went and saw the documentary film done by michael franti, i know i'm not alone, last night. franti is a musician/poet/peace activist who had been frustrated by the lack of coverage of the human side of the war. as he said in the film, he was tired of hearing about it from politicians and generals and went to iraq to see firsthand the effects the war and occupation is having on the people. after a week in iraq, he also went to israel and visited with palestinians in the occupied territories. franti has said that he didn't intend to do a film, but that after sharing so many heartrending and uplifting stories with the iraqis and the palestinians, he felt compelled.

i'm never quite sure what to do with documentarys. they are usually done to share a particular point of view and are rarely balanced in their presentation. i guess my cynical nature always discounts some of what is portrayed. i wasn't totally struck that way with this film. there is no doubt that there was an anti-war, anti-occupation view being portrayed, but i didn't get the sense that there was a side being demonized either. basically, war is not good, peace is. i find little to argue or disagree with there.

Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God. (Mt. 5:9)

Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. (James 3:18)

franti and his band spearhead are coming to workplay for a concert on march 7th. i may go as i really enjoyed the music and the message carried by the songs.