Oscar Romero Essay, Research Paper

Oscar Arnulfo Romero

? Remembering a Hero ?

You can only describe him as a man of determination. Someone who demonstrates

extraordinary courage in the face of injustice and inhumanity. He had a resolute intent to do what is

right, true, and just, which made him the Archbishop that people remember and make movies about.

Because of him, the world was informed about basic human rights and dignities and how this was being

ignored in his country of El Salvador. He took it upon himself to use the church as a light of hope to

the oppressed and a challenge to the oppressors.

Oscar Romero was born in 1917 and taken away in 1980. He was appointed Archbishop in

1977. Before he served his term, the Church in Central America was being protested by two

political ideals. One was those priests who wanted non-confrontation with the Church and the state.

And those who thought the Church should have say in the government and what it was doing.

Romero was chosen because he was thought to be a ?middle man? whom all could agree with.

Although, soon after being appointed Romero?s close, personal friend Father Rutillo Grande was

assassinated by the government?s soldiers. Obviously, this had a significant and intense effect on his

life, changing him from a moderate and equal lookout to a ferocious and impetuous activist against

injustice. His dramatic and passionate change in view shows how if you put your mind behind what you

believe you can touch people?s lives and really get things done. As a gesture to his dead friend,

Romero refused to appear in any public ceremonies with Army or Government personnel until he

thought the true nature of his friend?s murder was brought to public attention and desired social

changes were noticeable. Never before had a church official, with such high rank, made such a

statement.

After he delt with the death of a close religious friend he experienced the loss of a close

social friend, Lucia. These two knew each other for a long time, and had ancestral ties. The death of

her truly meant certain death to a part of him. Both his religious and social walls had been knocked

down by the government and he was becoming continually frustrated and fed-up at this point. When

he was stripped in the village it is suitable to compare him to Jesus Christ. It is in the bible where too,

Jesus is stripped of his clothing in public in order to embarrass and ridicule him in front of his followers

and tyrants. They both fought for their beliefs and in the end won. Although, both lost their lives,

we try to continually preach their messages and in doing are ? living their memory.?

I think when he made the quote, ? Peace is not the product of fear. Peace is not the silence of

cemeteries. . ., ? on January 8, 1978, he is proclaiming the real core of what his whole crusade against

injustice is all about. He goes on to talk about how we must all give to the action of making peace in

order for it to be peaceful for all. He talks about how peace is giving to one another and peace is

dynamic. Which means peace is alive, peace is vigorous and it is inside all of us, we just need to give it

to each other. Romero soon became the voice of El Salvador. His words and actions crossed

international borders. But as he spoke it became harder for the government to terrorize and torture

in the watchful eyes of the world.

On March 24, 1980, in a small chapel as he was performing mass, Romero was struck from the

back of the church by a gunshot straight to the chest, killing him instantly. This deeply saddened the

peaceful activists in El Savador and people, still today, try to live on and bring his hopes to reality.

His life was taken, but his voice cannot be silenced.

Personal Paragraph

I think it was a true tragedy that his life was taken but it certainly wasn?t a wasted life. He

brought such hope and help to his chaotic country. I think the biggest tribute to Archbishop Romero

is to compare him to Jesus. They still live in our hearts, memories, and hopefully our actions. This,

being my first time seeing the video, it shocked me that such a high religious person would take such an

active stand on political situations, especially because this one was so violent. He only wanted basic

truth, dignity, and human rights for everyone. This kind of makes me put all my ? problems ? into

perspective.