November 2026 "Quotes From A Film Fanatic: The Reality Of Our World . . . Part 1" by Eli Felipe

We as a nation are divided by many things, whether it’s by race, gender, religion, wealth, etc.—and at the end of the day, no one is treated fairly. However, there are those who treat others with respect, equality, and are accepting of others; and there are those who discriminate against others for looking , sounding, and being different. We can’t expect to be treated equally and fairly by everyone, even by our own governments.

“If you think for one second that the capitol will ever treat us fairly, you are lying to yourselves” - Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games)

Governments often fail their citizens, their courts and their justice systems fail their victims. Protests for victims of unjust killing by an officer or a racist, police brutality, and discrimination can lead to riots. All we are doing is protesting and bringing awareness, how is this fair? We aren’t being treated fairly. They ignore us. They don't care about us. We can fight back, but they outpower us and they hide behind their laws, thinking they are doing the right thing, but they’re not. We are often led by the idea that we should fear our government and follow its laws. But where are those laws when it comes to saving an innocent life or defending a victim? They ignore us and we protest, and they call it rioting. They start throwing tear gas into crowds and call us savages for fighting back, the irony. Our governments know we fear them. They know they outpower us.

"People should not be afraid of their governments, governments should be afraid of their people" - V (V for Vendetta)

Now I'm not saying we should be breaking the law and overpowering our governments; but what is the point of a government if they do not follow the law themselves? They do not protect us. They act as if we are one but separate us by wealth and power. We are weak to them, but as a society we outnumber them. Even then, we are separated by different ideologies and beliefs that make us hate each other. We can still make a change for the better instead of sitting down and doing nothing. In the movie V for Vendetta, V is a man who lives in a country corrupted by fascism, by taking down it’s leaders he fights for the people of his country and for vengeance. Through his actions he becomes an idea, that anyone can stand up to their government.

It's hard to ignore everything that's going on, families are being separated, innocent people are dying, wars are happening outside our country, protests for our rights are turning into riots, our governments are ignoring us. What choice do we have if we let this happen to us?

“If the empire has this kind of power, what chance do we have?” - Senator Tynnra Pamlo

“What chance do we have? The question is what choice?, run, hide, plead for mercy, scatter your forces. You give way to an enemy this evil with this much power, and you condemn the galaxy to an eternity of submission. The time to fight is now!” - Jyn Erso (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story)

In this day and age, people who sound, look, and act different are expected to be normal, and therefore hated for being different. Some people want us to blend in. To sound, look and act like them, but why should we change for others? there are people who are filled with hate in their hearts, they hate others for the color of their skin, their sexuality, or for just being different. Why should we change ourselves to make themselves feel comfortable.

"Why not stay in disguise all the time?, you know...look like everyone else?" - Kurt Wagner/Nightcrawler

"Because we shouldn't have to" - Raven Darkhölme/Mystique (X-Men 2)

Because of their hatred, they see us as the problem, a problem they think can be cured or something that can be turned off, something that can just go away with a prayer.

"Bobby, have you tried...not being a mutant?" - Bobby Drake/Iceman's Mom (X-Men 2)

Is it possible that they fear us? Hate us? or both. They can change the hate in their hearts but expect us to change. Throughout history, every marginalized minority was hated for being different, they were treated unfairly by others, some were killed and others were beaten up. In the eyes of their oppressors they thought was a good thing, they thought that they deserved it but they didn’t and it is still happening to this day. they are afraid our change, the change we can bring into the world, and they would hurt us to prevent all this change.

“You built these weapons to destroy us, why? Because you are afraid of our gifts?, because we are different?, humanity has always feared that which is different” - Magneto (X-Men Days of Future Past)

Who are we to decide who has to live or the right to say someone doesn’t belong here, when we in fact share this world, our problem isn’t each other, its our hatred that is.

"Mutants. Since the discovery of their existence they have been regarded with fear, suspicion, often hatred. Across the planet, debate rages. Are mutants the next link in the evolutionary chain or simply a new species of humanity fighting for their share of the world? Either way it is a historical fact: Sharing the world has never been humanity's defining attribute” - Professor X (X-Men 2) (R.I.P Sir Patrick Stewart)

To give you readers some context, the race of mutants are considered dangerous, for their powers, and for looking different. some mutants have different colored skin, and their mutations can affect the body in many different ways such as giving a man wings and giving a woman diamond skin, and such more. Mystique is a mutant who can shapeshift, Magneto is a mutant who has the power of magnetism (he can move metal), Iceman has the power of cryokinesis and can turn his body into ice, Professor X is a power full telepath, and nightcrawler, he is a mutant who can teleport, some call him a demon for his blue skin, his pointy tail, and his 3 fingers and 2 toes. There are a group of mutants known as the X-Men, they represent marginalized minorities who experience systemic prejudice and social disadvantages. The X-Men are a family of mutants who are led by Professor X, who use their powers to the save lives of others, even their own oppressors, the only thing the mutant race wants, is to be accepted, like how anyone feels nowadays, is to be loved and accepted.

Our world is full of hatred, fear, and bigotry, but there is good in this world, and it is not talked about as much. what good does hating others do? Being a good person does so much more to someone than hating them. Our time in this world is short, it can even be cut shorter. a little kindness can go a long way than hatred.