April 7: Ethics

The Milagro Beanfield War
This movie was about a town in New Mexico inhabited by Hispanic farmers who had been there for hundreds of years. A rich developer was trying to build up the area and bring in new life and new money. A few citizens realized that this would mean that they would be displaced from their land and their homes. In the beginning of the movie, one man accidentally opens an irrigation ditch which then pours water onto the beanfield that used to be his father's. When it causes a stir in the town, he becomes more adamant that it is the right thing to do. The town eventually comes together in support of the beanfield and the independence it represents for the community.
I thought that this movie was very interesting and represented the multiplicity of issues that can be involved in conflicts. This movie reminded me of the classic Marxist struggle that can be seen in many developing areas in both the United States and the world. I thought it was interesting to see how the strength of the unified community prevailed in the end. In class, we have talked about how in many cases, the shallow causes of conflict are symbolic of deeper needs and issues. I think this was the case in this movie. The issue of irrigating the beanfield was simply a tipping point in a repressed conflict. I liked that the "sides" of the conflict were not concrete. It was difficult to clearly divide the individuals onto different sides of the conflict because there were so many controversial issues. This was an important part for me because it was a reminder that no one should assume that it is obvious how each individual or party feels. Assumptions such as these could make negotiations difficult or ineffective.