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The Battle Of Algiers Essay

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The Battle of Algiers shows the effort that is involved in making a revolution begin, for a revolution to be sustained, and for a revolution to be successful. Something that the film does not show is what occurs after the fighting has ended and the colonial power is removed from the country. The quote from Ben M’hidi asks the question of whether the fighting ever truly ends, even after the revolution is over and it can be reasonably believed that, no, it does not. Most would believe that it would be a simple ending, that once the revolution is over, the power is removed, the healing can begin and it does so easily. The truth is that the presence of the colonial power remains in several different ways and due to various situations including …show more content…

Kambili’s father, over the course of colonial rule and through the influence of White missionaries has a twisted view of tradition and progress. Tradition to him, meaning his father’s life, practices, and religion, is evil, heathenistic, and wrong while he connects progress with White religion and ideals of behavior. This is another way that colonialism affects countries and leaves its marks to linger even while they no longer hold power. Through the religious conversion of the population of the colonized country, the colonial power is able to continue holding control. The adoption of White ideals and views of behavior altered the way that Africans consider themselves, going so far as to adopt the racist views of Africa and its people as being backwards themselves. Papa Eugene removes himself from everything that is traditionally African as he can, saying on various occasions, sometimes in not so many words, that the White way of doing things is the correct way and if Africans would be more like them their struggles would not be so difficult. This effect is another fight that must be faced in the wake of independence because the fight now includes those who hold the ideals of the colonial power as

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