School of the Americas

What, if any, is the common US Citizen’s culpability in the ongoing violence in Latin America? This is the question posed, not too gently, by the documentaries “Hidden in Plain Sight” and “School of Assassins”.

Cabeza deVaca: 1991, Juan Diego

Strange. Granted, this was the declared objective of the director, and it was met successfully. His life has changed much in eight years, as has his understanding of the differences between the civilized and the savage. (contains spoilers)

1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992, Gerard DePardieu & Sigourney Weaver)

No one can be motivated by both love and greed, as the work of one will invariably sabotage the other. (Contains spoilers)

The Mission: 1986, Jeremy Irons & Robert DeNiro

The film is one story, a composite of events occurring in Uruguay during the 17th and 18th centuries. The Treaty of Madrid, signed in 1750, involved the transfer of lands from Spanish control to Portuguese control, and resulted in the question of what to do with the missions existing on those lands and the natives who lived in the mission communities. (Contains spoilers)

Missionary to the Deaf in Honduras

At age 19, Christy Owen met a Deaf lady who began to teach her sign language and introduced her to the life and culture of D/deaf people. Intrigued by the educational and social challenges, and by the need for them to be reached with the gospel, she chose a career working with the Deaf community.