The Last King Of Scotland

I saw this movie just the other day and it was easy to come to the conclusion that Forest Whittaker really did deserve his Oscar. If one didn’t know him, it would be a surprise to learn that he is an American actor not an Ugandan as in the role he so well plays.

Though the movie is mostly about Idi Amin, the story is that of a Scottish young doctor who chooses to challenge his destiny by picking a place to work in from the world global atlas, by pointing with his finger while his eyes are closed.

The first choice, Canada is not appealing to him so he “casts the dice” again in which turn his finger lands on Uganda. At this time the just graduated doc knows almost nothing about the country but the adventure of being in Africa is quite attractive. And so, off he goes.

Coincidentally, he arrives just as Amin succeeds in throwing out Obote, and fate crosses the paths of these two strangers.

Just as most African leaders, Mohamed Idi Amin started with a beautiful idea of making his country the best in the world. Soon enough the change came.

Fear, greed and sometimes just simple frustrations, tend to turn our leaders to the exact opposites of what they dream to be. After an attempt on his life, Idi Amin realises that he can not trust anyone and so everyone becomes an enemy.

By choosing not to think beyond his anger and fear, he let the darkness take over the little light that was shining in him. Because of the power his office gave him, he started to see himself as an immortal. The strongest man ever. The conqueror of them all.

He changed from the great African son he could have been to a hated, big ugly loathed black devil. He became the face of evil.

What most people forget is that evil never wins. Those who choose to take that path soon come to terms with the reality of life. Unlike goodness which always attracts blessings, evil has a bitter price big time. It never wins. Idi Amin was not the first, and nor is he the last. The list of evil men and women who have played a role in this world is long with the latest good example of Saddam Hussein who died thinking he was still a president.

These small brain people assume the world they live in is only theirs and that they are untouchable. That they are the best and equal to non.

Woe unto them coz what goes around sure comes around, what goes up can also drop down fast.

Unfortunately, evil is part of this world and no matter how much we desire for the good, Amins will always be around. So while we pray for the light to shine brighter than the dreadful darkness in our lifes, we should let our little lights shine and goodness prevail over wickedness.

Even more unfortunate is the fact that the face of evil is not always a big ugly black man, sometimes it is that of a little man, or an ever smiling cute face of a young woman.

Beware and take care!

Njoro.