Eugene Jarecki rocks my world

"Why we fight" is the name of a new documentary that is getting rave reviews from Sundance to New York.  I'm watching an interview with director Eugene Jarecki.on PBS' NOW and can tell you that this man is so eloquent, so well-spoken, I cannot wait to see his movie.  I wish I had a quote for you here but it's Friday night and I have a head cold, I'm not exactly on the ball here.

But he was inspired by Eisenhower's warning against the dangers of militarism in his farewell speech of 1961:

"In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.

We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together."

I'm too tired to write more about it now but you can find the trailer here at the official moviesite and a review from indiewire here.  I'll see if I can find some quotes for ya later on, for now I gotta have some alka-seltzer and watch the antique roadshow with Gil.

Comments

[Kim]

Our friend Tom gave us a copy of this documentary in November but I haven't had time to watch it myself. It has gotten really good reviews however and I should take the time to find out why myself.

Feel better! Antiques Roadshow is good for colds. Try Iron Chef too; for some reason watching manic Japanese men prepare dishes out of strange root vegetables and animals is an instant pick-me-up. Maybe the energy is contagious.

[Shannon]

That guy was great on the daily show too.

[Oedipa]

Hey barb -

You've been tagged to do a "meme" if you wish. The list is on my blog...

http://oedipa.blogs.com