Horton Hears a Who!

Was on the flight to Vietnam when I chose to watch the animation film "Horton Hears a Who!". At first it started as a short (88mins), light hearted choice for me, but soon I got serious on the storyline and asked the air-stewardess for writing instruments so that I can jot down my thoughts as the show progress on!

The story was about Horton, an elephant, who was also a teacher to young jungle animals, discovering that there were people living on a tiny speck which flew past him.

And so the story went that nobody believed Horton when he tried to tell them that there are people living on a tiny speck. Yet, despite the fact that nobody believed in Horton, Horton remained faithful and true (to his belief), and coming up with a motto "A person's a person no matter how small he is." Despite others' ridicule and/or persuasion to "stop his nonsense", Horton perservered in keeping the people and the speck safe. He went through trials (crossing a flimsy bridge) and tribulation (against the vulture) in order to keep to his belief. As Horton tries to run to safety, even a small little twig was able to help him up the cliff. How true it is that no matter how small we are, we can be used by God to accomplish great things! When the vulture took the speck (which was resting on a soft clover) and dropped it among the millions and billions and zillions of clovers in the field, I was amazed by Horton who did not give up! Horton searched through the billions of clovers to find the speck. He was determined and he never give up, just like our God who never stops looking out for us. And when the animals in the jungle threw a revolution and began to tie Horton and cage him up and forced him to "denounce his belief", Horton kept to his integrity and insisted on the truth. "Will you be caged or will you lie?"



On the other hand, the first person living on the speck who found out about Horton was the mayor of Whoville. Just as nobody believed Horton, nobody believed Who too. Who felt the urgency to tell his people. In fact, there was once Who was trying to share the truth to the board, but they covered him in a vacuum dome so that no one can hear "his nonsense". Isn't it just so common that people will reject and people will close their ears or find ways to keep you silent? When Who finally managed to get his people's attention, Horton did not respond (because he lost the clover to the vulure). No doubt Who was disappointed, but he never gave up. Soon everyone in Whoville believed that Horton exists.

But believing that Horton exists wasn't enough for the Whos. Horton was in danger and they had to convince those outside of their "world" that they exist! And I enjoyed watching how united everyWho were when they tried to make as much noise as possible. They were working together as one, aiming to be heard by others!

Who went around making sure that everyone is in this mission to save their world together and found his youngest son, Jojo, not making any sound yet. Finally, Little Jojo, stepped out of his comfort zone, and making that little "Yopp" helped save the Who's world. Will we step out of our comfort or will we choose to keep quiet for fear of being scorned at? The smallest saved the world. The impossible became truth and reality.

There was the kangaroo who didn't believe because "if you can't see, hear or feel something, it doesn't exists". She opposed to the belief because "such belief fights against authority" and she didn't even give Horton a chance to explain. Worse still, she played devil's advocate and influence the vulture to harm Horton and mislead the rest of the jungle folks to turn on an innocent Horton.

Thankfully Horton also had a faithful friend who would pre-empt him of the impending danger.

One of the scenes has the young jungle animals holding a clover each and coming up with their own imagination of their own "little" world. That reminds me of the deceptive-ness of the world, how everyone creates their own idols and rituals to suit their own desires and itching ears.

There are so much learning points from the movie that I've decided to buy the DVD and original book written by Dr Seuss. Found the book in major bookstores (SGD10.70) but the DVD will only be released on 12th October 2008.

Watch out folks, I'm definitely going to get the DVD and will play it over the Christmas and New year gatherings!