Let's go back in time.
Today we did that with Group #3's episode: Deaths-Head Revisited.
Upon hearing the summary, I was immediately struck by the serious nature of the subject matter. For the first few minutes of the episode, I was very skeptical and critical because I thought that the Holocaust was not an appropriate topic for TZ to cover. Even after our enlightening discussion, I still feel that way.
Serling did have a very good point to make at the end; we need to leave some places untouched, to pay tribute to past horrors and to prevent such things from happening again. I completely agree. This was likely one of the only outlets for him to voice his opinion on this, but I just don't think that the TZ should have episodes based on completely true, completely horrific events, especially considering the time that the show was produced (the world was still healing from this genocide and Holocaust survivors were just starting to tell their stories).
It was, of course, written in response to the Eichmann Trial, so it wasn't a completely random subject for Serling to choose. I just dislike that it is so based in our reality. I could also imagine that it might have been a hard episode for actual Holocaust survivors to watch. To watch a trial for war crimes on television or look at pictures of concentration camps is one thing, but this episode really brought Dachau to life (sometimes seeing video of something, even just a re-enactment, has more power than hearing recollections or looking at still images).
The whole point of this series is that its stories and tales don't truly take place in our world; they happen in some "other dimension." Dachau was a real place where real people were brutally tortured and killed. Although Serling teaches a good lesson and there are other lessons to be learned from it (the power of forgiveness, who has the right to judge and condemn, etc.), this episode was a little too real in my opinion.
The other insights revealed by Deaths-Head and Group #3's presentation include the idea that all sin is equal in God's eyes (as hard as that is to comprehend; all sin is unacceptable to God and receives the same punishment - death, whether as little as lying or as huge as murder) and the contemplation of who should judge and dole out retribution or justice (as Christians, we are to forgive and leave the condemnation up to the Lord; though this event was horrific, I don't believe it was up to the prisoners to give the officer "justice." They were hurting him as he had hurt them. And that can be called revenge. We know that if we forgive and love others as God does, in the end, everyone will get what he deserves. For some, that will be death, sadly.).
On a final note, I found the excerpt from The Hiding Place extremely moving. I had heard it before, but it still impacted me. It's just such an awesome example of the power of the Holy Spirit to move and enable forgiveness and love, even towards the most vile people whom we feel nothing but contempt for (as in Corrie's case). Her story was also a great example of "practicing what you preach." If God detests all sin, yet forgives when we ask and even gives us eternal salvation, how can we possibly rightfully deny a contrite heart?
Your comment about TZ normally happening in another dimension is insightful. Did you also notice that Serling didn't end his closing commentary with "Twilight Zone"? but rather said, "God's Earth"?
ReplyDeleteYeah I did notice that. There were several other references to God, in addition to that one. I found that very interesting! - considering the fact that Serling really wasn't a religious man. It just made me think that during tragic times, people often look to God, even if they aren't true believers. In this situation, Serling urges viewers to look to Him for the reminder that we are all human and no one deserves to be treated so atrociously.
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