How far would you go?

Over the weekend, I saw two good (not great) movies that seemingly were different but had a similarity in their overriding theme. Australia is the epic story of life on a cattle ranch in the Northern Territory of Australia during the outbreak of WWII there in early 1942. Gran Torino is the story of a crotchety old retired auto worker, whose bigotry is overcome in modern day Detroit following the death of his wife.

At the core of both stories is bigotry and the question on how far one would go to save another person. Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman try to protect a "Creamy" boy, born of mixed parentage, an Aboriginal mother and an Aussie daddy (who also is the main villain in the movie). The movie is nearly 3 hours long, the first part a battle between rival cattle companies and the second part the impending Japanese Naval attack where the boy ends up on an island of outcast children taken in by a Mission Priest, the island being the first place where the Japanese planes attack. In both parts Nicole and eventually Hugh go to great lengths to try to save the boy.

In Gran Torino, Clint Eastwood plays the bigoted (some say racist, but based on how the movie actually goes, I don't think so) Korean Vet who has distanced himself from his family and many people around him. He has lived in the same neighborhood all of his adult life and has watched Asian family after Asian family move in. The neighbor boy next door Tao, is being recruited into an Asian gang, and as an initation, the gang wants Tao to steal Clint's vintage '72 Gran Torino. Of course Clint catches him in the act, and pulls a "Dirty Harry" on him. Clint then comes to the rescue of Tao's sister Su when she and her white boy friend are being hassled by some black teens. This inevitably leads to a friendship in which Clint learns about the Hamong (Vietnam) culture. He also becomes a mentor to Tao and imparts upon the boy his wisdom as well as helping him land a job. This also leads to a showdown with the Asian gang, in which Clint teaches Tao one final lesson, and in the process saves Tao from a life in a gang.

So since both of these movies had elements of bigotry and self-sacrifice in them, it got me to thinking, how far would I go to help or save someone else totally unrelated to you? And how do you overcome your prejudices/bigotries?

I leave these questions for you to ponder in your spare time today. I also recommend seeing both movies.