So I may be the last to know about this particular free speech and theater story. In March, the principal of Wilton High School in Connecticut banned the performance of "Voices in Conflict," a play put together by senior drama students and directed by their teacher that uses real words from the blogs, books, letters, and interviews of American Iraq-war soldiers. In blocking the performance, the principal in effect also suppressed the voices of the American soldiers themselves. He deemed the themes and material "too controversial." But isn't dialogue and awareness what education is supposed to foster and encourage? I guess not if the truth hurts some people's feelings. I didn't know the First Amendment included that qualification.
In any event, the suppressed play about the Iraq war finally took the stage at the Vineyard Theatre in Manhattan on June 9 and at the Culture Project on June 10. The final performance will be at the Public Theatre on June 15. The official website http://voicesinconflict.com/ says these will be the last public performances. Although perhaps there's some good reason for that, it seems to me that encouraging young thespians to dramatically explore this controversial issue at the same time they honor the voices of actual soldiers on stage is a concrete, creative and constructive way to support our troops.
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Apparently, even some of our Vets who have served in the Iraq war are having trouble with the "notion" of free speech, and the ability to exercise it. This is one such Vets story.
http://www.ivaw.org/node/948
that's a great link to iraq veterans against the war. thanks, sage.
i recently received an e-mail from a right-wing relative that i found really offensive. in fact it reminded me of old nazi propaganda films made by leni reifenstahl. it allegedly portrayed the aftermath of a texas memorial service for a soldier killed in iraq. i say 'allegedly' because there were no photos of a flag-covered covered coffin or even a hearse. but there was text about how texas really knows how to throw a funeral, and texas and american flags pasted throughout, and photos of citizens, boy scouts and army colonels with hands on their hearts and american flags waving in their hands as they lined the streets in honor of this soldier.
of course my heart goes out to the slain soldier and all those who grieve for him as well as all those who have been killed or had lives maimed because of the iraq war. but no where did the jingoistic text include any thoughtful commentary on why our troops are still there, why they are still dying, or the lies that took us there. it was clear that this e-mail had NOT been put together by any grieving relative but by someone using the soldier's death to make a point.
then it occurred to me that dead soldiers are great propaganda because THEY CAN'T SPEAK OUT! they aren't alive to tell the tale of what they've seen in iraq, or the lies upon which they now know the war was based. and those traumatized soldiers who ARE still alive to tell the tale are silenced, ridiculed, or marginalized. the outspoken, truth-telling soldiers are not on the front page of the new york times, and certainly not on fox news. and theatre such as i've blogged about here or other programs that give voice to soldiers expressing their views are stymied.
god bless america.
I was at The Home Despot the other day, picking up some gardening supplies, and the guy in line in front of me had on a great Dead Kennedys t-shirt that read, "Hey Asshole. I'm a patriot." Right on! The comparisons between this administration, the Roman Empire, and the Third Reich are endless. Dead soldiers have always been used as progaganda for exactly the reason you stated. They have no voice. The following link is a letter from an angry, and very much alive, soldier.
http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/sfo/309485032.html
that's a hell of a letter. at least the author - a mother who was a soldier married to a soldier who died in iraq - has beautifully figured out what to tell their kid when he grows up: not that her husband died for nothing or for the war criminals who fatten themselves at fund-raisers, but that he was a hero and the best man she ever met and that he loved his country enough to die for it. i love my country too - or at least the democratic ideals upon which it was founded, now sickeningly and perhaps unreparably mangled thanks to the neocons - but i'm deeply ashamed of the acts performed in my name and with my tax dollars.
"I'm deeply ashamed of the acts performed in my name and with my tax dollars."
I couldn't have said it any better and this is exactly how I feel. I am with you all the way.
oops - i meant to write 'irreparably' not 'unreparably' damaged. anyway, thanks for all your comments, sage. i explored a lot of links yesterday thanks to your link to the iraq veterans site. i read about the plights of each of the dissenters, and how to help. i want to order some of those blue ribbons for my car and for other people who would appreciate them. bring our troops home!
It is a terrific website and terribly important. In my opinion, which may not count for much, these guys and gals all deserve medals for speaking out against this administration, the military, and the failed "Mission Accomplished." As Noam Chomsky once said, "Free speech is about speech you like and speech you don't like." Well, I for one, like their brand of speech.
Don't forget to sign the petition on support of Sergeant Liam Madden.
http://petitiononline.com/liam/petition.html
PS Thanks for the plug. Just happy to get the word out.
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