war

Christopher Hedges, whose forthcoming book is "Death of the Liberal Class" (Perseus), is also the best-selling author of "War is a Force That Gives Us Meaning" (2003), which was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction. A quote from the book was used as the opening title quotation in the critically-acclaimed and Academy Award-winning 2009 film, The Hurt Locker.  The quote reads: "The rush of battle is often a potent and lethal addiction, for war is a drug."

This event is co-sponsored by Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace.

Hedges, whose column is published Mondays on Truthdig, spent nearly two decades as a foreign correspondent in Central America, the Middle East, Africa and the Balkans. He has reported from more than 50 countries and has worked for The Christian Science Monitor, National Public Radio, The Dallas Morning News and The New York Times, for which he was a foreign correspondent for 15 years.

Author, anti-war activist, prisoner of conscience and chairman of the board of Iraq Veterans Against the War, Camilo Mejia will speak about his experiences and his book "Road from Ar Ramadi: The Private Rebellion of Staff Sergeant Mejía" at The Sanctuary for Independent Media on Tuesday, October 28, 2008 at 7 PM. Admission is by donation ($10 suggested, $5 student/low income). The Sanctuary for Independent Media is located at 3361 6th Avenue in north Troy (at 101st Street). Call (518) 272-2390, email info@MediaSanctuary.org, or visit www.MediaSanctuary.org for directions and more information.

Tomas Young, 25 years old, was paralyzed by a bullet to his spine after serving in Iraq less than a week. Body of War follows Tomas as he comes to terms with his disability and finds his own unique and passionate voice against the war.