A Mighty Heart For A Noble Cause

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie bring the story of Daniel and Mariane Pearl to theaters on June 22, with “A Mighty Heart”, based on Mariane’s memorable book of the same name. If the movie manages to faithfully follow the book generally (and it apparently will, because Mariane was quite involved with the project) it should make for a captivating portrait of the convoluted tale of the kidnapping and murder of Daniel, one of the finest journalists of our times, in the very poorly misunderstood country of Pakistan where American hubris and self-delusion has helped contribute to a most treacherous state of affairs.

The story of Daniel’s murder, maybe at the hand of just Al-Qaeda elements, more likely at the behest of ISI-connected agents of terror (or the ISI itself, which remains the world’s most dangerous organization) is worth telling in as many media forms as possible, not only for the explosive links between his killers and the Pakistani government, but for the importance of awakening societies (especially in the West) to the desperate straits journalists around the world increasingly find themselves in.

Daniel died in his pursuit of the “truth”, a noble ideal which he lived up to time and time again, even when it mean countering the spurious claims of his own government (as he did in placing serious doubts about the validity of the CIA’s claim that the US struck a chemical weapons manufacturing plant in Khartoum, Sudan and calling NATO’s integrity to task with its exaggeration of Serb atrocities in Kosovo).

In an era where in many countries, the “Beijing Consensus” and astonishing American mis-leadership (among other causes) is strengthening the hands of corrupt kleptocrats and despotic elites, journalists who refuse to be bought or silenced are often the first and last lines of defense for the oppressed and the victimized. To bring this suffering out of the shadows and into the public glare, they are paying the ultimate price for their dedication to the ideal; for embarrassing corrupt governments and figures, antagonizing crime bosses and gang leaders and daring to speak up for the voiceless in forsaken corners of the planet like Zimbabwe and Chechnya. If “A Mighty Heart” can manage to make a few viewers ponder the dangers of journalism, perhaps it can help build support for greater efforts to assist and empower citizen and professional journalists in many places.

To that end, the film’s website has an interactive map that documents the over 230 journalists who have died in the line of duty since Daniel Pearl’s death.

Also, Mariane Pearl has a blog at Glamour.com “Global Diary”, which is well-worth reading, containing extensive stories on a crusading Mexican journalist who survived a vicious rape and beating, Cuban wives waging a campaign of silent suffering and protest to win their political prisoner husbands’ freedom and many other memorable women who are fighting to make their corner of the world a better place, the kind of natural allies America all too often ignores its hidden unities with, or undercuts out of inept policy or bankrupt domestic politics.

Daniel Pearl lived a truly memorable and blessed life, as a man of many talents and passions (for the violin, for other cultures as well as his own, for his unborn son, his wife), and while his death was a tragedy, it yet does not have to be in vain.  A movie, a book, a public discussion, a lasting series of memorial concerts yearly, all continue to contribute to his endearing legacy, a man who sought to reveal important truths to the world and whose career and life should serve as a worthy example for others to take strength and wisdom from.