I cannot live this way

"Fall out, fall out with the rest of your brothers
with the rest of your sisters,
the heroes on the line...
and carry out what your leader says for what his leader says
is that his leader says, this is right for the people...
Smoke and explosions surround me
A flood of hate it drowns me,
I cannot live this way, no I cannot live with this
Doubt and confusion they find me
They run up right behind me...
I cannot die this way, no I will not die this way."
(excerpted from Brendan James' "Hero's Song", BODY OF WAR soundtrack)

I heard the song first. I was driving by myself, and it brought tears to my eyes and shivers to my spine. Then I saw the movie.

the official description of it goes something like this:

"Body of War is an intimate and transformational feature documentary about the
true face of war today. Meet Tomas Young, 25 years old, paralyzed from a bullet to his spine - wounded after serving in Iraq for less than a week. Body of War is Tomas' coming home story as he evolves into a new person, coming to terms
with his disability and finding his own unique and passionate voice against
the war. It unfolds on two parallel tracks. We see Tomas evolving into a powerful
voice against the war as he struggles to deal with the complexities of a paralyzed body. And we see the debate unfolding in the Congress about going to
war in Iraq, and hear one man (Senator Robert Byrd, D-WV) stand against the others in defending the constitution in the face of rampant scare tactics and
bullying."

My description of it is a little less eloquent, but goes more like this:
This film is amazing, life changing and complex. Tomas is funny, and I laughed with him. He is also tragic and forgotten and symbolic, and I cried for him. It reminded me of so many things I already knew: that we're all just people sharing
one country; that that country is great but has been lost; that if we don't pay
attention and stand up for something, we will -- as my mother always said-- fall
for anything; and that i've been so afraid that my voice will be unheard that I stopped speaking.

Producer Phil Donahue was on hand to answer questions but mostly to tell us to GET PEOPLE TO GO SEE THIS FILM. No one will distribute it or put their label on it-- the
only way it will succeed is if you get others to come with you, talk about it and keep the conversation going. Don't be quiet. Be informed and compassionate
but firm-- this war must stop.

We cannot continue to live this way.

(www.bodyofwar.com)