Here is Helen Thomas’ weekly column. Part of me likes it because I’m learning something about history, the other part appreciates it because Helen offers advice about where we - the media, bloggers and journalists -can take the election dialogue to make it more constructive. She ends of the article with seven questions - true to her no BS style- that all of us should be asking right now.
Check this out. I was home on Thursday night with a couchful of friends and we just so happened to stop on Comedy Central. I swear, it was total fate — and would have been complete disaster to have missed this airing of Colbert. Just four days before the Pennsylvania Primary, and on Prime time television for Gen Y, Colbert got the line up other shows might be half as ambitious to even shoot for.
First, Clinton appears in lieu of Colbert’s technical problems. The ever-eager Senator would make a great addition to anyone’s team with this priceless enthusiasm.
Next, Edwards shows up to remind viewers everyoneis still after his vote. He hits on the point that media continues to pigeon demographics as having control of the final tally. This second, they’re saying it might be the “white male vote,” to which Colbert responds, “finally, white men will be heard!”
And finally, Obama shows up on the projector from somewhere in heartland America. He appears more rested than the lame primary the night before where both candidates made me yawn for different reasons. Colbert offers a strong opener about how happy HIllary must be pleased that she”fixed our projector screen.” (To which Obama plastered a whopping grin all over it.)
More than three thousand people came to the Green Apple Fest on the National Mall in Washington, DC on April 20th to celebrate Earth Day ‘08. Before the rain hit, causing the show to close early, I chased down the likes of Chevy Chase, O.A.R. and a ton of awesome concert goers. Check out the full size video here, on my THINK.MTV.COM profile.
While 21-year old Iraq Veteran, Paul, aims to add normalcy back to his life, the war transcended on Washington, DC. At the start of the sixth year of war on Iraq, March 19, a mix of people gathered within an ear shot of the White House to demonstrate dissatisfaction. Join me as I explore how courage and activism bridge unlikley partners in the fight against US Occupation of Iraq.
Decision to Desert: Part I
My MTV Profile
Tonight I’m going to Landmark E St. Cinema to check out an early viewing of Body of War. The 87 minute documentary is about 26-year old Veteran and Kansas native, Tomas Young. The film, (hit the circuit at the Toronto Film Fest) came together through a collaboration of unique names like Ralph Nader, Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder, and Co-directors Phil Donahue and Ellen Spiro.
I got an early copy of the Body of War soundtrack at the Iraq Veterans Against the War Winter Soldier event. The album is honestly the best collection of political music I’ve heard since, well, spinning old records of my parents. My favorite songs on the album are Pearl Jam cover of Masters of War, Bruce Sprinsteen’s Devils & Dust and Lupe Fiasco’s American Terrorist.
The movie is on a nationwide — grassroots — if you will, tour, with Tomas, wheelchair, pills, complications and all - and Donahue and Spiro. Though the movie is about the life of Tomas as a paraplegic, it’s also about the build up to the passage of HR 411, the Iraq War Resolution of 2002.
After DC, the third stop on the tour, Tomas will go to New York, Philly and Boston.. Los Angeles, San Francisco & Seattle and then a finale in Chicago, Minneapolis and St. Louis.
In January, I discovered I have an unlikely connection to the War in Iraq. His name is Paul, and not forty miles away from me, he was serving time in the Quantico Brig (military prison) for deserting the Marine Corp after a tour in Iraq.
Though we had only met once before, I decided there was only one thing to do. Go visit my second cousin and get the story. Here is Part I of a two Part series, which can be seen below or, here on MTV.