1/16: Indymedia screening @ ATA

• Lord of the Rings: The Twin Towers, the long-awaited sequel to the popular Fellowship of the Ring of Free Trade, has finally arrived!  Twin Towers explores the unfolding story of the Bush Administration after Sept. 11th and the so-called "War on Terrorism" that followed.
• Workers of Argentina, by the Argentina Indymedia Center, chronicles the working class struggle of Argentina after the economy crash.
• Shock and Awe, by Sam Seedorf, chronicles the pre-invasion Iraq in the months leading up to the war that changed the face of the Middle East forever. With live footage and interviews, the audience is exposed to an Iraq waiting in the shadow of war. This is a picture of Iraq before the present-day occupation and "liberation".

Sam Seedorf discusses his latest documentary: As a human shield going into Iraq i had many preconceptions about what to expect when i got there. I expected to find a lot of anti-american sentiment. I had been told not to drink the water, and not to allow the bottoms of my feet to show, and of course I was told that Saddam was going to kidnap me and torture me and force me to use my skills to help him. What i got was a new definition of civilized behavior. It was wonderful and refreshing to see people who are open, sharing, helpful, and non-competitive. As an American, i was totally welcomed. "Welcome to our country.", "This is your country now.", "Thank you for coming.", and "I love you."

I would like to say that this film represents somehow what I experienced there. But it doesn't, it is totally inadequate. What it does portray is a view into Iraq that you have not seen in the mainstream media. I was free to go where I wanted and to talk with whomever i saw. Many of my encounters with the Iraqi people went un-recorded, such as the time an Iraqi man stopped me in the street, crying, saying "Tell papa (the Pope), tell Bush, stop the war. Tell him to stop." Then he proceeded to show me the photo he had in his wallet of his dead 8 year old daughter. He told me his life stopped when hers did. It was hard to see him there sobbing in the street much less point my camera at him. "Tell papa, tell papa" he kept repeating. When i left him i knew he would have appreciated the opportunity to share his story with westerners, especially if he thought it would help stop the war. I walked back to look for him, but he was gone.

I have been called a traitor a patriot an ambassador of peace and a war criminal, all in the same day. The reality is simple. I don't think we should be killing anyone.

I went to Iraq to do what i could to stop this war and to stand for the Iraqi people. I went to Iraq as a direct protest against the American government. I went to Iraq because there is no way i could stand to stay at home and watch on television while people were dying because of my own apathy and with our tax dollars. I went to Iraq also to see for myself what it was like and to take some pictures and show them to the American people.