MovieChat Forums > The Box (2009) Discussion > The significance of the "I'm just a man ...

The significance of the "I'm just a man with a JOB" phrase.

posted 4 years ago by TheMan18 (13016)
7 replies | jump to latest

Is that meant to be some kind of stab at or attempt to criticize people who are say politicians in our humanity who have a job to do, and who may not be just pure and plain evil bad guys by nature, and they also believe in their job, but it may involve waging say a war, either illegally or by "necessity" which will ultimately hurt and kill many innocent people in the process?

Even though in this film it isn't say a George W. Bush-like politician but a weird man with supernatural powers?

[–] TheMan18 (13016) 4 years ago

Also, does being a politician mean that one HAS to make decisions like this, or can they thoroughly avoid it and strive for pacifism instead?

[–] twinA (4921) 4 years ago

February 8, 2021 Monday 5:45 PM ET

I would argue no to the second part of your question. A decision has to be made. It is impossible to have all the facts no matter how much information we can try to accumulate before making such a profound judgment. The best anyone can do is to try to make an informed choice.

Ignorance opens the door towards hatred which leads to prejudice.

~~/o/

[–] Pete314 (3010) 4 years ago

Sorry, but hatred does NOT lead to prejudice. Maybe the other way around...

[–] twinA (4921) 4 years ago

February 8, 2021 Monday 5:40 PM ET

To me, it means either 1 or 2 things:

(1) "Don't shoot the messenger"

(2) "I fail to see where this is part of my problem"

His statement insinuates that he is not responsible (1). And, should he be, he does not consider himself culpable (2).

I recommend reading up on Hannah Arendt. Namely, her work entitled The Banality of Evil.

Here's a brief but thorough summary:
https://www.brainpickings.org/2017/02/07/hannah-arendt-the-banality-of-evil/

She also examines the supernatural with religious care and understanding too, besides her philosophical framework.

~~/o/

[–] TheMan18 (13016) 4 years ago

I thought the author's name was "Ann Randt".

[–] twinA (4921) 4 years ago

February 9, 2021 Tuesday 6:55 AM ET

I see you're just as partial to Russians as I am to Germans, haha! ☺

I say that in a light-hearted way. Like Ayn Rand, whom I presume you allude to for play-on effect, Arendt was also the child of Russian Jews. I don't know much about Rand, so anything you may wish to impart with me, I'll eagerly listen.

~~/o/

[–] spacecomedy (2046) 4 years ago

You're spot-on with the Arendt reference. That's exactly what I thought of, too.

Also reminded me of this Upton Sinclair quote:
It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it.

Any person chosen to deliver the box likely would've been the type of person who wouldn't think too deeply about the ramifications of their role.