Saturday, September 29, 2007
CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE
Today's film was the documentary
I am not sure that anyone does civil disobedience in this country anymore.
Shit, public figures aren't even allowed to be angry (Howard Dean).
I am not sure that there is such a thing as the 'catholic left' any longer.
In this respect, this documentary is an exercise in nostalgia.
28 people were tried and found not guilty for a draft board invasion which they admitted that they were guilty of!
The FBI had set them up. They managed to put the Viet Nam war on trial.
The jury engaged the act of 'nullification' in which a defendant is basically excused from following the law in the instance on trial.
It is the first time draft record destruction led to acquittal.
It was a big deal.
It IS a big deal today.
We are back where they started.
An eye opener.
For one who was around and active at the time it was a wonderful reunion of the spirit to reminisce with these people 35 years later.
Everyone is there including the FBI guys and the prosecutor.
And the informer who betrayed his friends thinking that they would not be tried.
I don't want to tip it all but it is a matter of public record.
It is a short and well done documentary that pulls the complexities apart and helps us see the action and then the trial unfold.
Very nice.
Very tight.
I will give it a 4 out of Netflix5 for old times' sake.
