On the eve of the 2006 (s)election: Two reviews of "Eternal Vigilance"

[Fly by night]

Over the past several weeks, there have been a few threads devoted to a phenomenal new documentary from David Earnhardt and crew, "Eternal Vigilance: The Fight to Save Our Election System". The impetus for this documentary was our National Election Reform Conference held in Nashville in April, 2005. The film contains in-depth interviews and speech excerpts from many of the conference speakers, including Bob Fitrakis, Cliff Arnebeck, David Cobb, Mary Beth Kuznik, Jonathon Simon, Lowell Finley, Clint Curtis, Brad Friedman, Bob Koehler and several otehrs. But it goes beyond the conference, going back in time to place our struggle as the logical extension of the 60s battles for civil rights, and going beyond the Orange State to include footage and information from Ohio, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Florida and other areas.

The OpEd News published a detailed review of the film today that I would recommend to everyone. Here is the link to it:

http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_joan_bru_061102_eternal_vigilance_3a_t.htm

But I thought you might also like to hear my more informal review, posted as an email to David this morning:

"I believe that what you folks have done is a masterful job of taking a very complex (and for some people, a very complicated) issue and making it understandable, clear and powerful. No single issue resonates with every voter the same way, just as no single type of election fraud will convince everyone that we have a problem. What you have done, by striking so many chords so clearly and eloquently, is to build a superb case that we have an intentionally broken system that it is up to ALL OF US to fix. In that regard, the comments early on of one of the Ohio activists you interviewed (the thin white woman) were so right-on in her concerns regarding why we have such a screwed-up voting system, unless it is intentional to suppress votes and tamper with those votes that do get recorded. She was so persuasive.

"Last night was the third time to view the film and I must tell you, it gets better with every viewing. Just as I said last night that the people you captured on the screen (Jonathan Simon, Mary Beth Kuznik, Harvey Wasserman, Bob Fitrakis, Victoria Lovegren, Athen Gibbs, Cliff Arnebeck, Bev Harris, Charles Kimbrough, Bob Koehler, Clint Curtis, Richard Hays Phiillips, Brad Friedman,
etc, etc, etc) are our 21st century minutewomen and men, I do believe that this documentary is our century's equivalent of Tom Paine's "Common Sense". You have produced a call to arms, and not a minute too soon. I am sad to say that I am more frightened for the sanctity of our voting system now than I was two years ago, now that we have educated ourselves about just how corrupt our Tennessee "(s)election officials" are. But knowing what we know, and having films like "Eternal Vigilance" to both educate and mobilize millions of other Americans, I do retain some hope that we can overturn the threats that we face now.

"You have made a film that educates, but does so in a visually, musically and oratorially spectacular and entertaining fashion. As dry and frightening as this subject is, you have even provided space for laughter. And, in the most powerful endorsement I could give you, you have made a film that moved one 11 year old (my friend Jonell Mosser's son Kenan) to grieve for his country and for the first of our new-fallen martyrs with fiercely patriotic and innocent tears. You have done well on so many levels, I just wish every American could see this film three (or more) times. If that ever happens, there will be no holding them back, and we will save our democracy, while we still can.

"I won't be there tonight, so the show should "run on time". Thanks for letting me be there two days running. I know that these days I sound and act like a caged animal (take your pick, a donkey, perhaps, or a Tennessee backwoods tomcat). It is because I am shackled in ways that might not be visible but nonetheless are so frustrating, when there is still so much to do and so little time to "get 'er done". So have fun tonight, keep reawakening as many Americans as you can, and give Clint Curtis my very best next week. I'll see all of you soon, clogging (or taking back) the streets. With the deepest respect, (Fly by night -- aka Bernie Ellis)"


So if you have not yet seen the film, go to www.eternalvigilance.us , view the five clips posted there and then order the film and share it far and wide. It really is as powerful as it gets these days, and not a minute too soon. Peace out.

[Kip Humphrey]

1. I ordered 10 copies!

[Fly by night]

2. One kick for the streets (see all y'all there on Wednesday)