|
Comment on this article |
Email this Feature
|
|
News :: Human Rights |
|
“With his body he said no more” |
|
by Sophie Yon-Gharbi
Email: Sophie.Gharbi (nospam) gmail.com (unverified!)
Phone: `` |
04 Apr 2008
|
(From Eddie Vedder’s “No More” song, written with Iraq War Veteran Tomas Young for bodyofwarmusic)
In the year 2003, over 70% of America pointed the finger at those who dared voice their opinion against a war in Iraq and deemed them “unpatriotic.” They were looked at in disgust and told that they were not being supportive. “Un-American” people yelled at them; “Terrorist Lovers” added others. “You’re fired” are probably the ones Phil Donahue heard. |
|
“Body of War,” the critically acclaimed anti-war documentary from legendary talk show host Phil Donahue and award-winning filmmaker Ellen Spiro premiered last night in Cambridge, at the Kendall Square cinema. Although it has a clear anti-war point of view, the film is mainly an intimate human drama and chronicles the story of Tomas Young, a 26-year-old veteran shot and paralyzed after serving in Iraq for less than a week. The film also captures the historic debate in the Congress in the fall of 2002 authorizing the war and celebrates those that stood up against the rush to invade.
Amongst the audience in the theater, members of Military Families Speak Out (MFSO), Gold Star Families Speak Out (GSFSO) and Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW).There were some laughs during the film as we experienced Tomas Young’s courageous and often witty day-to-day life. But there were mainly tears at the reality of his life in a wheelchair: A life where his mother has to change his catheter in the back seat of a van; a life with no or very little sex. A life where every morning starts with a puke basket and morphine. A life spent in a wheelchair. One can not help but wonder: Had we not been so silent 5 years ago, what would have happened on October 11, 2002 when the Senators voted 77-23 on the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution, thus giving this President the rights to declare war? A silence too many still keep today.
Liam Madden, a member of Iraq Veterans Against the War in MA shared that they often feel like “this country is not on our side.” Time to change that. How? “Speak Out!” Susie Husted, a Jamaica Plains’ resident, probably suggests the simplest way any of us can truly support our troops. “We haven’t spoken out. And now, we’re counting on Veterans and military families to do it? Shame on us!”
Some came to the premiere last night because they wanted to support their sons, daughters or friends who were once enlisted. Others came in hope that one day, families will be spared their pain. Carlos Arrendondo, who lost one of his enlisted sons in the war, was here for that reason as well: “I’m not here because I want my picture to be taken or become famous. I’m here because my heart is bleeding,” he said, after the credits had rolled. “This unconstitutional act has sustained for 5 years without having it addressed,” added Liam.
How can we address it? Charlie Richardson and Nancy Lessin, co-founders of Military Families Speak Out, suggested a way: Demand that the politicians we elected, demand that the presidential candidates who claim they want to end the war, do something now and not in 2009, not “if” they get re-elected; not “once” they become president. NOW. Urge them to use the power of filibuster to block a war-funding bill they will be voting on this month. “War has never ended because of a politician, added Nancy, but because of a movement from the country.”
Another way to move? Buy tickets to “Body of War” on opening weekend. Tell your family, friends and co-workers to do the same. The more money a film makes, the more it plays, it’s as simple as that. Let’s make sure this film opens in more cities, more theaters, and is seen by more people so that never again, a young boy, lied to by his government, ends up joining the army, sent to a foreign country, fighting a useless and unnecessary war. “Tomas’s are happening everyday. US Tomas’s, Iraqi Tomas’s”… Nancy added at the end of the show.
After all, to quote Senator Byrd, one of the 23 Senators who voted no on the Iraq War Resolution: ”It’s our country. Stand for it now.”
Body Of War opens in Boston on Friday, April 11th, 2008 at the Kendall Square Theater in Cambridge. The evening show will be followed by a Q& A with Phil Donahue.
For more information, check out www.bodyofwar.com and www.bodyofwarmusic.com. All proceeds from the soundtrack will be donated to IVAW.
Please visit www.mfso.org, www.gsfso.org and www.ivaw.org for more information. |
|
This work licensed under a
Creative Commons license. |
