| Author | Message | | Jefferson Davis | | Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2009 7:31 pm Post subject: Film series sparks civil discourse on USS Liberty |
| If someone makes this or sees press reports about it, please keep WWE in mind. Kudos fo all for this effort.
Film series sparks civil discourse RE: USS Liberty, 9-11
BAY AREA NEWS GROUP
Posted: 03/02/2009 12:00:00 AM PST
http://www.insidebayarea.com/argus/localnews/ci_11815178
Everyone agrees on the following: On June 8, 1967, the USS Liberty was patrolling in international waters north of Sinai Peninsula gathering intelligence during the Mideast Six-Day War. Without warning, Israeli warplanes and torpedo boats attacked the essentially unarmed ship, nearly sinking it, killing 34 American sailors and wounding 172 others.
Was the incident a tragic case of mistaken friendly fire, or a callous, premeditated act of murder? Why was aid from a nearby U.S. aircraft carrier so inexplicably, astoundingly slow in arriving? Was the subsequent court of inquiry a hasty whitewash designed to suppress the truth, or not? These and many more questions remain bitterly disputed, even after all these years.
On March 14, a Saturday, at the Fremont Main Library, the Tri-City Documentary Film Series will feature "Loss of Liberty: The Israeli Attack on the USS Liberty."
As with the series' previous films, this showing is sure to generate a spirited discussion.
"We try to find films of political and social significance," explain the series co-founders, Fremont's Jane Bark and Newark's Paul Rea. "And we hope to fill in what mainstream media too often leave out."
The pair met 2½ years ago after a town meeting sponsored by U.S. Rep. Pete Stark.
They immediately recognized in each other kindred spirits, progressive thinkers frustrated by the lack of public discourse about pressing issues. And so they teamed up to incite a civic discussion with the Tri-City Documentary Film Series.
Rea, a retired humanities professor, was no stranger to controversial dialogue or innovative films, having produced the International Film Series at the University of Northern Colorado for 17 years. "We showed offbeat, challenging films to conventional audiences."
Bark, on the other hand, just wanted to spread the word about the myriad unanswered questions (or, worse, unasked questions) regarding the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. "I never imagined we'd broach the many subjects we have, or that there'd be so much interest in our films. It's worked out fabulous!"
In fact, the series has sponsored more than 20 documentary films, captivating an average audience of 60 people. Topics have included global warming, gay marriage, Darfur and the war in Iraq. Post-film conversations have been, in Rea's words, "often lively, even heated, but always civil."
Nothing could be healthier for a democracy than such discussion and this film series. And I have to admit to a great deal of civic pride because Tuesday we in the Tri-City area will host Greg Mortensen, the hero of the best-seller "Three Cups of Tea," followed next Saturday with the film series highlighting what happened to The Liberty.
The only real education is a continuing one. Clearly, the Tri-City area excels in providing opportunities for all of us to keep learning, and what is even more important, to keep talking, even with those with whom we disagree.
"Loss of Liberty" includes interviews with high-ranking Israeli and American officials, including Dean Rusk, former U.S. Secretary of State, and Adm. Thomas Moorer, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The screening will begin promptly at 1:30 p.m., March 14 at the Fremont Main Library's Fukaya Room, 2400 Stevenson Blvd. All are welcome, and attendance is free.
For details about Tri-City Documentary Film Series, visit www.TriCityPerspectives.org. | |  | | outsider | | Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2009 11:30 pm Post subject: |
| | Great that the film is being shown; for those not in the Tri-City area, the film is available to watch on internet, as is 'Dead in the Water', another excellent 'Liberty' documentary. | | | | | ©2002-2009 WarWithoutEnd.co.uk |
