The first film of its kind to chronicle the reasons behind Iraq’s descent into guerilla war, warlord rule, criminality and anarchy, NO END IN SIGHT is a jaw-dropping, insider’s tale of wholesale incompetence, recklessness and venality. Based on over 200 hours of footage, the film provides a candid retelling of the events following the fall of Baghdad in 2003 by high ranking officials such as former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, Ambassador Barbara Bodine (in charge of Baghdad during the Spring of 2003), Lawrence Wilkerson, former Chief of Staff to Colin Powell, and General Jay Garner (in charge of the occupation of Iraq through May 2003) as well as Iraqi civilians, American soldiers, and prominent analysts.
NO END IN SIGHT examines the manner in which the principal errors of U.S. policy – the use of insufficient troop levels, allowing the looting of Baghdad, the purging of professionals from the Iraqi government, and the disbanding of the Iraqi military – largely created the insurgency and chaos that engulf Iraq today. How did a group of men with little or no military experience, knowledge of the Arab world or personal experience in Iraq come to make such flagrantly debilitating decisions? NO END IN SIGHT dissects the people, issues and facts behind the Bush Administration’s decisions and their consequences on the ground to provide a powerful look into how arrogance and ignorance turned a military victory into a seemingly endless and deepening nightmare of a war.
One cannot legislate morality. These should be words to live by for the U.S. government. I hold a particular distaste for the legislation of religious beliefs and for the defense of this practice: “America is a Christian nation.” This claim is overused and overgeneralized. Are the majority of American citizens Christians? Without a doubt. But one of the fundamental ideals of our government and of the American way of life is the protection of individual rights.
This is the heart of our Constitution and the core of our success. What defines our country is that we’re not just one religion or one ethnicity. We don’t listen to the same music, watch the same news or read the same books. Our government is dominated by the political right, led by President George W. Bush. Because of their majority, many believe that these leaders have a mandate from “the people” to carry out their beliefs.
Firstly, there is no mandate because only a little more than half the country’s adults voted, and that works out to maybe a quarter of “the people” voting for the president. Secondly, and as I’ve already mentioned, morality should not be legislated. Legislation is about protecting rights, from the right to walk down the street safely to the right to one’s own life.
The right-to-life debate has become religiously charged, making it seem grayer than it is and forcing it to the center of issues like stem-cell research, abortion and assisted suicide. For one moment, assume that religious beliefs were no longer a consideration. Without the notion of a soul, which is purely religious, stem-cell research would be a complete non-issue, as would any abortion in the first trimester.
Assisted suicide, and all laws regarding suicide, would be ridiculous because one’s life belongs to his or herself, not to God, and therefore a person’s decision to die or to live is entirely his and definitely beyond the scope of the government. If this was wrong according to an individual’s religion, that person wouldn’t commit suicide. If she was against abortion, she wouldn’t get one. No religion or group has the right to force its morality on the whole of America, elevating its beliefs above individual rights.
Another instance of religion being applied to policy is the battle over the teaching of evolution. Those who are pitching a revamped version of creationism called “intelligent design” claim that there are holes in the theory of evolution, so an alternative must be taught.
If we are to accept this line of reasoning, we must also allow other theories on the existence of man to be presented. All religions must be given a fair chance. Biology class becomes Mythology 101 as students hear story after story about how man may have come to be, none of which are based on proven fact or science, but all of which must be given equal consideration. In public schools, only scientific theories should be taught, and evolution is the best available.
Still more outrageous, the president tried to make gay marriage unconstitutional because it doesn’t coincide with his religious beliefs. According to Christianity, gay couples should not marry because it is what God intended. Outside of religion, however, there is no valid argument against gay couples marrying. They should be given the same rights individually and as a committed couple that all straight citizens are given.
We are a country of individuals with inalienable rights, a country of people who have been allowed to believe what we choose to believe and to live in a way that permits us to pursue our own brand of happiness. The foundation of this way of life is our respect for and unwillingness to violate individual rights. Let’s keep it that way.
Mary Ridderbusch, , is a 2005 McKay High School graduate who will attend the University of Oregon in the fall. Reach her through Education Editor Dana Haynes at dhaynes@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 589-6903.
Delirium is the quest for balance in a world that is increasingly out of sync with reality. It pushes the limit of arena performance through technical magnitude, human introspection and creative prowess.
For the first time in Cirque du Soleil history lyrics have been created for the instrumental tracks and real words integrated in place of invented language, bringing to the music a fresh poetic dimension. And also, for the first time Cirque du Soleil puts musicians and singers center-stage with their music as the driving force of this gigantic event.
In all, 20 of Cirque du Soleil’s most memorable musical moments – originally created by René Dupéré, Benoît Jutras and Violaine Corradi – have been re-mixed by Quebec producer, composer and arranger Francis Collard. The result is a hyper-energizing urban tribal beat that explodes with electronic sounds, percussions and world rhythms.
OMG! I can’t wait. I take great pleasure in announcing that I will be going to see Delirium on September 24 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California. It is sure to be a dazzling hit. Be sure to check back around that time for a complete update!
1. Cold Flame (inspired by Oscillum)
2. Slipping Away (inspired by Ombra)
3. Someone [listen below] (inspired by Patzivota)
4. Too High (inspired by Spiritual Spiral)
5. Walk on Water (inspired by A Tale)
6. Alone (inspired by Querer)
7. Climb (inspired by le Rêveur)
8. la Nova Alegría (inspired by Alegría)
9. Lifeline (inspired by el Péndulo)
10. Bridge of Sorrow (inspired by nostalgie)
11. One Love (inspired by Pokinoï)
12. Let Me Fall
13. Time to Go (inspired by Mountain of Clothes)
14. Time Flies (inspired by Mer Noire)
15. Sans Toi (inspired by Querer)
This unique, large-scale event may be the most massive technical production ever created to tour arenas. A 130 foot two-sided stage bisects the arena, submerging the audience in the huge set.
540 feet of projections dominate the scene – the equivalent in width of almost four IMAX screens – setting the stage for a colossal multimedia presentation. Images projected range from prerecorded visuals to manipulated live feeds that create interactions between the show and the audience.
To heighten the musical experience, Delirium is infused with acrobatic dances as well as classic Cirque du Soleil feats including aerial, acrosport and hand balancing acts.
The first film of its kind to chronicle the reasons behind Iraq’s descent into guerilla war, warlord rule, criminality and anarchy, NO END IN SIGHT is a jaw-dropping, insider’s tale of wholesale incompetence, recklessness and venality. Based on over 200 hours of footage, the film provides a candid retelling of the events following the fall of Baghdad in 2003 by high ranking officials such as former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, Ambassador Barbara Bodine (in charge of Baghdad during the Spring of 2003), Lawrence Wilkerson, former Chief of Staff to Colin Powell, and General Jay Garner (in charge of the occupation of Iraq through May 2003) as well as Iraqi civilians, American soldiers, and prominent analysts.
NO END IN SIGHT dissects the people, issues and facts behind the Bush Administration’s decisions and their consequences on the ground to provide a powerful look into how arrogance and ignorance turned a military victory into a seemingly endless and deepening nightmare of a war.
One cannot legislate morality. These should be words to live by for the U.S. government. I hold a particular distaste for the legislation of religious beliefs and for the defense of this practice: “America is a Christian nation.” This claim is overused and overgeneralized. Are the majority of American citizens Christians? Without a doubt. But one of the fundamental ideals of our government and of the American way of life is the protection of individual rights.
Firstly, there is no mandate because only a little more than half the country’s adults voted, and that works out to maybe a quarter of “the people” voting for the president. Secondly, and as I’ve already mentioned, morality should not be legislated. Legislation is about protecting rights, from the right to walk down the street safely to the right to one’s own life.
