Letters to the Editor
Xrandadu Hutman
Published Letters: 3099 Editor's Choice: 53
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Uncle Buckley
[Read the article: "Liberation"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]David Buckley responds:
"They can SAY whatever they want on these video clips. They don't have to remain silent. The aim, presumably, is to connect with a wider world outside Baghdad. Why not have them address issues that are of real and pressing concern to Iraqis?"
So you're merely arguing for a better "Hometown Baghdad"? I won't argue with that; the interviews could be better. I blame the interviewer, not the interviewees. Since the subject is the war and occupation, though, I am not surprised they aren't being asked about women's rights or something.
"Preferably from a wider group of people than they currently highlight. The opinions of some young women would be nice, for a change."
I agree, I'd like to see them deal with more people. If you watch the clips about the university and one man's relationship with his girlfriend you get a little bit of the female perspective. Why they don't delve further, I'm not sure. It seems to me these videos are being made by a small cirlce of college-age men.
"I'm only asking that they become more open in talking about the situation they and their country are in."
Some of the videos show them talking about politics, but I think if they did it might open a can of worms. The point of the videos is supposed to be showing what their real lives are like. Personally I'd like to know more about their political views too, though.
"I'm not defending or condoning America's barbarity in this war."
Sorry I misunderstood you. It sounded to me like you were criticizing these guys for whining about their situation while not doing anything to change it.
"BUT … ONLY Americans can do something about Bush (War Crimes Tribunal, anyone?); and ONLY Iraqis can tell us what Iraqis think about the problems they face."
Salon just published a blog excerpt from a woman who is finally choosing to leave the country with her family. I think she ought to provide you a good source for the type of commentary you're seeking. There are others out there, and there has been a lot of polling on the subject. If you really want to know what Iraqis think politically it's not like "Hometown Baghdad" is the only source.
"So "Hometown" doesn't have to be a series of cliches cued by "appropriate" music etc. It CAN offer something broader, more engaged, and more engaging."
I have no idea who makes the videos or if they read these message boards. If they do then maybe they'll try to follow up on your suggestion.
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Where is Glenn Close when you need her?
[Read the article: Rabbit Bites: We're all Alec Baldwin]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Please let the next "Rabbit Bites" consist of nothing but a single, extended shot of those bunnies floating inert in a big pot of boiling water.
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Awww Joan
[Read the article: Things I got wrong, and right]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I can't believe you make mistakes. Misspelling "Will Ferrell"? Unforgivable. Watch out with Colin too. Saying Bush's approval rating is 29 when it is really 30, even when it's 28 a few days later? Horrible. Regrettable. Deeply unconscionable. Confusing North and South Carolina? Tar and feather the woman! Everybody knows they are the same as the Dakotas.
What is next from you, Joan? Are you going to confuse Modernists with Mannerists? Monet with Manet? Indie rock with emo? Frankinsense with Myrrh? Surrealism with dadaism? Nectarines with tangerines with tangelos? Crocs and gators? Fortran with Pascal? Being nauseous with being nauseated? The two Darrens?
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So nobody here has seen the film?
[Read the article: "Georgia Rule"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]More than a dozen comments, and not a single person has seen the movie! What does that tell you?
So far, the majority of comments seem to fall into these categories:
-- Bashing Lindsay Lohan: She's too old to play a teen, she's not talented, she's a Long Island twit, she's a druggie and screw-up, her parents use her as a meal ticket, etc.
-- Defending Lindsay Lohan: She's talented, she was great in "Mean Girls," she was fun to watch in "Freaky Friday," she's going to make big money playing a stripper, she's sowing her wild oats, she should go to college or star in some indie films, etc.
-- Bashing Stephanie Zacharek: There's always at least one or two "let's bash Stephanie!" comments in these forums. Somebody went so far as to call her the worst reviewer in the country, adding, "I will no longer read her reviews!" (I think this same guy comes back every time and reads her reviews). Granted, Zacharek has ups and downs, but she's not awful. Her comment about connecting Lohan's off-screen behavior to the oppressively formulaic script was obviously meant to be Zacharek's own subjective interpretation based on what she saw and how it made her feel, and not something she actually assumed was occurring in Lohan's mind. (Is it possible for anybody to watch this film, knowing Lohan's off-screen story, and not have that knowledge reflect upon her character?)
-- Defending Mormons / bashing Jane Fonda: A Mormon woman writes that Fonda's character behaves much more harshly than a real Mormon grandmother would, then blames Fonda for not doing more research. Um, miss Mormon writer, did you know that Fonda did not write the screenplay? In any case, it is refreshing to see a message board where Fonda is not the primary target of criticism.
-- Bashing Mormons: Somebody responded to the above by claiming that Mormon women use the most anti-depressant medication in the country. Citation please?
-- A discussion of the resulting sexual behavior of those who have been sexually assaulted: This is a fairly intelligent conversation with both sides making good points. My own experience with such people has been, as I see it, that they engage in more "extreme" forms of sexuality as a way to regain and "own" power over their sexual selves.
In none of the above comments does anybody claim to have actually seen the film. Perhaps it is too early. But I suspect few will flock to theaters for a movie that revolves around two actresses with such sullied past and present reputations.