There is no "right", is there?...

LETTER FROM THE ROAD, 30
TO A SOLDIER IN IRAQ
MARCH 19, 2005

"Last fall my nephew Isaiah was sent into combat in Iraq. He is there now. A tall and gentle young man in the reserves, he has been accompanying Iraqi foot patrols in Fallujah and Mosul. A couple of weeks ago a mortar round blew a hole in his foot. He is recuperating at a base camp and soon will return to combat duty.

He and I are the only members of our family who have been to Iraq - me with a peace team and he with a war one. (To read Rabia and my letters from Iraq during the build-up to the war, visit www.boulderinstitute.org)

I feel close to Isaiah because of this shared destiny, though we are worlds apart. His letters are full of striking descriptions like this:

"We passed small shops with their metal shutters locked down, the shutters buckled and scorched with gaping holes of every size rent through them. The truck skittered and jumped around the ragged holes torn by mortars in the pavement. Buildings with black soot marks streaking up from windows where fires had burned uncontrolled, walls that looked like the surface of the moon pockmarked from countless bullets."

I would like to write Isaiah a letter, but I can't. I don't want to undermine his belief that he is doing some good over there - a belief that helps to keep him sane. But if I could write him, I would write something like this:

Dear Nephew,

I called your mother today to congratulate her on becoming a grandmother. So now you are an uncle! Your little niece stares up from her cradle somewhere far from where you stare up from your cot, your foot in its air bandage. I remember once you were just like her, the smell of angel all over you. Now you rest in Camp Cuervo, and the smell of war is all over you. Isaiah, what have your baby's eyes seen? What has this world done to you? To all of us?

As I write it is the second anniversary of the American invasion of Iraq. Two years and two weeks ago Rabia and I left Baghdad, pulling out before the bombs dropped. I remember vividly the faces of our Iraqi friends as we said goodbye. Perhaps you have seen some of them.

I remember when I asked our friend Ahmed in Baghdad what would happen if the Americans invaded, he answered, "Look, if Americans or anyone comes to Iraq as friends, we will be friends. But if they come with guns, then Iraqis will fight them."

Isaiah, why are you in Iraq? Do you know? I can't believe it's for the reasons the politicians talk about. Your mother tells me you have the nature of a warrior - not the Rambo type but the kind of man who feels most real when he can be of help to others in an extreme and dangerous situation. The smell of cordite and the whiz of bullets, the intense awareness, as you wrote about in your first combat: "My nervous energy was almost palpable, neither scared nor excited, simply very aware."

What is this awareness that is so charged for you? Is it the nearness of death that amps your feeling of being alive? Is it the opportunity to prove your worth? Feeling so alive because you did something brave to help somebody?

You have an identity now-is that what you wanted? When you get home people will know you're a combat vet. Nobody will mess with you. And privately we'll worry that what you have witnessed and done over there is brooding inside you, saddening your gaze.

I imagine you think I judge you negatively for being an American soldier in Iraq. I don't. Actually I think America, and the world, owes you an apology. We owe an apology to you and all the young men and women fighting there against each other, on both sides of the conflict. We failed you.

Twenty or thirty years ago each of you, soldiers and insurgents alike, were as trusting and angelic as your sister's baby. Now you hunt each other down in dusty alleys. And twenty years from now, will your little niece follow in your footsteps, her eyes like yours "scanning for danger" across the rooftops?

It doesn't need to be this way. It doesn't need to continue. The better world you want to create is crying out to be created everywhere you turn, but not down the muzzle of an M-16. Like the father, who himself was beaten as a child, lifting his hand against his own son and then stopping, we must stop trying to change the behavior of the world through violence.

Yes, there are some circumstances when violence is the only course to stave off more violence, but those circumstances are already evidence of our failure to act soon enough and in a more enlightened way. I am certain that the community of nations could have either neutralized Saddam or gotten rid of him without having to devastate generations of men and women on both sides of this conflict.

I have been traveling in the Middle East and around the world for many years and have witnessed first-hand the decline of America's reputation following the invasion of Iraq. Yes Arabs still offer us as individuals their hospitality, but they are deeply hurt and angered by our country's policies and never waste an opportunity to tell us.

Imagine if we were spending the present war budget of four billion dollars per month on projects that would heal rather than destroy. Imagine the good will that would generate-like the aid we gave Muslim nations after the tsunami. Imagine if our government had given scholarships to five Iraqis to come to your furniture workshop back home in Massachusetts and learn from you your skills and your gentle way of relating and your love of the salt air blowing in from the sound?

There is a great work waiting for you, Isaiah, a conquest more challenging than all the wars that have ever been fought. A world is waiting to be built, one that truly cares for the children. This is a work that will take centuries and the sacrifices and creativity of countless Isaiahs.

If you want to build character and a brave identity, here's one for you: be a peacemaker. If you want to feel exquisitely alive, here's a way: hold your baby niece in your arms. Or, in an alternate reality, hold in your arms the baby daughter of one of those Iraqi men who is out there waiting to kill you, only in this alternate reality he is standing next to you smiling at his new friend.

And if you want danger, there's plenty of it. Join a peace team in Sri Lanka or Columbia or the Philippines that provides nonviolent protective accompaniment to people whose lives have been threatened. Monitor a cease-fire in Palestine. Bring supplies to earthquake victims. Be a firefighter. Teach at-risk kids in the inner city.

Take care of yourself, Danny. Don't kill anyone if you can help it. And if you have to kill, ask the Universe for forgiveness. It's a hard thing to carry. Being in a war doesn't necessarily build character, in fact it can easily destroy it. I've heard some of the stories of Iraq War vets once they've come back-a lot of these kids are broken by what they've done or seen others do. You went over there to find your manhood-don't lose it now. You're a kind and brave man. Come back to us whole. We need you."

ELIAS AMIDON

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Well worth checking into! However, make sure you own a microphone, before signing up! It may seem obvious, but I have loving parents in Europe who almost threw their computer out the window when they downloaded the software, signed up, and then called me - only to hear my crystal-clear voice repeatedly advising them that I couldn't hear them!

Queen of Venice happenings

Tue, March 8 6:30pm Free
"HOT SET" ~ ART EXHIBITION & CONVERSATION W/ GEORGE HERMS A conversation between Beat generation artist & poet George Herms and legendary curator Walter Hopps, moderated by writer Anne Doran.
Santa Monica Museum of Art, Bergamot Station

* * * * *
Wed, March 9 7pm Free
DAVID BYRNE: "I HEART POWERPOINT" ~ PRESENTATION The former Talking Heads singer uses Microsoft’s presentation software as the medium for original visual art accompanied by electronic music.
Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd, Westwood


* * * * *
Thu, March 10 7:30pm Free
RED YIDDISH MONTHLY CULTURE SALON
Featuring a talk by scholar Adam Rubin on the relationship between language & progressive & radical political traditions.
Yiddish Culture Club, 8339 W Third Street

* * * * *
Sat, March 12 11am-1pm Free
DOG SHOW IN WE-HO
Owners & pets compete for Best Tricks, Cutest Dog, Best Dressed, & Look-Alike Pets.
(Now registering pets.)
West Hollywood Park, 647 N San Vicente Blvd
(323) 848-6534


* * * * *
Sat, March 12 2pm Free w/ Admission
"GREENE & GREENE: THE ART OF ARCHITECTURE" ~ SCREENING Paul Bockhorst's documentary looks at the Arts and Crafts Movement in America when Charles and Henry Greene took an intensely artistic approach to the design of houses and interiors.
LA County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Blvd


* * * * *
Sun, March 13 12noon-5pm Free
31st ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF THE KITE
Featuring the launch of a 25' kite, live music, taiko drummers, yo-yo contests, Tae Kwon Do demonstrations & more.
Redondo Beach Pier


* * * * *
Sun, March 13 12noon-6pm $69.50
“THEME PARK TOUR” OF DOWNTOWN L.A.
Tour guide Charles Phoenix says, "Rediscover Downtown... it's just like Disneyland!" Tour includes transportation, snacks, dessert, souvenirs and no-host lunch at Clifton's Brookdale Cafeteria.
Meet at Union Station, 800 N. Alameda St. Check-in begins at 11:40am.


* * * * *
Tue, March 15 7pm Free
VENICE HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEETING
Historian Ralph Cantos presents a slide lecture on the famous Pacific Electric rail cars which used to provide transportation all over Los Angeles County.
Abbot Kinney Memorial Branch Library, 501 S Venice Blvd, Venice
(310) 821-1769


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Wed, March 16 8pm Free
LENNY BRUCE MOVIES @ 7 DUDLEY CINEMA
Screening of Bob Fosse's "Lenny" starring Dustin Hoffman & rare Lenny Bruce clips & Terence Healy's intriguing animation "Andy."
Sponto Gallery, 7 Dudley Ave, Venice


* * * * *
Fri-Sun, March 18-20
THE OTHER VENICE FILM FESTIVAL
"Over 40 Filmmakers, 2 Screens and a Party Every Night" are featured at this local film fest founded by Reuben "Ruby" De La Casas, Gary Ellenberg and AJ Peralta.
The Electric Lodge & Switch Studios, Venice

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Sat, March 19 @ Westwood Federal Building & Sun, March 20 @ Santa Monica Beach "EYES WIDE OPEN" ~ COMMEMORATIVE EXHIBITION The American Friends Service Committee’s exhibition on the human cost of the Iraq war features a pair of boots honoring each U.S. military casualty, a field of shoes and a Wall of Remembrance to memorialize the Iraqis killed in the conflict.


* * * * *
Sat, March 19 6-9pm Free
"FEAR DUST: FALLOUT OF THE INVASION" ~ GROUP ART SHOW Presented in observance of the second anniversary of the war in Iraq.
(Through April 16.)
Track 16 Gallery @ Bergamot Station


* * * * *
Sun, March 20 1pm-?
SPRING ART AUCTION
An excellent opportunity to purchase contemporary art and photography in an auction setting and often far below regular gallery prices.
Santa Monica Auctions at Bergamot Station

Fri-Sat, March 25-26 8:30pm $15
“FANCY” ~ VLADIMIR LEVITANSKY PERFORMANCE “One clowns journey into the absurd; inspired by Marceau, Clouseau and Cousteau.”
Highways Performance Space, 1651 18th St, Santa Monica

* * * * *
Sat, March 26 2-5pm Free
"BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS"
El Pueblo Historic Monument, Olvera Street, 845 N. Alameda St., Downtown A celebration of all that the animal world provides humanity; with a procession of pets, domestic and exotic animals, entertainment, displays & exhibits.

Shared with you in memory of rancher, artist, architect, patriarch, party host extraordinaire and enthusiastic lover of life, Col. Jirayr H. Zorthian (1911-2004), an annual participant in this event.



* * * * *
Save-the-Date(s)

Sun, April 10
CODEPINK FUNDRAISING EVENT
Enjoy music, art, desserts and teas and send-off celebration for delegation traveling to Iran.
Warszawa Restaurant, Santa Monica
Stay tuned for more details at:


* * * * *
Summer 2005
VENICE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
Abbot Kinney's "Venice of America" turns 100 and is commemorated with numerous neighborhood events. The festival kicks off Saturday, June 25th with CARNEVALE VENICE BEACH followed by the VENICE 100 AFTER-PARTY. If you'd like to volunteer to help with the party, please contact Regan Kibbee at regan@qofv.com

...I heard it in the news today...

MARTHA'S PRISON REPORTS 12-MONTH WAITING LIST
Beats Out Harvard Business School as Top CEO Destination

Domestic diva Martha Stewart, who saw the value of her stock soar since she began serving a five-month sentence at Alderson Federal Prison, has apparently now worked her magic on Alderson itself, which today reported a twelve-month waiting list of CEOs eager to do time there.
"Our phone has been ringing off the hook, and a lot of these CEO's haven't even committed a crime yet," said Alderson spokesperson Lucinda Colwin. "I'm like, rob a liquor store and then we'll talk."

Randall Trestman of the University of Minnesota's Graduate School of Business said that Ms. Stewart's stunning comeback has turned Alderson into "the place to be" for America's top corporate leaders.

"What Harvard Business School was in the eighties and the Internet sector was in the nineties, Alderson is today," he said.

CEOs whose companies' stock have sagged in recent months may face increasing pressure from shareholders to commit crimes in order to snag a precious one-way ticket to Alderson, Mr. Trestman said.

"Becoming a convicted felon is no longer a stigma for CEOs," he said. "It's their fiduciary responsibility."

Across the country, crimes involving CEOs, from accounting fraud to car theft, have surged over nine thousand percent in the past two months - a trend that does not surprise Mr. Trestman.

"If, instead of buying Compaq Computer, [former HP CEO] Carly Fiorina had stolen a Compaq computer from a Circuit City store, she might still have her job today," he added.

Elsewhere, after circling the globe without being able to eat, sleep or move, millionaire Steve Fossett said now he knows how it feels to fly coach.

(c/o Henry Sargent)

So much for economic rebound

Trash day today...

I'm working from home, and happened to look out my front window just as I saw a reasonably well-dressed gentleman dive headfirst into my large recycling bin. I watched him come up for air, cans and bottles in hand, and observed him then move on to the next bin on the street, to retrieve whatever bottles and cans my neighbours might have discarded. After I watched him do this to a couple more bins, I decided I didn't want my street becoming known as dumspter-diver heaven, so I wandered out and politely asked the man to refrain from pursuing his goals on our street. He was very cordial, well-spoken, and apologetic, but also proud. He explained that he was unemployed, and needed to buy his mother a birthday card. My initial sense that this was a decidedly weak-ass explanation was balanced by his clean-cut appearance, and the fact that the car in which he was storing his trophies was a late-model sedan. This was either truly a man down on his luck, doing the best he could; or a wily entrepreneur who knows of a bottle bank somewhere in the SF Valley that pays more than 5 cents per...

Either way, I take it as ominous that we are now seeing well-dressed dumpster divers in upper middle class neighborhoods, collecting the detritus of their peers, with impunity. Makes me long for Sweden...