On June 30th, I was able to attend the film screening of “The Response” with Haley and Lindsey. The documentary was shown at a Congressional Building on Capitol Hill. In addition to screening the film, we were also able to sit in on a panel discussion with actors from the film, policy analysts, and retired military personnel who have personally dealt with the controversial issues associated with Guantanamo Bay.
“The Response” is a courtroom drama based on the actual transcripts of the Guantanamo Bay military tribunals. In the film, three military officers must decide the fate of a suspected enemy combatant. Is he guilty of providing material support to Al Qaeda and responsible for the deaths of several American soldiers? Or is he an innocent victim of circumstances as he claims? The film is leaves the audience with the responsibility of making a decision on the frustrating case.
While the movie was captivating, I found the discussion following the film more worthwhile. To be in the same room as other politicians, sitting in the middle of their discussions really caught my attention on the issue of Guantanamo Bay. The point that I found particularly interesting was the discussion on the question of keeping Guantanamo Bay open and if it is being used as a recruitment tool for terrorist organizations. Furthermore, does the existence of the camp help fuel an anti-American sentiment in the Middle East?
While I’ve never had a deep interest in Guantanamo Bay’s issues, the movie and discussion gave me more perspective on the issue and made me realize the benefits of closing the camp outweigh the costs to keeping it open.
M.A.
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