It is perfect that Ironweed selected VOICES OF DISSENT for its mid-June 2008 DVD release, since July 4th follows as our country's birthday; a day to remember and celebrate the birth of democracy and freedom in the USA.
It is deplorable that our nation has strayed so far from the founders' concept of democracy. This is due in great part to the currently entrenched Bush administration which operates in their own self-interest, and often disregards the Congress and all other political parties, when it suits them to do so.
It is clear that they never learned the basis Kindergarten lessons of learning how to share and playing by the rules. Whether applying the concept of sharing to toys as children or political power as adults, we must all learn how to include everyone. Playing by the rules means that we are a nation of laws, not of people, and that those in power must respect and abide by the laws and the founding documents which describe what America truly is, rather than creating "signing statements" declaring that the laws don't apply to them, or ignoring Congressional subpoenas.
Looking at recent events, it is clear that the Bush administration is in violation of the Constitution on many counts and is doing everything possible to silence those who do not agree with them, even if it shreds our Constitution and Bill of Rights. They practice torture, lies, intimidation, arresting of their opponents, limiting the free speech of the public, outing of their own CIA operative as a vindictive act of political payback, and much more.
These actions are blatant violations of government "of the people, by the people and for the people." The Bush administration, which has been perverting our basic democratic values in myriad ways over the last 8 years, must be challenged and held accountable. As more and more people understand the extent of their crimes, the impeachment movement grows daily. Recently Dennis Kucinich bravely read into the Congressional Record a long list of Bush crimes against the Constitution and the American people.
VOICES OF DISSENT makes the argument that speaking out in opposition to those in power is one of our most basic and vital freedoms which must be protected, and it shows the many creative and inspirational ways that brave citizens are finding to express their anger and dissent against the erosion of our democracy and the hubris of the Bush cabal. Please visit http://www.voicesofdissent.us/
Bottom line is that if we do not protect and defend those who disagree with Bush, then we might as well have a dictator. Consider this: Bush, who describes himself as "the decider," said, on three separate occasions (and these are shown in the film), "things would be a lot easier in a dictatorship, if I'm the dictator." Some might say he was joking, others say that people often reveal their socially unacceptable and unpopular, yet real beliefs, in the form of a joke. Watch the film and decide for yourself. Which do you think it is?
-- Karil Daniels, Director, Voices of Dissent (Ironweed Films Volume 31: June 2008)
Visit www.ironweedfilms.com/films to learn more.
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3 comments:
Karil, thank you for speaking out. I enjoyed your film and wanted to note that so many people think it's a joke to consider impeaching Bush just because he holds the title and position of "The President." However it's that opinion which sends a message to our leaders that they may act like a dictator with no consequences. Our elected leaders should fear the people if they stray from ethical, democratic leadership. --A.M. of Los Angeles, CA
THE AUDACITY OF HOPE
“History is moving, and it will tend toward hope, or tend toward tragedy.”
George W. Bush
In ‘The Audacity of Hope’, President-elect Barack Obama calls for a different brand of politics – a politics for those weary of bitter partisanship and alienated by the “endless clash of armies”. That’s his book. A senator and a lawyer, a professor and a father, a Christian and a skeptic, and above all a student of history and human nature, Obama had written this book.
“Change We Need” and “Yes We Can” were his winning slogans.
There’s nothing negative in his writings. Only inspiration and hope. Hope for all people.
Obama ran and won on ‘CHANGE’, and Americans have voted for change. History has just been made. The American people have had enough of fear, lies and cowboy-style foreign policy. Now that he’s elected, he has strongly confirmed that “change has come to America”. We are now all looking forward to the “new dawn”.
“America is freed from a burden” was the message from the foreign editor of the ‘Suddeutsche Zeitung’. ‘Le Monde’ praised the ‘Great Victory’, while ‘Le Figaro’ celebrated a ‘Historic Election’. The British Conservative opposition leader, David Cameron, enthused: “America has made history and proved to the world that it is a nation eager for change.” In a special edition of ‘Liberation’, Laurent Joffren, the editor, enthusiastically pronounced: “Finally hope! It suffices to imagine for a moment the opposite outcome: a stiff, conservative senator flanked by an ignorant mystic taking over for four years the brutal policies of George W. Bush.” And the Russian ‘Pravda’ said: “Eight years of hell are over….”. (Dare we hope that the eight-year nightmare is over?) Who cannot excuse the Americans for wanting change? Many Americans even hailed Obama as the ‘Prince of Hope’. Many a face we saw shedding tears of gratitude and hope.
But now we will stop these outpourings of emotion!
As a rule, Americans are rather more racist and conservative and, considering that race is always the sub-plot to the American story, one is justified in seeing this as a surprise victory. In Obama they saw an embodiment of the desired change. For many people, the change in the White House is seen as an end to a government they despised and which shocked and angered the world with its arrogance and military aggression.
The first African-American President-elect will be facing problems both on the domestic and on the international panoramas.
On the home front Obama will have to deal with the financial crisis affecting a large part of the domestic economy. Can he confront the mega-corporations, or face the centre of world power – corporate capital? Will a President Obama face the Rothschilds, the Rockefellers or the international corporations? Is Obama inclined to lead the American people to the promised land of peace and justice or simply to remove some of the barriers that have been erected over the last 40 years that have stifled the better instincts of the American people?
The American people gave him a popular mandate to change the U.S. foreign policy to defend human rights around the world, instead of defending particular and special interests.
Would he be able to honour his campaign slogans promising fundamental foreign policy changes and not just minor tactical alterations?
The election of Barack Obama to the presidency of the United States will not change the nation’s image overnight. However, Latin America is a good place to start to lay out a new foreign policy approach of non-intervention, multilateralism and mutual respect.
Obama has promised to withdraw U.S. forces from Iraq, where he does not intend to leave any residual force. We are all waiting and hoping!
On the other hand, will he be able to keep his promise to refrain from getting the U.S. involved in any future military hostilities, and enter more into new diplomatic initiatives, proposing a comprehensive approach involving direct talks with Iran?
He will need to address Afghanistan next. He will ask U.S. allies to join him in the effort, while many European countries are actively reducing their deployments in Afghanistan to save money.
But will this amazing thing that has happened in America make any difference to the world, to the children in Baghdad, Kabul, Beirut, Gaza, Teheran and all the other places in the sight of American guns – unless that difference takes place.
Let us all hope that this election will neither prove to be a necessary rotation of management, at the highest level of the Anglo-American elite, nor a matter of voting for the lesser evil.
The lesson is to ‘do what you got elected to do’! Let’s see that audacity in action!
“Never deprive someone of hope; it might be all they have.”
H. Jackson Brown
November, 2008
Joseph M. Cachia
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