Today as part of the Pierce College Film Festival, artists Peter Dudar and Sally Marr's documentary Arlington West was shown. Arlington West is about the war memorial next to the Santa Monica Pier erected every Sunday by the Veterans for Peace. The film consists of moving interviews of American soldiers and military families who come to the memorial to grieve the loss of their loved ones and to honor those troops who have died in the Iraq war.
There were so many interviews from the film that affected me emotionally. One interview that stands out in my mind is the one with the soldier who tested positive for having depleted uranium in his system. I remember that during the build up to the war that there was a lot of discussion and debate about the U.S. military's practice of coating its missiles in depleted uranium. Whatever happened to that issue? I never hear about it anymore, yet our soldiers are suffering from exposure to depleted uranium.
I was also really struck by the soldier who had a catalogue for anyone to order weapons from. To me, this illustrates the foolishness and danger of the arms trade, as the U.S. continues to produce and provide weapons and military training to countries with brutal regimes who are guilty of human rights abuses.
One more interview that has been haunting me was the soldier who told the story of how he witnessed a small child being blown up by a landmine. It made me feel angry that the United States refuses to sign the Mine Ban Treaty (the Ottawa Treaty, 1999) which bans the production and use of land mines, even though 157 countries have signed the treaty.
Following the film, soldier Agustin Aguayo spoke about his experience in the military and his journey to becoming a conscientious objector. Agustin explained that after he completed his military contract, he was informed by the military that due to the stop-loss policy his contract would be extended.
Agustin also told stories of his comrades dying before his eyes and how he had to place them in body bags. He talked about how he chooses to speak out because of his belief that whether or not you are for or against the war, the public needs to hear from soldiers and hear what the realities of war are.
Sally spoke next and added a few details to Agustin's account, including the fact that the entire time he was in Iraq, he never loaded his gun once. Many in the audience broke out in spontaneous applause at this statement. Also, when he refused to comply with the military's stop-loss policy, Agustin served 7 months in a military prison as a result. Peter asked the audience how many knew what the stop-loss policy is, and called on one student who explained that the military can extend soldiers' contracts beyond the length of time of the original contract.
A particularly moving moment occurred when Peter and Sally invited audience members to share any stories they have about their loved ones who have served or are currently serving in the military. A student raised her hand and through her tears told how she knows someone in the military who is having a very difficult time. Peter responded by giving her a hug.
At another point, Peter asked the audience, "How many of you know about Britney Spears shaving her head?" to which many in the audience raised their hands. He then posed the question, "How many of you know how many soldiers have died in Iraq?" to which it appeared that no one knew the correct answer. Sally asked if anyone knew how many Iraqi people have died as a result of the war, and again, it appeared that no one was quite sure of the answer. I heard some students in the front say, "It's because the media doesn't tell us!".
By the way, according to icasualties.org there have been 4065 reported deaths of U.S. soldiers in the Iraq War. As for how many Iraqi deaths there have been as a result of the U.S. invasion, in October of 2006 John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health published a study in the Lancet listing the amount of Iraqi casualties as estimated at 654,965 people. This number is from 2 years ago but since the results of the study indicate that approximately 143,000 deaths per year are occurring as a result of the war, then we can estimate that by now close to a million Iraqis have died.
Sally mentioned another statistic, that 18 veterans a day are committing suicide. That number comes from a recent lawsuit challenging the Department of Veterans Affairs mental health system. According to the April 23, 2008 article "VA faulted in diagnosing suicide candidates" by Bob Egelko of the San Francisco Chronicle, in court testimony an e-mail was revealed written by top VA mental health official, Ira Katz. In this e-mail Katz says that veterans were committing suicide at the rate of 18 per day. The lawsuit asserts that the VA did not provide adequate care to the veterans who committed suicide.
Towards the end of the presentation, one student stood up and made some comments. (I will do my best to paraphrase- I was putting the microphone away so please excuse me if I don't get it exactly right) She reminded the students that bringing back the draft is a real possibility. She referred to Peter and Sally's colorful style of dress and pointed out how the generation of the sixties was motivated to action to stop the Vietnam War, and how they were not silent but spoke out. She said that she wants her generation to take action and do someting to stop the Iraq War. She spoke about how when the Iraq War was just starting, she attended protests in front of the Federal Building on Wilshire in Los Angeles. She wants her generation to do more than socialize on MySpace and Facebook, but to care and take direct action to stop the war in Iraq.
After the presentation, one professor commented that it was difficult not to cry throughout the film which I agreed with. One student asked me for more information regarding the war memorial and the Veterans for Peace. Another student asked Sally and Peter if she could join them at their presentations and speak out against war.
There was a little time for student questions, but not nearly enough, so hopefully we can continue the discussion in the blogosphere.
Feel free to answer any of the following questions:
What is your reaction to the film presentation? Were there any particular interviews that stood out for you? What did you agree with? What did you disagree with? How did the film and panel discussion make you feel? What solutions and alternatives are there to war? Would you support bringing back the draft? Why do military recruiters target poor areas? What role does the media play in shaping the public's view towards war? How can society best help soldiers and their loved ones?
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11 comments:
As i had said before, there are many other alternatives for war such as negotiating on a treaty. One of the solutions to end the war and for the government to finally sign the Mine Ban Treaty, as Mrs. Winnard brought up, is to urge our government by speaking out. Petitions, strikes, marches, getting political leaders involved are all various ways of making our beliefs known and causing change to occur for the better.
I would certainly not agree with bringing back the draft. We already have over a million casualties when combining both nations, we do not need to force those who are inexperienced to go out in the war zone and add to our list of casualties. It would be like sending babies to fight our war.
Thanks for starting off the discussion, Alexandra. I agree that we must constantly pressure the government to cause "change to occur for the better."
I understand that you disagree with bringing back the draft. As you know, I have two sons, ages five and eight. Having two children, I never would have thought that I would support a draft, but over time, my view has changed.
Currently, with an all volunteer army, only a small proportion of the American populaton is directly affected by war. Do you think it is fair that only a minute segment of the population bears the weight of war? The population who volunteer to serve in the military is disproportionately poor and disadvantaged.
I have come to realize that one reason why so many Americans are apathetic about war is because they are not directly affected by the death and destruction caused by war. Many in the peace movement understand that if we want to end the war in Iraq right now, bringing back the draft would achieve that goal. The draft would be so unpopular, and it would cause all Americans to be directly affected by the war, and therefore to care. I believe that if we reinstated the draft that people would take to the streets in massive amounts and demand an end to the war in Iraq immediately.
I remember in Michael Moore's film Fahrenheit 911, how he made the point that only one or two members of Congress had relatives serving in Iraq. Do you think if every member of Congress had a child serving in the military that the invasion of Iraq would have been allowed to occur? How about if Bush's twin daughters were drafted into the military? Would Bush have been so reckless in his rush to war
if his own daughters were at risk?
If we continue on this path of war that the Bush administration has set us on, realistically the draft is a possibility. It is a fact that our military is already stretched so thin. This is why our soldiers are being forced to do multiple tours without adequate rest, and why the military has lowered its enlistment standards to include violent felons. This is why the U.S. military recruits citizens from other countries to fight our wars for us in return for citizenship. This is also part of the reason why our government supplements our forces with mercenaries like the Blackwater private security firm.
Young people protested the Vietnam War with such passion because of the draft. However, I truly doubt that any U.S. president would bring back the draft as it would be so deeply unpopular.
I would agree with Alexandra not to bring back the draft. Putting the inexperienced out into the war would do no good. Although I do understand Mrs. Winnards concerns, if everyone was effected by the war many would realize the consequence and want to end it. Putting Bush’s two daughters into the war would certainly make him realize how our soldiers feel and there would me more concern for them. Things like the depleted uranium would be stopped. On the other hand some of the people who join the army truly want to fight and believe in the war; after all no one is forced to join the army. It wouldn’t be fair to put the people who don’t support the war at all to join. As Alexandra said “it would be like sending babies to fight our war.”
I think bringing back the draft just to make ignorant people understand the effects of war and what our soldiers go through is too drastic. Arlington West on the other was a great way to show people the effects the war and urge them to do something about it.
Arlington West did an outstanding job of showing the true conflicts of war. I agree with the people who said it was hard not to cry throughout the film. There were many interviews that stood out in my mind. One which completely struck my mind was when a young woman claimed she had been raped by a fellow soldier. This angered me greatly! Not only does this young lady have to worry about the dangers of war, but also being raped by a fellow solider. Mrs. Winnard referred to a solider who witnessed a young child being blown up; as this solider was talking images were being drawn in my head. I pictured a little innocent child being blown up in an instant. I wasn’t familiar with the Mine Ban Treaty, however now hearing about it why won’t the U.S sign it? Hearing about these tragic events that could have been prevented easily makes the situations worse. These are just two of the sorrowful interviews from the film that struck my mind the most. Overall I found the film to be stirring and a great way to depict the realities of the war.
I completely understand how Alexandra and Anam are against reinstating the draft, especially since you are both at the age where you would be drafted. If we are not careful;however, I fear that our current foreign policy under Bush is leading us in the direction of bringing back the draft.
I remember the interview Anam mentions about the female soldier who was raped. I too felt outrage and anger. These are the consequences of war and why I believe that war should be avoided at all costs.
The image of a little child being killed by a landmine is heartbreaking. I believe that the argument put forth by the U.S. for refusing to sign the treaty banning landmines is that they claim that landmines are a useful and effective type of weaponry. One of the main problems with landmines is that they remain in war torn countries years and years after the conflict has ended. It is usually children playing in fields or farmers working their crops who are killed by the landmines. In my opinion, this is one type of weaponry that the world would be much better off without.
Of course another argument is that the companies who produce the landmines will lose money if they are banned from creating that product. Does making money justify producing and using landmines? How about we move towards an economy based on industries that are humane and just?
I am so glad that the film was meaningful for you Anam.
Although I was not able to make the film I did get to read Ms. Winnard's summary and the comments left by the students. So I can only go off of what I read. Personally, I am against the war. I do not know anyone close to me that is fighting the war other than a co-worker so I only know what I see or hear in the media about the war. I admit that my generation is less concerned or interested in whats going on around them unless it is directly affecting their lives. I am also guilty of this. As I am getting older and realizing that what happens in my lifetime, is going to affect my daughter in her life time, I am starting to realize that its time to start asking questions and start making a difference before its too late. It makes me sad to hear that an innocent child can be caught in the middle of something that they did not do. I can only picture my daughter being that innocent by-stander. It brings tears to my eyes. I can only imagine what their families are going through. Then to hear that a woman trying to fight our war is not only trying to stay alive but trying to watch her back from the people that are supposed to be helping her stay alive. How can someone have to sleep with one eye open all the time? I would be horrified if I, or anyone I know at that, was in that position.
About the Land Mine Ban, like others, I was not aware of this Treay. Makes sense. Like Ms. Winnarde stated, is money enough reason to keep making these weapon tactics? What is an economy with no population?
Cynthia, the fact that you are thinking about the future for your child and future generations gives me hope. Thank you for your comment.
Sadly there are only a few battles that can be only settled with negotiation / treaties. People have there own agendas which will folly any turns of peace. That's how people are and will always remain
This was a very eyeopening, and shocking movie. It made me aware of the many thing the Military, Navy, Marines, etc. are doing to recruit young men and women. It is sad to think that because there is a shortage of people willing to fight that the draft might be re-instated.I agree with Alexandra that, our country cannot afford, or deal with such an vent, the war is hard enough for us to deal with.
The panel discussion, and the comments made by fellow students really stood out in my mind, the really made me think, wow, look what is happening. I enjoyed listening to the directors and what they had to say about their thoughts on the war. I also liked hearing the ones girl that spoke out about her experiences at rallies and such. It made me think, why don't I do something like that, why don't I stand up for what I believe in!
Hi Allie,
That is wonderful that the film was informative for you, and that the discussion afterwards inspired you. Nowadays, especially with the internet, it is extremely easy to participate in organized political action and to speak out for what you believe in, so I encourage you to do that. For instance, you can sign petitions easily online or call your representatives in Congress, and these actions do make a difference.
What about Carlos' comment which I think was essentially saying that war is inevitable and that we will always have war? Do you agree or disagree with this idea?
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