The movie, Philadelphia, was an excellent example of the severe
discrimination many people with Aids are exposed to. In this instance the
main character, Andy ,was also gay. Unfortunately, in our society, he was
faced with a double whammy. The gay iss
is controversial enough, but to compound that in the work force with having
Aids would be almost unbearable for any person to cope with. Tom Hanks
played Andy with a serious need to communicate to the viewers how everyday
life, work, emotions and ment
well being are affected by this kind of situation. The movie was well cast
and thoughtfully portrayed Andy's serious predicament. The theme was very
interesting. It made me realize how lucky I am to not have to deal with
those kinds of problems.
It's really very frightening to realize, as Andy did, that even our legal
system can be discriminating. When he started looking for a lawyer, he found
many people who did not want to represent him because of his illness. The
frustration he felt must ha
been a real burden. Most people were afraid of him. Even the man who
finally represented him was afraid of him. He soon came to understand Andy
was no threat to his health or his reputation, but someone he learned from
and ended up becoming friends
th.
Andy himself feared his disease even before he was sure he had it. He did
not want to go for his blood test. He didn't want to face the reality of
having Aids. He really didn't have any choice. After the doctor confirmed
his fears and diagnosed him a
having Aids, Andy began to deal with the news and the way it was changing his
life and how people treated him. His employer was trying to shaft him. He
fought for his rights, not knowing what the outcome would be, but knowing
this was something he fel
he must do.
The turning point in the movie for Andy was when he was in the library trying
to learn more about Aids. He was asked by the librarian to go to a private
room. His lawyer was there and saw this happening, although he was hiding
behind a pile of books.
guess this is when he realized Andy needed him to help protect his rights.
It killed me to think just because someone has an illness people don't
understand that they can let their ignorance make them behave in a way they
normally wouldn't. To tell yo
the truth I can't honestly say I would have acted any different then the
librarian did !!! The lawyer took the book Andy was holding out of his hand
to show the librarian he was not afraid getting the disease by touching
something Andy had touched. An
must have felt one hell of a big relief when that happened !!! He finally
had someone on his side.
I hated the firm Andy worked for. At first they seemed okay, but after they
tried shafting Andy, I was really pissed. He worked for them, produced for
them, was an asset to their business and then they just blew him off. The
blowing him off part wasn
as bad as how they tried to do it. They tried to make him look like a
loser. They cut down his work, his character, his abilities as an employee.
What gives them the right to try and destroy someone's life ?? Especially
someone whose life is being d
troyed anyway by the disease he has. The illness didn't affect the way he
did his job or how well he did it. They were just a bunch of ignorant morons
who didn't care about anything other than how having someone with Aids
working for them would make t
m and their business look..... and in their opinions it could ruin them. So,
just fire the guy to cover their own asses. What a bunch of shit !!!!
Especially coming from the very institution that was supposed to help
protect peoples' rights, lawyers
!! The whole system must have really gotten to Andy. Especially because he
was a part of that very same system.
I agreed with the verdict of the trial hands down. It really made me happy
to see Andy get true justice. I also loved to see his so called "associates"
eat crow pie !!!! I have to admit I was a little nervous during the trial.
I wondered if the jury
elt as strongly as I did about Andy's situation. Justice prevailed, but I
know this was only a movie. I have to ask myself how many people in the real
world suffer from this kind of discrimination and don't get the help Andy
had. It's a terrible thou
t... really a terrible reality because it probably happens every day.
The most important thing I learned from this movie is not to be too quick to
pass judgment against people who, for whatever reason, are different than you
are. It could be their health, financial status, color of their skin, the
way they talk, their he
tage or the culture they grew up in. None of these things should matter.
People are people. They all deserve the same consideration, compassion and
right to live their lives in a way that's comfortable to them. No one should
be so quick to "judge a
ok by it's cover !!!!"