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On 9/11, A Recipe For Meaningful Discourse and Engagement
We've talked before about how the life of the truly fabulous must be well-rounded. In honor of the anniversary of 9/11, I strongly encourage you to edutain yourself with two great Iraq war films I saw this weekend. Delivered as a 1-2 punch, they pack quite a gut-wrenching wallop.
The first is the documentary No End In Sight. Charles Ferguson, the producer, writer, and director, was a wealthy dot-commer who set his sights on spending all of his techie cash to make a well-rounded, even-handed documentary about the Iraq War. Ferguson interviews several of the government officials who were directly involved in the decision-making for the planning and execution of the Iraq War, and what emerges is a clear and disturbing picture of the chain of events that has been occurring over the past 5 years. Whatever your feelings about the war may be, No End In Sight helps to clarify many of the reasons that decisions were made and the consequences that ensued in Iraq, and presents it all in a chronological narrative. Michael Moore, he ain't. Ferguson doesn't sensationalize or politicize the film, because he really doesn't need to- the stories that emerge are horrifying enough as it is.
While it would surely stand on its own, HBO's Alive Day Memories is exponentially more troubling and touching when viewed with the contextual background that No End In Sight provides. Produced by James Gandolfini (i.e., Tony Soprano,) Alive Day Memories is a documentary about U.S. soldiers who have suffered grave injuries in Iraq ("alive day" is the name they use for the day you were injured, because it is a day you almost died, but didn't.) This film is not flashy or exciting. There are no dramatizations, just a soundstage and two chairs. Gandolfini interviews the soldiers in the meekest, most unassuming way possible, so what emerges is purely their own narrative. Hearing this group of very young, war-wounded folks share their stories honestly and unabashedly is a great reminder that for many, when their tour of duty ends, their biggest challenges still loom ahead. You can watch the full movie for free at HBO.com.
So on this day, which is OUR generation's day that will live in infamy, I encourage you to honor the many thousands of Americans and Iraqis who have suffered, died, been disenfranchised, lost their homes, or lost loved ones since that fateful day 6 years ago- by listening, really listening, to their stories.
The first is the documentary No End In Sight. Charles Ferguson, the producer, writer, and director, was a wealthy dot-commer who set his sights on spending all of his techie cash to make a well-rounded, even-handed documentary about the Iraq War. Ferguson interviews several of the government officials who were directly involved in the decision-making for the planning and execution of the Iraq War, and what emerges is a clear and disturbing picture of the chain of events that has been occurring over the past 5 years. Whatever your feelings about the war may be, No End In Sight helps to clarify many of the reasons that decisions were made and the consequences that ensued in Iraq, and presents it all in a chronological narrative. Michael Moore, he ain't. Ferguson doesn't sensationalize or politicize the film, because he really doesn't need to- the stories that emerge are horrifying enough as it is.
While it would surely stand on its own, HBO's Alive Day Memories is exponentially more troubling and touching when viewed with the contextual background that No End In Sight provides. Produced by James Gandolfini (i.e., Tony Soprano,) Alive Day Memories is a documentary about U.S. soldiers who have suffered grave injuries in Iraq ("alive day" is the name they use for the day you were injured, because it is a day you almost died, but didn't.) This film is not flashy or exciting. There are no dramatizations, just a soundstage and two chairs. Gandolfini interviews the soldiers in the meekest, most unassuming way possible, so what emerges is purely their own narrative. Hearing this group of very young, war-wounded folks share their stories honestly and unabashedly is a great reminder that for many, when their tour of duty ends, their biggest challenges still loom ahead. You can watch the full movie for free at HBO.com.
So on this day, which is OUR generation's day that will live in infamy, I encourage you to honor the many thousands of Americans and Iraqis who have suffered, died, been disenfranchised, lost their homes, or lost loved ones since that fateful day 6 years ago- by listening, really listening, to their stories.
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