Left I on the News

If you liked Winter Soldier and Sir, No Sir, a third entrant in this non-trilogy trilogy, FTA, is a must-see. Like the other two, FTA ("F....ree" the Army) is the story of the antiwar movement in the military during the Vietnam War, and an inspiring story it is.

"FTA" was the name of a troupe of actors and singers, led by Jane Fonda and Donald Sutherland, who put on a show of political skits and songs at venues near military bases in the U.S. and many Pacific Rim countries where U.S. bases were located, like Japan, Okinawa, and the Philippines. The songs and the skits carried a powerful message of resistance to the imperialist war machine, and the support of the thousands of soldiers attending these shows is nothing short of amazing (to today's audience), and inspiring in the extreme.

FTA was released in 1972 and played in theaters for one week before political pressure caused it to be pulled from theaters and never seen again, until now. It was finally released on DVD a month or so ago (and is available on Netflix), so now, for the first time in 37 years, we have a chance to see this remarkable show for ourselves.

The film quality isn't ideal, but the content and message couldn't be clearer. Two thumbs up.

If you're a veteran or service member opposed to the wars and occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan, get involved!