Eric Lomax

I think there’s something wrong with our values as human beings. If you haven’t heard of Eric Lomax, like me before seeing the film The Railway Man yesterday, then find out about him. This man was quite remarkable in many ways. Essentially, he forgave someone who had helped torture him during the second world war. He forgave this person despite suffering pain, hardship, and misery beyond measure at this person’s hands. What courage to do this rather than give in to the baser human instincts and seek revenge. He was able to rise above those instincts, eventually at least.

Why does it take the release of a film three years after his death for Eric Lomax to become famous? Lomax should have a humanitarian award named after him at the very least. The Railway Man fills you with hope in ways that films like The Wolf of Wall Street and American Hustle could never do.