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XXIII. Black International Cinema Berlin 2008
OPENING CEREMONY SPEECH
John-E. Matip Eichler
Hello Everyone! Dear Friends!
First I would like to say thank you. I would like to thank Prof. Donald Muldrow Griffith for his invitation and for providing me with the opportunity to address a few words to you.
Furthermore I would like to thank him for leading me to an understanding and hence a conclusion, by providing me with his example.
This year the Black International Cinema Berlin is taking place for the 23rd time.
23 years … 23 times planning, 23 times organizing, 23 times debating, 23 times convincing, 23 times fundraising.
I am sure; this has meant a lot of work and problems for him.
What's the benefit? For how long shall he be able to continue with such an enormous effort? Where will this lead?
Do you have any idea?
I think I understand Prof. Griffith's point … his motivation. He is following his firm conviction, maybe his purpose. And he is doing that with
insistent consequence.
This is the only reason why we have gathered on this day, at this place … why we will watch movies and documentaries, exchange our opinions, get to know each other.
His consequence has created this unique space … for us.
In the program you will find a quotation:
YES, I CAN
This is a quotation by Sammy Davis Jr. before his career actually started. But this quotation expresses exactly the necessary consequence/discipline in order to achieve something extraordinary.
YES, I CAN
Unfortunately we never know whether we are going to succeed, no matter how hard we try, or how consistent we are. Though sometimes insistent consequence can end in a miracle; as we have seen in the case of Muhammad Yunus, founder of the Grameen Bank and Nobel Peace Prize winner.
This is exactly the conclusion Prof. Griffith helped me to realize. And this vital conclusion is demonstrated by our gathering on this day and at this place.
insistent consequence
So once again, thank you Prof. Griffith. And I would like to add
YES, HE CAN.
This year's Black International Cinema Berlin is fostered under the headline
Diverse and Together - A Complexion Change
Diverse and Together … this is exactly how we sit here, how we live in this wonderful city … and diverse and together is the world of nowadays, the world of the 21st century.
Diverse and Together … this statement has a very special meaning in Germany, in Berlin on this day … on this date. Until the 8th of May 1945 there was no "together" for people who had been considered to be "different". They were murdered, industrially extinguished through labor and destroyed through pseudo-medical examinations or sterilized.
Since the 8th of May 1945, Germany has pursued a new direction … the road to a democratic society. And we are still on that road. Even though every day we can state the question of freedom, the question of equal opportunities within a society will be answered differently by the conditions of people who are "different" … "different" from the majority.
If society is treating people who are considered to be "different" - different from the majority, the whole society will be drifting into a state of injustice, a state of no freedom. Furthermore one day, the majority is in danger as well to become a part of one of these discriminated against groups.
Consequently, it is in every society's best interest, to stand for a maximum of equal opportunities for everyone, in order to achieve or maintain a just & free society.
Minorities are "different" in comparison to the majority. They are often unknown … like an unknown being. Their lives, their everyday challenges, their perceptions, their emotional states.
So what can we do?
At this point I see the main significance and importance of the Black International Cinema Berlin.
Tonight and during the next days, we will have the occasion to see the world - and I mean that literally - through the eyes of Black filmmakers and artists. We will directly and indirectly get to know their lives, their everyday challenges, their perceptions, their emotional states.
And we will conclude that we … all together … are still far away from a just, truly free society … within the so called "free world".
But … don't be afraid … even though truth hurts … sometimes.
I am deeply convinced that we are diverse and together on the road to a just society. Maybe this will be an everlasting road, which demands from us that we do the right thing … every day … with
insistent consequence
I mentioned the date of today, the 8th of May and its historic importance especially for Germany. But other countries, other nations have their historic milestones as well.
Only one example:
On the 1st of December 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested in Montgomery Alabama because she refused to move to the back of the bus … because she refused to be treated "different" from the Caucasian majority.
Rosa Parks did the right thing … like many others before and after her on the 1st of December 1955. Many had to pay a very high price for this purpose.
That reminds me of a statement by a great man. During an interview he was asked: "What price are you talking about, Sir?" And he answered: "The price of freedom is death."
Unfortunately the statement seems to be true. This year on the 17th of January, we were remembering the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King. He was 39 years old.
But many have followed his and other heroes paths with
insistent consequence
They have not reached that mountain … maybe not yet.
But in that country, which arrested a woman for "crossing the colour line" only 50 years ago … we see now a brilliant young man … son of an African father and a Caucasian mother … who is calling out to us:
YES, WE CAN.
Mottoes:
"I may not make it if I try, but I damn sure won't if I don't..." - Oscar Brown
Jr.
"Mankind will either find a way or make one." - C.P. Snow
"Whatever you do..., be cool!" - Joseph Louis Turner
"Yes, I can...!" - Sammy Davis Jr.
"Yes, We can...!" - Barack Obama
Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre/Black International
Cinema Berlin/
THE COLLEGIUM - Forum & Television Program Berlin/Cultural Zephyr e.V.
April 3, 2008
FOR INFORMATION
Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre
Black International Cinema Berlin
The Collegium - Forum & Television Program Berlin
Cultural Zephyr e.V.
Tempelhofer Damm 52
12101 Berlin/Germany
Tel.: 0049(0)30 - 7821621 / 75460946
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http://www.fountainhead-tanz-theatre.de
http://www.black-international-cinema.com
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