Tomas Young, Phil Donahue, and "Body of War". Thank you, Rachel!

[babylonsister]

Let's not forget what's really happening and why it needs to be stopped.

http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS156110+22-Sep-2008+PRN20080922

Sundance Channel to Premiere Body of War on Veteran's Day Documentary Directed and...
Mon Sep 22, 2008 11:00am EDT

Sundance Channel to Premiere Body of War on Veteran's Day

Portrait of Iraq War Veteran Slated for Veteran's Day Premiere November 11 at
7pm

"Superb Documentary! Unbearably Moving!" - Richard Corliss, Time Magazine

NEW YORK, Sept. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Sundance Channel will recognize Veteran's
Day, November 11, 2008, with the television premiere of the feature
documentary Body of War winner of the National Board of Review award for Best
Documentary. Written, produced and directed by legendary talk show host and
first time director Phil Donahue and Ellen Spiro, the film explores the
experience of Iraq War veteran Tomas Young, whose spine was severed by a
sniper's bullet within a week of arriving in Iraq, leaving him paralyzed for
life at age 25. Body of War also features two original songs written and
performed by Eddie Vedder. The film was in national release earlier this year
handled by the independent distributor, the Film Sales Company.

The film follows Young as he returns home to Missouri, marries in August 2005
and begins the next chapter of his life as an outspoken member of Iraq
Veterans Against the War. Interwoven with scenes of Young's daily reality is
archival footage of the historic debate that unfolded in October 2002, when
President Bush raised the specter of a nuclear Iraq and Congress debated the
joint resolution that granted him authority to invade Iraq.

Director and producer Phil Donahue said, "It's important that people
understand the deep impact of war on our citizens long after the war is over.
Ellen and I are so pleased that Sundance Channel will make the film available
on television to millions of Americans. Tomas Young is one of thousands of
returning veterans forced to adjust to serious changes in their lives in the
wake of this war, and it's critical that their stories get out there."

Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) was founded in 2004 by Iraq War veterans
to give voice to the large number of active duty service people and veterans
who are against this war, but are under various pressures to remain silent.
From its inception, the IVAW has called for immediate withdrawal of all
occupying forces in Iraq; reparations for human and structural damages
suffered by Iraq; and full benefits, health care and other supports for
returning service people. The IVAW membership includes recent veterans and
active duty service people from all military branches, National Guard members,
and reservists who have served in the U.S. military since September 11, 2001.
The organization has members in 48 states, Washington, D.C., Canada and
numerous bases overseas, including Iraq.

[kas125]

1. Tomas update - he is doing SO much better. He will be

released from the rehab center in Chicago at the end of the month and will go back home to KC. The new love of his life will be moving home with him!! Getting to know Tomas and watching the progress he's made physically in the last few months has been amazing and an experience for which I will be forever grateful.

[babylonsister]

2. Thank you so much! I had heard he was invited to Chicago on

Tuesday. Do you know if he made it there?

Proud2blib has been a great fan of Tomas', and has been giving us updates, so I was so glad to see Maddow go there. Proud will be ecstatic!

[kas125]

3. I knew he was supposed to go, and I should have heard about how

it went, but I keep forgetting to ask. I just called someone who was there in his room with him after Rachel's show ended to make sure they'd seen it and I forgot again. I'm pretty sure he did go, but I'll ask tomorrow.

Proud and I have been in touch. We've discovered that we have some mutual friends and that we must have met each other last October because we walked with the same people at the Chicago march. She will be happy to know that Rachel did this!

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. Taped it - thank God - and will watch it ASAP

and I will be in Chicago for the march om the 21st of March. Save me a spot, please! :hug:

[kas125]

8. I'll definitely save a spot for you! I'll probably go to the UFPJ planning

meeting, so I'll let you know what's decided.

[kas125]

4. I should have checked my messages. There was one from

Ellen Spiro and at the end, it does mention that Tomas and Claudia were in Grant Park on Tuesday night -

A Letter from Phil Donahue and Ellen Spiro
Directors of BODY OF WAR with Tomas Young

Nov. 7,2008

Hi Friends,

Phil Donahue will be station-hopping in the coming days to promote the BODY OF WAR DVD release and the Sundance Channel national broadcast on Veteran's Day, Nov. 11th.

Phil is on Rachel Maddow TONIGHT at 9 p.m. EST on MSNBC.

He will be on CNN American Morning at 8 a.m. EST Nov. 10th.
He will be on O'Reilly at 8 p.m. EST Monday, Nov. 10th.


The DVD is HERE now: www.bodyofwar.com


Body of War premiered at the Toronto Film Festival last September 11, to unanimous praise. Richard Corliss of TIME called it "a superb documentary... almost unbearably moving," while THE TODAY SHOW's Mike Celizic said "Body of War... is debuting to reviews that make liberal use of such adjectives as 'powerful,' 'riveting,' 'unforgettable' and 'wrenching.'" The WASHINGTON POST's John Anderson called Body of War "Architecturally sound, emotionally ravaging... a ferocious film."

THE NEW YORK TIMES website described Body of War as a "heart-wrenching and yet deeply affirming story, both a testament to one man's enduring inner strength and a towering condemnation of a localized conflict."

Carina Chocano of the LA TIMES called the film "A powerful indictment of the tactical politics that led to the invasion and a heartbreaking account of one man's living with the aftermath."

Body of War was named "Best Documentary of 2007" by the National Board of Review (previous winners include An Inconvenient Truth and Bowling for Columbine). Tomas Young, the subject of Body of War executive produced and curated a companion album, Body of War: Songs that Inspired an Iraq War Veteran featuring songs from Eddie Vedder, Bruce Springsteen, Roger Waters, Kimya Dawson and many others.

Nov. 11th (Veteran's Day) @ 7PM EST –
National Broadcast of BODY OF WAR on Sundance Channel

Special BODY OF WAR Screening in TORONTO on November 11th, Veterans Day, 7PM EST at the Bloor Cinema – Please visit www.bodyofwartoronto.com for more information and to purchase tickets.

Nov. 15th @ 8:30PM EST—
BODY OF WAR screens @ Museum of Natural History @ Margaret Mead Film Fest

We are in the midst of seismic change in the US and the world and we are ready for a new paradigm that includes peace, not war, as its central ideology. Body of War invites that paradigm by exposing the corrupt political forces that got us into an illegal war, as well as the hope and strength of spirit of Tomas Young, a young paralyzed soldier whose story of resilience has moved audiences to standing ovations across the country.

Body of War is more relevant now than ever.

Body of War will be broadcast nationally on November 11 (Veteran's Day) on the Sundance Channel.

Phil Donahue and Ellen Spiro present Body of War in person at the Museum of Natural History in New York City at the Margaret Mead Film Festival on Nov. 15 at 8:30 p.m. For more info and to purchase tickets, visit:

http://www.amnh.org/programs/mead/2008/films/body-of-war.

To purchase the DVD and get more info, visit www.bodyofwar.com.

The story of Tomas Young is a microcosmic reflection of our country. We, as a country, were led into an immoral war. The entire Body of War team rejoices in our new President-elect Obama's heroism in the face of that very war. Obama was a powerful force for peace during the escalating wars of the Bush years.

President Obama, we hope that you will lead our country and our world to peace.

Tomas Young signed up to go to war for a neatly scripted package of lies and the lies are exposed in Body of War.

Body of War will be given to every member of Congress as a warning sign for the future: Never Again will the American people be led to the brink of destruction by corrupt corporate puppets with no regard for humanity or democracy or true freedom. Body of War is an evergreen, relevant as long as there are bombs on the planet.

The hero of Body of War, Tomas Young, suffered a pulmonary embolism in May which left him in a medical coma. When he emerged from the coma, he had a long road ahead to recovery. His speech was severely compromised as were his arms and hands. It was uncertain if he would regain full brain functionality.

Tomas has been working hard on his recovery at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. He has physical therapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy 5 days a week. His mental capacities are in top form. His brilliance, humor and sensitivity are all there. His speech and arm/hand movement are still compromised but he has come a long way, and in time, Tomas is confident he will recover fully. Best of all, Tomas is very happy.

When Eddie Vedder played Chicago, Tomas spent his first evening out of the rehab hospital. Vedder spent 20 minutes talking privately with Tomas before the show. Midway through the show, Tomas rolled onto the stage as Vedder played NO MORE, the original song written for Body of War. The audience rose to its feet as soon as Tomas was introduced. The audience stood in reverence during the song, then applauded wildly afterwards. The Chicago Tribune called Vedder's No More and Tomas' appearance the highlight of the show. Tomas came alive in a way that night and has only gotten more energized since. He has been immersing himself in physical therapy, election coverage, movies, books and music.

Tomas has a girlfriend. He and Claudia have been going to see movies, concerts and, just recently, Tomas and Claudia attended the Obama victory party in Grant Park as VIP guests. It is an amazing punctuation mark on a journey that started when Bush sent Tomas to Iraq to get paralyzed for non-existent weapons of mass destruction. Whatever clouds have followed Tomas Young, a silver lining has been emerging lately. And that alone is reason to celebrate.

Tomas said being there with Obama on the night of his victory "was amazing, just the simple fact that he was there accepting the presidency. This is reality now, it is not just dream." Tomas had been an active supporter of Obama the day he launched his campaign for the nomination.

Tomas will be discharged on November 25 to return to Kansas City to resume physical therapy at the Rehabilitation Institute of Kansas City.


Yes We Can (Stop this War),

Ellen Spiro and Phil Donahue
Directors/Producers, Body of War


Stay tuned for more Body of War events! Please visit us at www.bodyofwar.com and join us on Facebook and MySpace.

You can also follow Body of War at Ellen's Huffington Post Blog:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ellen-spiro

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. And we are so ready to welcome him home!!

Thank you Chicago for taking such good care of our Tomas. :grouphug:

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. AWESOME!!

I bought the DVD as well. :)

[Fuzz]

9. Got it on my Tivo.

[crickets]

10. Thanks for the heads-up. -nt