I happened to catch part of Fresh Air in the car today, on my way to meet a friend for lunch. Terry Gross was interviewing Brett Morgen, director of the new documentary Chicago Ten. Now this sounds like an excellent movie. Listen to the interview, or read a little about it, here.
At the end of the interview Morgen says:
The film is set in sixty-eight, but I never thought I was making a film about 1968. I thought I was making a film about today . . . telling a story that is ultimately about the time that I’m living in and the war I’m living through.
What the film is ultimately trying to do is to put a mirror up to the audience and challenge them—to ask them—how far are you willing to go? We’re not suggesting that people need to get beat over the head to make a statement. Ultimately what the film tells you is that each person needs to make that decision for themselves and all we’re doing is asking them to take a moment to ask, Am I doing enough?
Am I doing enough? It’s a question we should frequently ask ourselves. A film that helps us do that is a good thing.
Background, from the NPR site (see link, above):
Outside the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago, protesters rallied to show disapproval of the Vietnam War. They hadn’t been granted demonstration permits, however, and for a week, they were involved in violent conflict with Chicago police.
Less than a year later, eight of the protest leaders — the so-called Chicago 8 — were indicted by a federal grand jury on counts of, among other things, conspiracy and incitement to riot. All were eventually found not guilty on conspiracy, but five were found guilty of violating the 1968 Anti-Riot Act. In 1972, those convictions were reversed.
I know an ageless hippie chick who probably knows something about the Chicago Eight (or ten)!
And lunch? Dim sum. Yum. My friend was taking me out to celebrate my birthday and I realized, whilst listening to Terry on the radio, that we have known each other since I was pregnant with my daughter in 1985! How wonderful to have a friend who’s been around that long—we played volleyball together for a long time (until I injured my shoulder thirteen years ago), worked together for eight years, have celebrated one another’s birthdays every February and October. He watched my daughter grow up—in fact, tutored her for her SAT and also in physics. He attended her college graduation in December. He is a true friend! I am so blessed.
– – – – – – – – – –
Finally figured out how to add to the blogroll. Duh. At gartenfische, I use a separate page for my blogs and links, so I had to be really smart and use all my brain cells. I should’ve asked Scout, she could’ve told me. So I’ve got a blogroll! At least the beginnings of one. This is the non-religious blogroll, for the religious variety, see gartenfische.
Wyrdbyrd's Wyrld 
ah, yes, those were the good old days….the smell of tear gas in the morning…..;)
I remember what a circus the trial turned into and I remember thinking how wrong it was — and I was only in high school — when Bobby Seale was gagged and tied to his chair…..
the more things change the more they stay the same, eh?
It really would be nice to see more anti-war protesting going on — just in general, and around the presidential campaigns specifically. Less violent would be good, too, of course.
And thanks for the blogroll link!
Linda, “the more things change the more they stay the same, eh?” Yes! I guess that’s the point of the movie.
Kirsten, I agree completely.