Most Americans have never heard of Section 60, let alone visited it. But tonight, thanks to filmmakers Jon Alpert and Matt O’Neill, you can get a glimpse of the area in Arlington National Cemetery where the men and women who have died fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq are buried. Section 60: Arlington National Cemetery is the third of a trilogy of collaborations between the filmmakers and HBO that capture the costs of the current wars. Section 60, in fact, picks up where Baghdad ER left off. The tragic death from shrapnel wounds of 21-year-old Lance Cpl. Robert T. Mininger comes at the unforgettable end of Baghdad ER. Their latest documentary opens with a mother visiting the grave of her son “Bobby.” Unlike like the action-packed Baghdad ER or the stylized Alive Day Memories: Home from Iraq, Section 60 offers an almost unmediated view into the lives of the men and women, mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, husbands and wives, who, week after week, day after day, find solace, community, and a place to grieve visiting their lost loved ones in Section 60.

The Emmy Award-winning directors are based in NY out of DCTV. Yesterday they were in Washington D.C. to attend a special TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors) screening of their film at the Navy Memorial. I caught up with Alpert and O’Neill over the phone as they got ready for the screening and talked to me about why Section 60 matters now, how making this film affected them in a way no other documentary has, and what it’s like feeling “trapped in Section 60.”

Check out Section 60 tonight, Monday October 13, on HBO at 9PM If you can’t watch the premiere, see the additional screening times.

Katie Halper: Why should Americans care about Section 60 and your film?

Matt O’Neill: The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have become the background noise in this presidential election. No one is paying attention right now in the mainstream media to the costs that the military and their families are paying day in and day out, whether it’s the 5,000 lives lost or the hundreds of thousands who have spent years away from their friends and families. That’s why we’re proud to be working with HBO and Sheila Nevins to make this film. They’ve consistently brought attention to these issues when the rest of the media is ignoring them. And it’s an important time right now in the context of the presidential elections. Americans need to be paying attention to the two wars that we’re fighting overseas right now and the hundreds of thousands of men women who are serving the county over there. No matter what you think politically, it’s essential that when you walk into the voting booth on November 4th, you remember that the person you’re voting for, whether it’s a congressional or the presidential election, will be deciding whether or not to send men and women to fight wars. We want the film to be watched by tens of millions of people because that’s the type of attention we want to bring to Section 60. And we told the families, “Let us into your world because we want people to pay attention to it.” We think Section 60 deserves it.

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Republicans are shocked and appalled that a racist pin which reads “If Obama is President…Will we still call it the White House?” was sold at the Texas Republican Party convention. To show their commitment to combating racism, the GOP is donating the money raised by the vendor to help flood victims in the Midwest. They also stipulated that under no circumstances could any of the money go to Katrina victims who are still without homes, neighbors, trailers or security. The difference, of course, as Rush Limbaugh explains, is that the people of Iowa and Illinois are “the heartland…and the backbone of America,” while people of the gulf coast, are the infected appendix of the U.S., and “a bunch of people running around waving guns at helicopters…shooting cops….raping people on the street…whining and moaning–where’s FEMA, where’s BUSH.”

Debra Winger, the actress best known for her performances in Terms of Endearment and Urban Cowbow, can add another profession to her resume– writer. Winger has just released her first book entitled Undiscovered. Winger shares her thoughts on acting, explaining “I love the work, and don’t much care for the business.” Winger also discusses the double standards faced by men and women in Hollywood:

Age is an issue in society as well as in the movies. If a man has an affair with a woman 20 years his junior, then most people see him as virile. But if a woman has an affair with someone 20 years her junior, most people look askance. Movies are a reflection of our society. I’ve come to a point where I’m interested in the freedom that comes when your sexuality and yourself are one. When you are younger, you tend to be posturing in your sexuality. And when you’re older, you tend to be at one with your sexuality.

Now Winger is not only a writer and actress, but an activist who has worked with the ACLU and is part of the ACLU’s Rights Camera Action campaign. The website explains Read the rest of this entry >>

James Byrd Jr., a black man, was a 49 when three white men beat him, chained him by the ankles to the bumper of a pickup truck, and dragged down three-miles of country road in Jasper Texas. Byrd’s head, limbs, dentures and wallet were found along the road where Byrd was tortured, dismembered and killed. That was 10 years ago. Today, this unspeakable episode of racism and hatred continues to haunt the town of Jasper. And yet, out of this “modern day lynching” reconciliation and healing has occurred, thanks to the Byrd family. Days after his son was killed, then 73-year-old James Byrd Sr. announced “We may be hurting, but we’re not hating.” To prove that they were choosing healing over hating, the family created the James Byrd Jr. Foundation for Racial Healing, which conducts diversity workshops, awards scholarships to students of color and helped pass a hate crime bill in Texas. The foundation also runs an oral history project which has collected over 2,600 people’s experiences of racism. Read the rest of this entry >>

The Obama pound, exchanged between Michelle and Barack on Tuesday night marked a historic moment. Yeah, there’s that whole first black nominee for president thing. But perhaps as exciting, is the fact that the pound is finally being introduced to mainstream culture. I hope people not familiar with the pound will now realize that when the New York Times’ Ashley Parker wrote about Reggie Love “offering closed-fist high-fives to members of the news media….” she was not describing a painful caveman greeting, but the pound. But I think the Times owes Reggie a correction.

I can’t find an official history or definition of the pound, but here is what I found on Ubrandictionary.com

1. pound: a greeting between two mutual friends. In reality, a fist from one person is “pounded” against the fist of the other person, accompanied by both persons saying “pound.”
2. Pound: The knocking of fists as a form of greeting, departure, or respect
   see daps
3. Dap: The knocking of fists together as a greeting, or form of respect. He gave me a dap when we greeted.
4. dap: a fist-on-fist greeting, front-to-front as if each person is punching each other on the hand. He gave me a dap when we greeted
5. dap: The Dap includes simple to very intricate series of rhythmic hand slaps, clasps, hand and arm gestures exchanged between two persons as a sign of personal greeting, respect and group solidarity. Read the rest of this entry >>
   

For Brigitte Bardot, the whole getting fined for making anti-Muslim remarks is soooo pasee. Been there, done that.   Her repeat offender behavior has led the prosecutor to say, “I’m a bit tired of trying Madame Bardot.”

The former actress and model was famous for her sex symbol status and roles in films like “And God Created Woman” by Roger Vadim in 1956 and “Contempt” by Jean-Luc Godard in 1963. But it’s no longer her sex appeal or her films that gets the 73 into the headlines and into the blog posts of  Gina Telaroli. Bardot has been a long-time a champion of animal rights, which she takes so seriously, she had a neighbor’s donkey castrated because he was sexually harassing her mare. But Bardot is not as fond of the Muslims as she is critters, and today was sentenced, for the FIFTH time, under a French law against for inciting hatred and discrimination on racial or religious or racial grounds. The equivalent of $23,325, this was the heaviest fine so far. So here are the five racism-inciting statements Bardot has made and paid for– literally– since 1997

1. “…my country, France, my homeland, my land is again invaded by an overpopulation of foreigners, especially Muslims.” - published in 1997 Open Letter to My Lost France Le Figaro.

2. “I am against the Islamisation of France. For centuries our forefathers…our fathers gave their lives to chase all successive invaders from France,” her book, A Cry in the Silence, 2003.

3. “Our lovely, kind street-walkers have been replaced by girls from the east, Nigerians, travellers, transsexuals, drag-queens, bearers of Aids and other friendly gifts… Not even French prostitutes are what they used to be.” A Cry in the Silence, 2003. Read the rest of this entry >>

Ted Kennedy’s surgery this morning lasted 3 1/2 hours and left the Senator feeling “like a million bucks,” he told his wife. Dr Allen Friedman, chief of neurosurgery, performed brain surgery on Kennedy at the Duke University Medical Center. Kennedy is fighting his cancer with the same strength and conviction with which he fights his political battles. In fact, this fighting spirit seems to run in the family; Kennedy’s daughter Kara, was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2003, and told the tumor was inoperable by doctors at Johns Hopkins University. But she was operated on anyway. In light of Kennedy’s continued optimism and refusal to stop fighting for what he believes, it is fitting that the motto of the Medical Center is “There is Hope.” In a statement released from his office, the longest serving senator announced his plans to undergo surgery, follow up with radiation and chemotherapy, and keep fighting for what he believes:

I am deeply grateful to the people of Massachusetts and to my friends, colleagues and so many others across the country and around the world who have expressed their support and good wishes as I tackle this new and unexpected health challenge. I am humbled by the outpouring and am strengthened by your prayers and kindness... After completing treatment, I look forward to returning to the United States Senate and to doing everything I can to help elect Barack Obama as our next president. Read the rest of this entry >>

Rachel Ray has been outed by Michelle Malkin as the Jihadi I had always suspected she was. But now, thanks to Malkinian journalism, we have the proof: an incriminating Dunkin Donuts ad in which Ray dons a Keffiyeh, a traditional head scarf worn by Arab men.

We still have to be vigilant. Who knows what cell Ray is really with. Since the Keffiyeh is worn in several countries, Ray could be worse than just a Yasser Arafat fan. She could be a Bedouin sympathizer, a Somali apologist, or even a die hard Laurence of Arabia fan, whether man or movie?. In fact, couldn’t the Keffiyeh be Ray’s red herring? Could Ray be hiding Osama Bin Laden. If not, how do we explain this terrorist gesture which was first popularized by Osama Bin Laden?

Dunkin’ Donuts tried to play on Americans’ natural freedom-loving and paisley-loving sensibility by insisting that the scarf was “a black-and-white silk scarf with a paisley design.” But Michelle Malkin saw through that silk facade and exposed the truth about Ray’s scarf: it’s cotton. And it’s an accessory of mass destruction. Malkin explained the air tight slam dunk intelligence which proved Rachel Ray’s Arab/Muslim/Palestinian/terrorist affiliations: Read the rest of this entry >>

Obama’s presence at Wesleyan University was bitter-sweet. As I blogged before, I was lucky enough to have my 5 year Wesleyan University Reunion on the same weekend that Obama was the Commencement speaker. Although we were all excited to have a potential future president address our school, we were saddened by the circumstances that brought him to Wes: Ted Kennedy had been slated to deliver the speech, and asked Obama to speak in his stead. Kennedy’s connection with Wesleyan is strong: Kennedy’s ties to Wesleyan include his son, Edward Jr. ‘83, who will be celebrating his 25th reunion this year, and step-daughter Caroline Raclin ‘08, who will be receiving her bachelor of arts degree at the ceremonies. Kennedy himself received an honorary doctorate from Wesleyan in 1984. Obama was humbled by Kennedy’s request, saying

I have the distinct honor today of pinch-hitting for one of my personal heroes and a hero to this country, Senator Edward Kennedy. Teddy wanted to be here very much, but as you know, he’s had a very long week and is taking some much-needed rest. He called me up a few days ago and I said that I’d be happy to be his stand-in, even if there was no way I could fill his shoes.

We were lucky enough to hear the words of both Obama and Kennedy. Obama explained that though he couldn’t feel Kennedy’s shoes

I did, however, get the chance to glance at the speech he planned on delivering today, and I’d like to start by passing along a message from him: “To all those praying for my return to good health, I offer my heartfelt thanks. And to any who’d rather have a different result, I say, don’t get your hopes up just yet!”So we know that Ted Kennedy’s legendary sense of humor is as strong as ever, and I have no doubt that his equally legendary fighting spirit will carry him through this latest challenge. He is our friend, he is our champion, and we hope and pray for his return to good health. Read the rest of this entry >>

Steven Colbert took on homophobia and intolerance during an interview with Tony Perkins the founder of the Family Research Council and a vocal opponent of gay civil unions and gay marriage. Colbert challenged Tony Perkins‘ use of religion to attack homosexuality by asking Perkins where in the bible Jesus talked about gay people. When Perkins mentioned a reference in the gospel according to Paul, Colbert responded that Paul also encourages adult circumcision. He also asked Perkins if he kept Kosher (as mandated by the Old Testament). Colbert was, of course, doing this under the guise of satire. Steven Colbert’s character was asking Perkins these difficult questions because he wanted to know how to win arguments on gay marriage. But the real Steven Colbert was asking these difficult questions to challenge Perkins: if you claim to ground yourself in a literal and narrow reading of the bible, then by all means do so, but be consistent. Just make sure you tack on adult circumcision and keeping kosher to your platform.

But Colbert is not merely a satirist taking on homophobia. He is a practicing Catholic and Sunday school teacher! Read the rest of this entry >>