Check out Guest Blogger schedule at CLARK'S Site--Interesting choices!

To begin with two writers....
Both writers have contributed to the national dialogue. Both have unique insight and ideas to share.

Staff Sergeant Zack Bazzi will join us on Tuesday, June 27.

Staff Sergeant Bazzi and 4 other "soldiers with cameras" filmed THE WAR TAPES while on active duty in Iraq.THE WAR TAPES is the first war movie filmed by soldiers themselves.

While at Yearly Kos, General Clark had an opportunity to see the film and was adamant that "every American should see it." This remarkable documentary of the lives of soldiers on the front lines in Iraq has received rave reviews and is a must see for anyone who wants to understand the day-to-day challenges our soldiers face. The film, directed by Deborah Scranton, and produced by Robert May and Steve James, recently won the award for Best Documentary at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival.

Please stop by the Clark Community Network at http://www.securingamerica.com/ccn to visit with Zack on Tuesday, June 27th.
--------------
Chris Mooney will join us on Thursday, June 29, 2006.

Chris is the author of the book, "THE REPUBLICAN WAR ON SCIENCE" as well as the online editor at The American Prospect (where he created TAPPED) and a regular contributor to a variety of other publications.

Chris's work to call attention to the subversion of science to this administration's political agenda has been called "Nothing short of a landmark in contemporary political reporting" and " ...a wake-up call to all Americans who value intellectual honesty and civility in our national affairs."

Please join us at the Clark Community Network on June 29th to discuss the influence of government policy making on America's heritage of free scientific inquiry.

http://www.securingamerica.com/ccn

:kick:

to inform us and to allow us discourse with folks who are making a difference....and aren't politicians!

I've watched the trailer to the War Tapes and while living in "nowhereville" I've been trying to get the closest "art theater" to screen this film. This is so exciting.

sometimes it's good to start "underground" sorta speak! Hope soldiers get bootlegged copies and see it too! :patriot:

It plays in Portland end of August....

Here's the current full schedule from The War Tpaes website:

06/30 – WASHINGTON, DC (E Street Cinema)

06/30 – BOSTON, MA (Kendall Square Cinema)

06/30 – SAN FRANCISCO, CA (The Castro Theatre)

06/30 – BERKLEY, CA (Landmark Shattuck Cinemas)

06/30 - CONCORD, NH (Regal (Hoyts) Concord 10)

07/07 – CHICAGO, IL (The Music Box Theatre)

07/07 – ARLINGTON, VA (AMC Loews Shirlington 7)

07/07 – SAN RAFAEL, CA (Rafael Film Center)

07/14 – SAN JOSE, CA (Camera 12)

07/14 – WILTON, NH (Town Hall Cinema)

07/14 – WILKES-BARRE, PA (R/C Wilkes-Barre Movies 14)

07/17 – KEENE, NH (Colonial Theatre)

07/21 – BALTIMORE, MD (The Charles Theatre)

07/28 – SACRAMENTO, CA (The Crest Theatre)

07/28 – KILLEEN, TX (Killeen Hollywood Stadium 14)

08/04 – NASHVILLE, TN (Belcourt Theatre)

08/04 – LINCOLN, NE (Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center)

08/11 – TUSCON, AZ (The Loft Cinema)

08/11 – PITTSBURGH, PA (Regent Square Theater)

08/11 – STAMFORD, CT (Avon Theatre)

08/18 – HARTFORD, CT (Real Art Ways)

08/27 – OJAI, CA (Playhouse Theatre)

08/30 – PORTLAND, ME (The Movies on Exchange)

09/01 – DENVER, CO (Starz FilmCenter)

09/01 – MADISON, WI (Orpheum Theatre)

09/08 – AUSTIN, TX (Landmark Dobie Cinemas)

09/15 – MINNEAPOLIS, MN (Landmark Lagoon Cinemas)

09/22 – DETROIT, MI (Detroit Institute of Art)

09/22 – FLINT, MI (National Amusements Cinema 10)

So no, not close at all.

I'll be talking to my friend who owns a theater that is much closer. If not, it seems worth while to buy this one.

It would be great if you could get it into your friend's theater...The more theaters it's in, the better....

It's playing near my Mom's in PA in July...and just happens to be playing the weekend when a couple of my sisters and their kids (and I) will be visiting my Mom...I'd love to take my older nephews to see it...a couple of them are from Maine...but not close to Portland either. :(

I have some friends who went to see The War Tapes in SF tonight. Can't wait to hear about it, then check CCN for the blog. Both guests ought to be interesting and thought provoking.

Might even be a screening, and private. Not sure.

The DVD wasn't up for sale....yet. I will own this jewel.

The War Tapes is the first war movie made by the soldiers themselves on the front lines. Winner of Best Documentary last month at the Tribeca Film Festival, it is opening in San Francisco this Monday, June 26th for a special premier night.

We've heard from embedded reporters, we've heard from Washington, we've heard from corporate media. Now it's the soldiers turn to tell their story. Members of the New Hampshire National Guard took video cameras to Iraq to film from the front lines.

A Special Preview screening of The War Tapes will be held at 7:30pm at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco. You can be a part of the screening for free!

http://ga3.org/vvaf/notice-description.tcl?newsletter_id=3516026

Wish I would have known earlier......cause I could have gone! :(

But I'm sure the Grand Lake in Oakland will be showing it soon enough!

There's also a Center for American Progress screening this Wednesday in Washington DC....

From the CAP wesite:

Please join us for a Q&A session and reception immediately following the film.

Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Doors open at 6:30 PM. Screening starts at 7:00 PM sharp
Admission is free

Landmark E Street Cinema
555 11th Street NW
Washington, DC 20004

Featured Panelists:
P.J. Crowley, Senior Fellow, Director of National Defense and Homeland Security, Center for American Progress
Steve James, Editor/Producer, The War Tapes
Staff Sergeant Zack Bazzi, New Hampshire Army National Guard
Sergeant Patrick Campbell, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America

Moderated by:
Melody Barnes, Executive Vice President for Policy, Center for American Progress

http://www.americanprogress.org/site/pp.asp?c=biJRJ8OVF&b=1744847

I'm in the process of working my way through his book right now.

you best be going over there and say hi Thursday, doncha think? ;)

I guess I need to get cracking on that book too. I've been reading a bunch of books at once, and it's not working out too well.:(

If this is the same guy....then Kewl!

as, of course, was our General. :)

I saw The War Tapes when it opened in NYC a couple of weeks ago...I actually have a family member who worked on the film....but I don't know what they did.

Anyway, it's a great film...Everyone should go see it.....

'War Tapes' is the story of Operation Iraqi Freedom through the eyes of SGT Zack Bazzi, SGT Steve Pink, and SPC Mike Moriarty. Zack is a Lebanese-American university student who loves politics and traveling. Steve is a young carpenter with an incredible sense of humor, who signed up for college money and lives a double life as a tough jock and poetic writer. Mike is a father of two who is wracked by desire for honor and redemption. All of them leave women at home – a mother, a girlfriend, and a wife.

They took their cameras from Balad, to Baghdad, to Fallujah, all over the Sunni Triangle and beyond. They soldiers continuously sent back footage of live combat with reflections on the war and video diaries of life as a soldier in Iraq. This is war in first person.

See more clips: http://www.thewartapes.com/the_film/clips.shtml

I see everywhere in CA but nothing down here in southern Ca. :shrug:

x( darn...

showing that movie somewheres? :shrug:

eom

So, he's been hanging with Wes for a while now. :)

Great interview at Steven Darksyde did with Zack at Yearly Kos is here:
http://www.thewartapes.com/2006/06/steven_darksyde_interviews_zac.shtml

Audio interview with Zack from Yearly Kos is here:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/6/22/13554/4752

And check out Chris's book here:
http://www.powells.com/biblio/2-0465046754-2

know what kind of an "outside the box" thinker he is. He is a layman who can discuss science with scientists and philosphy with philosphers. He can out-strategize the "strategists" (a point I hope he remembers, if he runs again), and make a 20-minute speech on subjects outside his expertise without notes, and completely off-the-cuff. He's honest, he's trustworthy, and he is a true patriot.

Bless Wes. Gotta love this man!

TC

Lucky Gert go to say that. The only woman in America who got to say it!

Well, Staff Sergeant Zack Bazzi was a bit delayed by the torrential rains and heavy flooding in DC last night/this morning...He should be online around 8PM tonight, though, if all goes well...

Here's link to his blog when he does post:
http://securingamerica.com/ccn/blog/2006

no text

although he hasn't posted...as is Wes, who has. :)

He did leave this though....

http://securingamerica.com/ccn/node/7252#comment

Coming on the heels of his 40th anniversary, it's fits so perfectly. I can imagine him posting it with a grin on his face.

I forgot about the anniversary...Thanks for the reminder...How appropriate then....

:kick:

an excerpt:

"The idea that now that the troops are “over there” it is time to “tow the line” and “shut-up” may sound patriotic on some news venues but it certainly is not American. Americans have the right to argue, re-argue, debate and dissent on any issue facing our country, at anytime, at anyplace.

Just like our military has the capability to face and defeat more than one foe at a time, our citizens, I’m sure, have the capability of “supporting the troops” and questioning their government at the same time. I as a soldier deployed -- and proudly so -- because it was my duty to do so -- no more no less.

But, if a soldier in some wishful dream was able to manifest his own reasons for their war, I would like to wish that I fought not just for a better Iraq, but for a better America, where loyal dissent is respected, patriotism is action not a bumper-sticker, and skepticism of those whom we entrust with our collective will is the norm.

To me General Clark embodies such American values.

There is a great saying by an English author “my country right or wrong is like my mother drunk or sober.” I personally prefer my mother the latter and my country the former. And, if in order to do so I must dissent, then dissent is duty."

http://securingamerica.com/ccn/node/7239

My wish: that people here who question the troops would go and read his statement. Zack is an amazing person.

I only caught the end of this because Mr. Z decided to stack wood, which he said would take about 15 minutes. Anyway, the thread is a great read.

at the Castro. I'm gonna try to make it!

Zack is going to be on a panel discussion there on Friday, isn't he?

Also have word he'll be on CSpan some time next week...No word on exact time yet.

I must say, that post impressed me. He's on such a busy schedule, I really didn't expect him to write more than a couple of paragraphs....and he stuck around for a good bit too.

Could you tell I was excited? The intersection of my favorite General with my favorite soldier from the film I have been jumping up and down about, trying to get people to see, since I viewed it in early June. Looks like it may have generated some excitement for the film too. He's a special kind of guy. We would do well to be represented by an army full of Bazzis. :)

And Chris is up tomorrow...Hot time at CCN! :)