Democracy for Vancouver

In 1992 I heard Dick Cheney, then Secretary of Defense, say that the US had been wise not to invade Baghdad and get bogged down in the problems of trying to take over and govern Iraq. The question in my mind is: How many additional American casualties is Saddam worth? And the answer is: Not very damned many.

On March 16, 2003 I heard the Vice President say that the war would be over in weeks rather than months. It was just a matter of time before Starbucks and McDonalds opened branches in Baghdad.

Who said what, and when? What did it mean then, and what does it mean now? How did things change along the way, to get us to where we are now? What is the real story of the war in Iraq?

Simon Levy’s critically-acclaimed play, What I Heard About Iraq, offers more than just dates, times and rhetoric in response to those questions. Through direct quotes from politicians, military chiefs, soldiers, and Iraqi citizens, Levy tells the human story behind the war and invites us to consider the facts, explore the meanings, and join the dialogue.

Due to the tremendous response to the Portland production of the world-wide reading of the play on the anniversary of the invasion, Readers Theatre Repertory will be repeating “What I Heard About Iraq” on Friday, June 8, 8PM at the First Unitarian Church, 1211 SW Main St., Portland.(map)

Following the show, audience members are invited to join with a panel of community leaders for “What You Can Do About What You Heard,” a moderated discussion of potential political, humanitarian, ecological and religious responses to the war in Iraq. Admission is $5-$20, with no one turned away. Proceeds from the show will support efforts to bring the play into high schools in the fall of 2007.

Learn more, buy tickets, spread the word: http://www.whatiheard.org

From Vancouver for Peace.