screen the film Winter Soldier for Chicago 43t-ers

As a side note to the screening of winter soldier, there is a great article in this past sunday’s chicago tribune magazine about iraq war veteran eugene cherry. i had a chance to hear him speak at a benefit last year and both he and his story are amazing and worth some listening. wembleyheads is more knowledgable about the subject of Iraq Veterans Against the War and Eugene’s story and can provide more info so i will segue out

here is the article in the meantime: http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/magazine/

& gritty & wrenching & horrifying. I’m really glad I got to see it, & I hope to schedule a viewing for folks in my church sometime in the next month or two.

A bonus was getting to eat extremely delicious & varied vegetarian food brought potluck by the five people who gathered—& to chat a bit with a 43Ter I hadn’t yet encountered in person, Hilesh.

Thanks so much, wembleyheads, for your kind hospitality & the ride home afterward. A very memorable evening.

Unfortunately I didn’t partake. It sounds like it would’ve been informative, and it would’ve been great to meet Wembleyheads and see Ruth again. I talked to Wembleyheads a little bit on the phone, and I think she rocks.:)

tomorrow! Yay!

Winter Soldiers, according to Thomas Paine, are those who stand up for the soul of their country, even in its darkest hour.

Over three days in 1971, 125 Vietnam veterans testified to the atrocities they saw and committed while they served. They testified in a hotel conference room, and filmed it, because no one else would hear their voices.

I am challenging you to watch the film of their testimonies.

You can watch the trailer here. You can netflix it or buy it. I’m also offering to screen it at my apartment or your location of choice for a few friends. If we get enough people on this goal, I will reserve a big room with a projection screen.

In fact, if you want, I will bring a veteran with me to talk to you and your friends.

Why am I doing this, you ask? I am helping organize a second Winter Soldier Investigation. In March of 2008, veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan will gather in Washington DC along with Iraqi and Afghan survivors to testify to the realities of our current wars. It is difficult and scary for them to tell these kinds of stories. To the core of me, I believe that their voices need to be heard. The stories you see in the film don’t end when the camera stops rolling. The men and women who committed or saw those acts carry it with them for their entire lives. Somewhere in the back of their hearts, their pain and their nightmares are always going to be there. Speaking it not only helps heal them, but it begins to give us an opportunity to know the truth that we as civilians so distant from the battleground can’t imagine.

This is what supporting your troops looks like.

Will you accept my challenge?