Do Americans have any idea of the rich culture of Iran/Persia?? Would our political rhetoric be so militaristic and belligerent if we knew that even within oppressive religious configurations there are still tremendous spaces of liberation, resistance, and contestation?
This film demonstrates the humanity and dignity of people regardless of how impractical social laws may be. In this case, the "Vice Squad" patrols National Soccer Matches to find young girls dressed as men who try to infiltrate the stands in order to watch a sport they truly love.
A wide range of types of men and women are portrayed so realistically, one forgets one is watching a movie.
"Teenage girls pose as boys to see an Iranian soccer game." Starring Sima Mobarakshai, Safar Samandar, Sheyesteh Irani, Mohamad Kheirabadi, Aida Sadeghi, Golnaz Farmani. Directed by Jafar Panahi. From Iran. 2006. 92 mins.
Showing posts with label law. Show all posts
Showing posts with label law. Show all posts
Friday, January 8, 2010
Saturday, December 26, 2009
British Iraq War Inquiry
How is it that a country that was the largest Empire ever known, that still has a MONARCH, consistently puts our "world's oldest democracy" to shame on democratic standards over and over again?
The largest protest in world history, one million people showed up in London BEFORE the Iraq War began. This was the first time in world history that a war was protested BEFORE it actually began. Even in the unpopular Vietnam War, protests did not begin until the war was several years old. Furthermore, right until the end, only a minority of the population actually opposed our involvement in Vietnam at that time.
Legally, the legal right to take the U.K. into war lies soley with the crown. However, as a part of their "Oral Constitution" which means it's not written down and determined by precedence, the Crown then defers this right to the Prime Minister. As a result. NO legislative power determines the right to go to war. This ended up happening in the U.S. as well, despite our Constitution. My congresswoman at the time Barbara Lee was the SINGLE "no" vote on the abdication of congressional legal authority on the matter of war.
The British Ambassador to the U.S. 1997-2003 Christopher Meyer, author of "DC Confidential" was questioned about how the U.K. came to enter the Iraq War.
He points out the incredible hubris of the Bush Administration.
"British Committee of Inquiry into Iraq War"
First broadcast on c-span 11/26/09
The largest protest in world history, one million people showed up in London BEFORE the Iraq War began. This was the first time in world history that a war was protested BEFORE it actually began. Even in the unpopular Vietnam War, protests did not begin until the war was several years old. Furthermore, right until the end, only a minority of the population actually opposed our involvement in Vietnam at that time.
Legally, the legal right to take the U.K. into war lies soley with the crown. However, as a part of their "Oral Constitution" which means it's not written down and determined by precedence, the Crown then defers this right to the Prime Minister. As a result. NO legislative power determines the right to go to war. This ended up happening in the U.S. as well, despite our Constitution. My congresswoman at the time Barbara Lee was the SINGLE "no" vote on the abdication of congressional legal authority on the matter of war.
The British Ambassador to the U.S. 1997-2003 Christopher Meyer, author of "DC Confidential" was questioned about how the U.K. came to enter the Iraq War.
He points out the incredible hubris of the Bush Administration.
"British Committee of Inquiry into Iraq War"
First broadcast on c-span 11/26/09
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