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Category Archives: Documentaries and Film
On PBS tonight
https://www.vegaspbs.org/the-test/
Vegas PBS’ production The Test examines the history of atomic testing in Nevada, atomic tourism, and the consequences of being in Nevada’s “atomic backyard.”
The Test addresses atomic testing from the Manhattan Project’s secret laboratories to Nevada’s “Doom Towns” and the “downwinders” affected by radioactive fallout. During World War II and the ensuing Cold War, U.S. scientists were racing to keep the nation secure in the nuclear age. They knew the bomb had to be further tested, but the scientists initially lacked a full understanding of atomic weaponry’s destructive scope. Ultimately, atomic testing sites, including one in Nevada, were established. The program delves into the testing in Nevada and the rise of “atomic culture.” Highlights include “atomic tourism,” which describes how nuclear testing became a main event in Las Vegas as residents and visitors alike lined up to watch “the show.” Additionally, the production takes viewers to the present-day Nevada National Security Site, formerly known as the Nevada Test Site, for a tour and shows how the site is used to prepare first responders for the fight against terror and other dangers.
“The Test is part of our effort to produce programs interpreting significant events in Nevada’s history that help create a sense of place for residents and visitors,” said Vegas PBS General Manager Tom Axtell. “It is a meaningful local production resulting from a collaboration between Vegas PBS and our partners, the Atomic Testing Museum and the University of Nevada Las Vegas History Department.”
Featured interviews include Congresswoman Dina Titus, known for her expertise in the history and policies related to atomic power and the author of “Bombs in the Backyard,” and former Senator Richard Bryan, who in his early career worked at the Nevada Test Site.
Theologians Under Hitler
“A Hidden Life” Trailer!
Bishop Gumbleton
An email from Fr. McCarthy…
Friends,
Since as long as I have known and known of Bishop Tom Gumbleton (since 1969), he has been consistently clear in proclaiming the Nonviolent Jesus and His Way of Nonviolence. A film on him and his work, American Prophet (see below), will be released for purchase in DVD format or for streaming on Amazon Prime on June 20. Do buy it and share it with as many others as possible in your parish, P&J group, family, school, etc.
I might suggest for those who are not familiar with Tom that before viewing the film they read a brief biography of him at https://www.bishopgumbleton.com/bio.html or on Wikipedia. I would also suggest that they read the Nov. 5, 2011 NCR article, Vatican Moves Quickly to Punish Gumbleton at https://www.ncronline.org/news/accountability/vatican-moved-quickly-punish-gumbleton
Emmanuel Charles McCarthy
Dear Friends –
After a long film festival circuit and screenings around the country, we are pleased to announce that American Prophet is now available on Amazon Prime Video instant streaming for rental and purchase, and will be available on DVD/Blu-Ray June 20th.
We are pleased to continue our community partnership with Kay Lasante Clinic in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, which was co-founded by Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, the House of Grace Philadelphia Catholic Worker House and St. Claire Parish community.
Kay Lasante will receive 100% of proceeds from sales and rentals after Amazon fees, so we encourage friends and supporters to spread the word about the film and to purchase American Prophet to ensure a maximum contribution to the Kay Lasante fund. Rental of the film on Prime for $2.99 HD will provide a $1.50 donation, while a purchase of the film for $9.99 HD will provide a $5 donation to the Clinic. All proceeds after fees will go directly to Kay Lasante.*
Kay Lasante “House of Health” is a Haitian-operated health clinic and community outreach project serving the Petite Place Cazeau/Caradeux area of Port au Prince, Haiti. The Clinic’s mission is to provide health care services with dignity and respect for those who are marginalized and lack access to care with the ultimate goal to provide quality health care services for Haitians by Haitians.
The producers would like to thank our many friends and supporters who have made this movie possible and hope that audiences will continue to enjoy the film, share it with their communities and continue discussions around the film’s themes of social justice, moral leadership, and nonviolence. We hope that American Prophet will inspire people to find out more about Bishop Gumbleton’s life and work, and inspire their own work on behalf of peace.
Thank you for your help to make this incredible journey from script to screen to hearts possible.
Jasmine Rivera
Director, American Prophet
Email from a Viewer
Hi,
I’m enjoying your podcast and I particularly liked your interviews with Mike (EMJ) and Captain Carmody even though the latter was harrowing at times. There is another podcast on the Nick Turse book called “Kill Anything That Moves” that exposed what happened in Vietnam and the farcical My Lai “enquiry” which was using the truth to hide the wider truth and that was similar to the exposure of the “Abu Garib” torture incidents in Iraq. The lads discuss the conflicts of the 20th century using an unbiased and objective approach and, in the case of Yugoslavia, they get some of it wrong but most is accurate. I just thought it might be of interest to you (see youtube link).
I’m reading a book at the moment entitled “The Remnants of War” by John Mueller that was written just after the Iraq and Afghanistan military interventions. Mueller proposes the contention that War between civilized nations is becoming less “popular” to such an extent that it’s becoming an anachronism. Mueller is a former (I think) policy maker who’s at Ohio University, (I think) where he lectures, and his book is preposterous because the glaring contradictions in the book with events back when it was written make his premise completely absurd. However it is useful in gaining an insight into these people’s ideas and thoughts which are fixated on World War 2 mythology. They want to present a picture to the public where Anglo America and the allies are the good guys and the enemy is “Hitler”. In Mueller’s book he wanted to portray Anglo America as part of a global police force helping to manage Governments all over the World to “police” the “thugs and outlaws” who “cause trouble”. I suppose that involves outrageous ideas like having an independent country and “stuff” like that.
My advice is to find out if World War 2, and indeed the previous War and the Spanish intervention etc were necessary. They came nowhere near meeting the conditions for Just War. The World War 2 myth is the most pervasively used lie and I recommend you to explore what really went on. Hitler had sued for peace and Churchill agreed and the decision to go to War wasn’t saving anyone apart from Churchill’s house. David Irving is controversial but he is undoubtedly an excellent historian and he uses genuine documentation and archived records. The myth of World War 2 continues to prevail and that’s deadly for all of us. That’s at the root cause of continued misadventures that have cost lives and disastrous consequences for the entire World. Hope you continue to seek the truth, raise consciousness and make people see that violence is counter productive and destructive for all who engage in it. Good luck with the podcast.
Tim’s podcasts are good too
Thanks
Attachments areaPreview YouTube video Kill Anything that Moves – My Lai and the Vietnam Death Squads (Myth20c – Ep112)Kill Anything that Moves – My Lai and the Vietnam Death Squads (Myth20c – Ep112)Preview YouTube video Nick Mason on the Cost and Consequences of U.S. InterventionismNick Mason on the Cost and Consequences of U.S. Interventionism
Ben Salmon: Educational Video
Peter Jackson’s Masterpiece is Here.
But we’re not talking about the Lord of the Rings! They Shall Not Grow Old is a magnificent, haunting film by Mr. Jackson. Highly recommended for history buffs, movie lovers, audio/video tech enthusiasts, progressives, libertarians, liberals, conservatives, especially Catholic conservatives. In fact, just about everybody should see this movie. It’s rated R (for scenes of war violence and gore) but parents should give serious consideration to watching it with their older children. Part of being a mature adult is to have some grasp of the realities of war portrayed here. This documentary is a powerful antidote to the usual cinematic and cultural glorification of violence that Americans are exposed to everyday.
WW1 has been called “the greatest cataclysm in human history,” leading inexorably to the destruction of Christian civilization. It’s important to know something about it because when we survey the societal wreckage around us, it’s a good starting point for those who want to think about “where things went wrong.” This film is a wonderful technical and humanitarian achievement, but it is limited in that it is strictly about the British experience, it has no discernible political viewpoint and, somewhat strangely, contains practically no references to spiritual values among the millions-strong army of Christians. It’s now out on DVD, but seeing it on the big screen with a large audience is highly recommended, so if you get a chance to do that, jump at it.
Here are excerpts from three thoughtful and provocative reviews/commentaries by Catholic writers.
From “The Veneer of Civilization Slipped Away” by Jeffrey A. Tucker:
“The narrative is genius storytelling, somehow taking this ghastly, complex, ignored series of events with strange beginnings and turning it into a deeply engaging human drama about the mystically evil event we call war which baptizes mass murder and death in the cleansing waters of patriotic fervor.”
From “‘They Shall Not Grow Old’ is a Powerful, Beautiful Picture of the Ugliness of War” by John Zmirak:
“Instead of gray ghosts, the soldiers shine forth luminously as men like you and me. The decades melt away, and we can see ourselves in these men in the trenches…
These British men give us a glimpse of the Christian civilization which existed before the Great War, which that savage strife did so much to hollow out and destroy.”
From “CHRIST or DEATH: The Choice of 1914” by Hilary White:
“The result of this rejection of Christ the King has been a descent into chaos that can now only be answered by the rise of the all-powerful State, backed up by the death-machines.”
Don’t miss this movie and please tell others about it.
The Life and Message of Ben Salmon
Some friends in Denver have put together this video about Ben Salmon. Give it a listen and learn about an American Catholic family man and conscientious objector who lived during World War I.
Hollywood Propaganda Machine
You are being routinely brainwashed. Stop letting your kids watch “patriotic” movies.