I Have Issues (A Political Blog)
Coverage and opinion of political and social issues, as well as commentary on local, state and world news and coverage of the ongoing 2008 political campaign.
Republican Senator Dole introduced an amendment to name an HIV/AIDS relief bill after the recently deceased Jesse Helms. Helms, of course, was a strident foe of HIV/AIDS prevention, research and treatment.
“An Evening with Morgan Spurlock,” film begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 24. The West Virginia International Film Festival welcomes Spurlock for a screening of his film “Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden.” The event is part of the third annual Festivall Charleston. The fundraiser will have a reception and Q&A at 5:30 p.m. and a brief audience Q&A after the film. Tickets available at Taylor Books in Charleston or at the door. Visit www.wviff.org. WVSU Capitol Center Theater, 123 Summers St. Charleston. $20.
In this image released by FX Channel, host Morgan Spurlock, left, experiences life as a coal miner in Pineville, W.Va., and lives with a coal-mining family on his six-episode series called, "30 Days," premiering Tuesday, June 3 at 10:00 p.m. EDT on FX. (AP Photo/FX Channel, Ray Mickshaw)
The film focuses on the hunt for the terrorist mastermind and follows Spurlock as he goes around the world and examines attitudes in both the U.S. and the Middle East.
Although he doesn't find Osama, at one point during the making the film, a wild rumor that the filmmaker encountered him was spreading rapidly across the Internet.
A lengthy interview was just added on Counterpunch and is worth a read. Find it here.
Tomas Young was one of those injured, on April 4, 2004, in Sadr City. Young is the subject of a new feature documentary by legendary TV talk-show host Phil Donahue and filmmaker Ellen Spiro, called “Body of War.” In it, Young describes the incident that has left him paralyzed from the chest down:
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The film documents his struggle, coping with severe paralysis and life in a wheelchair, its impact on his psyche, his wrecked marriage, his family and his political development from military enlistee into a member of Iraq Veterans Against the War.
Donahue has his own personal link to the anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. It was just weeks before the invasion that his nightly program, MSNBC’s top-rated show, was canceled. As revealed shortly thereafter in a leaked memo, Donahue presented a “difficult public face for NBC in a time of war. He seems to delight in presenting guests who are anti-war, anti-Bush and skeptical of the administration’s motives … at the same time that our competitors are waving the flag at every opportunity.”
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“Body of War” depicts the personal cost of war. In one of the most moving scenes in the film, Young meets Sen. Robert Byrd, the longest-serving senator, with the most votes cast in Senate history (more than 18,000). Byrd said his “no” vote on the Iraq war resolution was the most important of his life. Young helps him read the names of the 23 senators who voted against the war resolution. Byrd reflects: “The immortal 23. Our founders would be so proud.” Turning to Young, he says: “Thank you for your service. Man, you’ve made a great sacrifice. You served your country well.” Young replies, “As have you, sir.”
Trailer:
"Body of War" Web site can be found by clicking here.
Heath Harrison is a writer whose work has appeared in Bejeezus magazine, Freepress.net, The Herald-Dispatch and West Virginia Blue, among others. He is a former student activist, campaign worker and graduate of the master’s program at Marshall University. In addition to writing, he is a published cartoonist and photographer and Herald-Dispatch page designer.
