I really loved Jerusha's speech to Abner about teaching the Hawaiians about a loving, forgiving, and embracing God. Not the strict and ridged religious beliefs that he cling to. Does someone have the exact speech she gives word for word, I just think it was marvelous.
To breathe in the air of life.
Jerusha: Abner, do you believe every word in the Bible literally?
Abner: Believe! The Bible is God's holy word written exactly as he commanded. I believe it all - in heaven and in hell and in original sin and in God's terrible, all-consuming wrath! If I did not believe, then I could not call myself a Christian!
J: Then I will no longer call myself a Christian. I don't believe in your God of wrath. I don't believe Keoki's in hell, either. I believe he has found God and Malama with him and Kelolo and all those who died there on the beach.
A: But it's impossible for the unbaptised to enter heaven...
J: Oh, Abner, I've never seen a people more generous, more loving, more filled with Christian charity than these! I will not believe that God has rejected them simply because they haven't been baptised. Not even that lost child whose birth you cursed. A: These things are God's will, not mine. What else but God's wrath has the power to annialate them? J: Disease, despair - our lack of love. Our inability to find them beautiful. Our contempt for their ways, our lust for their land, our greed, our arrogance. That is what kills them, Abner. And that's what you must save them from. A: They are already lost. I failed them. I failed these people and God. My ministry here is at an end. J: Your ministry here is not ended. You will stay here in Lahaina and shelter and protect these people. You will win them to a merciful God with bonds of charity so strong, they will belong to him forever. A: How? J: By offering what you always valued most and found hardest to give, to them and to me. Your love.
Thanks :)
I thought it was such a beautiful speech of acceptance, tolerance, and love that I have seen in a movie. If only more people were like Jerusha, her character in this movie really was a beautiful soul.
To breathe in the air of life.
You're welcome, Cherriosbannas!
Yes, JBH certainly was a beautiful soul. Did you ever read the book? Believe it or not, she's even better in the book - she has a very dry sense of humor, for one thing, which got lost in the movie version. BTW a version of her speech is in the book, but in the original script, Dr Whipple was the one who gave that speech. I'm really glad they gave it back to Jerusha.
Also I can't think of anyone who could have played the part better than Julie did. James Michener himself said she was perfect.
I hate this film and find it unwatchable. I think after 'Little Miss Marker' and 'That's Life' it's one of the worst films Juie Andrews made.
shareWell, now that you've cleared that up: eff the eff off.
"Thank you, thank you--you're most kind. In fact you're every kind."
So don't WATCH it. Simple as that. Have mommy put your "Barney" DVD in for you. That's on your level.
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