Social revolution refers to a complete change in the society. Civil war relates to the wars that happened within a country, between the citizens of the country. Romero is a films that depicts a social revolution that took place in the Latin America during a time when El-Salvador was facing violation of human rights. The film shows Raul Julia, acting as Oscar Romero, Richard Jordan, acting as one of Romero's best friends and other actors.
In the film, Romero rises to becomes an archbishop when El Salvador was torn apart by civil wars, military force of El Salvador were opposing the guerilla resistance in the country (Silvert). Much that is done by the government was majorly on oppression of the poor and anyone who fights for the rights of the poor (Duigan, John, and John min25). At the time Romero becomes the archbishop of the Catholic Church, the upper hierarchy of the church supported the political and economic powers that were in place at that time. Romero also supports the government but he later changes and opposes the government.
Romero spends time with the poor and discovers the sufferings that the poor were facing due to oppression by the military and the economic structure in which a few people had power vested on them. He witnesses the various human rights violations begins speaking for the poor, among this is the killing of Rutilio Grande who is killed with the children he was in a car with. This forces Romero oppose the policies of the government and fights for the rights of the poor. This marks the beginning of civil war between the rebels and the political elites and the beginning of the social revolution in the Latin America. Romero meets other rebels and encourages them to resist the government in ways that are peaceful and violent.
There is also a revolution for Romero, who changes from being a conservationist, quiet and reserved personality to becoming a person who aired the afflictions of the poor. He leaves fearing the government and begins to criticize the government on their wrongdoing that forced the government to start to target priests to kill them. The government changed from relying on the priests to targeting the priests with a view to kill them.
This action of Romero becomes the basis of the belief in the modern church and Christian teachings that the church should stand with the poor and should champion the rights of the poor (Duigan, John, and John min20). This change comes after Romero can fight for the rights of the poor and liberate them from the suffering that they were going through.
At the end, Romero is killed while in a mass offering sacrifices. This is a confirmation of the change by the government that was on a mission to kill the priest, as they were opposed to the actions of the government. After the dead of Romero, the El Salvador fell into civil wars that claimed the lives of many.
The action of Romero clearly shows liberation theology. This theology places the church at the center in protecting and fighting for the rights of the all the people without considering the social status and class in the society (King). This is seen in Romero's action to protect the poor who were oppressed. This is also taught and practiced in the modern theology.
Works Cited
Duigan, John, and John S. Young. "Romero (1989)." IMDb. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Apr. 2016. <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098219/>.
