Full Disclosure Campaign Update - September 6
To: VFP Chapters and Active At-Large Members
Re: Burns/Novick PBS Series on Vietnam
If you were at VFP's Chicago convention or heard from someone who was, you know that the "Full Disclosure" workshop generated lots of ideas for VFP to have its voice heard in the national discussion that will follow the airing of PBS' "Vietnam" series beginning Sept. 17.
We can't stress how important that will be. As one person said in Chicago, "The PBS series will put a national spotlight on Vietnam and the 50th anniversary events. It'll be our last time to effectively set the record straight. After a 50th anniversary, it'll be all ancient history...we'll be just walking with the dinosaurs after that."
So let's seize the moment, friends and comrades! Time is short, but there are ample opportunities if we don't delay.
RESOURCES
VFP members have been hard at work preparing some really solid material for you to use locally. There's more coming. And we invite you to plug in and add your ideas.
1) The VFP "Full Disclosure" website. One feature not to miss is the timeline/chronology. Another is the most comprehensive critique of the Burns/Novick documentary we've seen so far, written by Thomas A. Bass in the Mekong Review, titled "America's Amnesia."
2) Then there's "Full Disclosure," the newspaper, It's essential. Initially 28 pages, expanded to 32 pages to include another review by Camillo Mac Bica. If you haven't ordered a bundle yet, do so here today. You will need them.
3) PBS affiliates and many libraries have scheduled or soon will schedule various kinds of local programs. If there's not a viewing party or discussion already scheduled where you live, organize one! The PBS p.r. team has encouraged VFP to participate and to let them know if there's any problem doing so. We have a perspective that is terribly important for the public to hear. Millions will be listening. The material is there to help you do it. All that's needed is your participation.
WHAT'S IN THE SERIES?
Bass' review appears to be based on him seeing the whole series, but no one we've talked with has, so it's unclear exactly what will be presented. But we do know this much:
1) PBS has published a thumbnail description of each of the 10 episodes and we've prepared some talking points based on those (see attached file) and
2) As these things go, it's unlikely that American Exceptionalism, American Empire or America's Addiction to War will be highlighted, thus the importance of VFP members taking a leading role in the local discussions.
WHAT'S THE FIRST STEP?
Reach for your phone. Call your local PBS affiliate and your library. Ask them if they have a presentation of some sort planned in conjunction with the documentary. If yes, tell them you want to be part of it. If no, ask them if they'd like to be part of one.
PLEASE NOTE:
Also, sign up to be on the "Full Disclosure" email list if you want to communicate with VFP activists around the country who are working on this.
To join the Vietnam Full Disclosure "google group" you must have a Google login. Once logged onto Google, go to: http://groups.google.com/group/vnfd and submit a request to join the group. Alternatively, send a request to group manager Becky Luening at becky.pdx@gmail.com and she will directly add you to the group. After being subscribed, anyone can post to the group via the email address vnfd@googlegroups.com
Get involved in this rare opportunity to get America talking about what really went down in Viet Nam!
To: VFP Chapters and Active At-Large Members
Re: Burns/Novick PBS Series on Vietnam
If you were at VFP's Chicago convention or heard from someone who was, you know that the "Full Disclosure" workshop generated lots of ideas for VFP to have its voice heard in the national discussion that will follow the airing of PBS' "Vietnam" series beginning Sept. 17.
We can't stress how important that will be. As one person said in Chicago, "The PBS series will put a national spotlight on Vietnam and the 50th anniversary events. It'll be our last time to effectively set the record straight. After a 50th anniversary, it'll be all ancient history...we'll be just walking with the dinosaurs after that."
So let's seize the moment, friends and comrades! Time is short, but there are ample opportunities if we don't delay.
RESOURCES
VFP members have been hard at work preparing some really solid material for you to use locally. There's more coming. And we invite you to plug in and add your ideas.
1) The VFP "Full Disclosure" website. One feature not to miss is the timeline/chronology. Another is the most comprehensive critique of the Burns/Novick documentary we've seen so far, written by Thomas A. Bass in the Mekong Review, titled "America's Amnesia."
2) Then there's "Full Disclosure," the newspaper, It's essential. Initially 28 pages, expanded to 32 pages to include another review by Camillo Mac Bica. If you haven't ordered a bundle yet, do so here today. You will need them.
3) PBS affiliates and many libraries have scheduled or soon will schedule various kinds of local programs. If there's not a viewing party or discussion already scheduled where you live, organize one! The PBS p.r. team has encouraged VFP to participate and to let them know if there's any problem doing so. We have a perspective that is terribly important for the public to hear. Millions will be listening. The material is there to help you do it. All that's needed is your participation.
WHAT'S IN THE SERIES?
Bass' review appears to be based on him seeing the whole series, but no one we've talked with has, so it's unclear exactly what will be presented. But we do know this much:
1) PBS has published a thumbnail description of each of the 10 episodes and we've prepared some talking points based on those (see attached file) and
2) As these things go, it's unlikely that American Exceptionalism, American Empire or America's Addiction to War will be highlighted, thus the importance of VFP members taking a leading role in the local discussions.
WHAT'S THE FIRST STEP?
Reach for your phone. Call your local PBS affiliate and your library. Ask them if they have a presentation of some sort planned in conjunction with the documentary. If yes, tell them you want to be part of it. If no, ask them if they'd like to be part of one.
PLEASE NOTE:
- If the local programmers are NOT welcoming, explain to them that local panels are supposed to be diverse and open. PBS has funded 76 stations with grants to produce local content and PBS officials are expecting local affiliate panels to be welcoming to VFP members.
- Consult the list of PBS affiliates to see what sorts of things are planned around the country (see attached file).
- Nate Goldshlag and Gene Marx are working with chapter contacts and other members to urge their involvement.
- If you are experiencing push-back locally, contact Nate or Gene. They will try to resolve it. If unsuccessful, they'll contact the PBS staff who will take it from there.
- If none of the above works and you're still frozen out, don't be shy about a) talking to the press about it and b) organizing a VFP-sponsored talk/event or even a picket line of the affiliate's office.
Also, sign up to be on the "Full Disclosure" email list if you want to communicate with VFP activists around the country who are working on this.
To join the Vietnam Full Disclosure "google group" you must have a Google login. Once logged onto Google, go to: http://groups.google.com/group/vnfd and submit a request to join the group. Alternatively, send a request to group manager Becky Luening at becky.pdx@gmail.com and she will directly add you to the group. After being subscribed, anyone can post to the group via the email address vnfd@googlegroups.com
Get involved in this rare opportunity to get America talking about what really went down in Viet Nam!
VFP-111 to Hold July Mini-Retreat
Mark your calendars. A chapter gathering, for planning, socializing, and our shared journey into the future will take place on Sunday, July 16, at 2:00 PM. All VFP members, family, and friends are invited.
Where: At Alice’s house, 8181 Birch Terrace Place
About a mile from I-5 exit 270 (Birch Bay Lynden Rd.) This neighborhood is west and north of the exit.
Phone 360-312-8234 for additional information.
Mark your calendars. A chapter gathering, for planning, socializing, and our shared journey into the future will take place on Sunday, July 16, at 2:00 PM. All VFP members, family, and friends are invited.
Where: At Alice’s house, 8181 Birch Terrace Place
About a mile from I-5 exit 270 (Birch Bay Lynden Rd.) This neighborhood is west and north of the exit.
Phone 360-312-8234 for additional information.
