"Body of War"
By Mimi Kennedy, PDA Advisory Board chair
March 28, 2008
Former PDA Board member Jeff Cohen, in his book
Cable News Confidential, tells the tale of Phil Donahue's dismissal from MSNBC as Bush rushed to war in Iraq--because he was an anti-war voice, which the network felt did not fit the mood of the nation. In other words, Phil Donahue, one of America's most popular talk show hosts and commentators, was purged to make way for the Bush agenda, and for war.
He went on working. And he has emerged with a stunning documentary, “Body of War,” that tells the story of Iraq vet Tomas Young, who was paralyzed from the chest down when he was wounded in that war. Many PDAers have probably met Tomas, as I did, in the course of anti-war work. His spirit of truth and courage shines from his eyes, and Phil and producer Ellen Spiro captured it in this film. The title, a figurative and literal evocation of its subject - “Body of War” - shows the flesh-and-blood reality of war's effect. Our culpably ignorant, inexperienced president invoked war's romance and adventure last week, when he spoke to troops in Afghanistan who knew better. This film reveals the lie of war's romance for us all.
Last year, seeking distributors for a theatrical release-that course was by no means assured, since Hollywood resources were still in thrall to the climate of repression and fear that is only now lifting, as this reckless and punitive Administration nears its end-Phil asked me to help fill some screenings with activists. He knew that studio executives would benefit from feeling the depth and breadth of sympathy, around them, for the hard truths he had put on screen. PDA spread the word, and with the help of so many others-Code Pink, Office of the Americas, Arlington West, The Ground Truth, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Veterans for Peace, to name a few-those screenings were full. Phil's thanks were effusive. Now we have a chance to thank him for the film, and for his hard work in getting it released at last. Let's fill the theaters in the first week of its run. (
Find a screening near you. )
PDAers will especially appreciate the contrast of Tomas' struggle with the rhetoric that flowed so easily on Capitol Hill as Bush rushed to war with little resistance. For most of us, it is a searing memory, and “Body of War” captures it in vivid color--the speeches of the duped or politically fearful, who showed no foresight about what would happen to thousands like Tomas. His life is poignantly juxtaposed with their words. The contrast between warmonger and wounded warrior has never been so vividly drawn. The film also records speeches of those who did show courage in opposing this war-among them our future PDA Board members Lynn Woolsey and Barbara Lee. Senator Robert Byrd's anti-war speech, which had wide viral circulation in e-mail before the internet was wired with blogs, is captured for history as is a poignant meeting between Sen. Byrd and Tomas.
Thanks to this film, that meeting and the contrasting shame of legislators--who-,despite Byrd's eloquence, surrendered their war powers to Bush--is indelible visual history. It finally makes the statement that the anti-war movement has struggled to find words for: War gives no security from terror--War is the terror.
Thank you, Phil Donahue, Tomas Young, and Ellen Spiro. We're glad to help you fill those seats again.
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