The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #54460   Message #843146
Posted By: GUEST
07-Dec-02 - 02:38 PM
Thread Name: Obit: Philip Berrigan-Anti-war activist (Dec 2002)
Subject: RE: Obit: Philip Berrigan - Anti-war activist
I agree that the best memorial one can give to someone like Philip Berrigan is to channel one's grief and mourning into organizing resistance to the anti-democratic ways the so-called "war on terrorism" is being waged, and to prevent the US going to war against Iraq.

The no nukes movement wouldn't have been the same without Philip Berrigan, so it is quite ironic that he die at the very time that the damning results of the US' nuclear proliferation is so dangerously coming home to roost. Not even the 9/11 attacks and the war against Iraq, supposedly over "weapons of mass destruction" (while ignoring India, Pakistan & North Koreas nuclear capabilities) has worked to focus the US government's attention on the inevitable political fallout (excuse the pun) of it's nuclear weapons programs.

There was a film made, in which Philip and Daniel both appear as themselves (and Martin Sheen plays the judge) called "In the King of Prussia" about the Plowshares Eight trial. I first met them around that time, and was absolutely astounded at how short Martin Sheen actually was!

From the Internet Movie Database website gives the following synopsis of the film (and suggests you also watch "The Day the Earth Stood Still" in their "If you like this title, we also recommend..."!):

In September 1980, the Plowshares Eight broke into a General Electric weapons plant in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, and in an act of protest against nuclear proliferation, poured vials of their own blood onto secret missle plans, burned other files, and damaged nosecones intended for nuclear missles. The direct-to-video production is intercut with clips from actual news coverage of the trial. The Plowshares Eight portray themselves in the production, and after taping was complete, reported to court for their imprisonment.