View "Right to Life", at
YouTube.com
While watching early reports on the Iraq War a few years ago, I wondered: If the media and our government are reporting victory, then why are American soldiers still fighting and dying? Victory means the conflict ends. So, why are we still there?
As I searched for answers, I was taken far, far away from the mainstream media. I found pictures of American and Iraqi casualties; children with limbs in shreds, brave, young and tragically misled American soldiers, lying in the streets, mortally wounded.
Years later, we're still at war and the horrific images of the fighting in Iraq are still not allowed to appear anywhere in the mainstream media. Yet, they truly do need to reach us. Why? Because Americans need to understand what we are doing, why we are increasingly hated by so many, and how we are suffering.
"Right to Life" is a short film that juxtaposes images from the Iraq War with two evangelists' views on the value of life. Many members of the religious right are fervent Bush supporters, but in order to support him they must ignore their faith. I asked these evangelists a few questions about their beliefs, the war, politics - I was surprised by their answers.
There are still so many more questions to ask. Has Christianity's teachings of peace, love and tolerance been subjugated by those who crave power? As a "nation under God", have we have lost our bearings? Will we be able to put the significance of our actions in context so that we can get out of Iraq and heal our wounds?
We have created a horrific image of America - the killing needs to end or else it will continue to be what defines us to the rest of the world.
"I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use."
- Galileo Galilei