings of guilt. Matthew admits that he is guilty of the crime charged against him and seeks God's forgiveness. Through these major interactions I developed a strong concern for Matthew and a feeling of hope for his life there on in. Unfortunately, he is put to death and forbidden the chance to resurrect himself through God's faith and guidance. It is an emotional ordeal, the conversations between the two very different persons. I feel that through it all you sincerely get a deep understanding of Matthew's rights as a human being, a mere creation of God. He admits to murdering and raping two very innocent people and nothing will ever make that right, yet, is it in the hands of the government to execute God's creation out of punishment and sometimes even revenge?
On the other hand, it is also...
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