Film Tonight at ATA! Director's Statement

IMAGE: http://www.indybay.org/news/2004/01/1667291.php

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.