Thursday, April 14, 2011

Fish Frye playing at Mid West Music Fest 4/16/11

Attention Winona-area listeners: Mid West Music Fest takes place April 15 and 16th in Winona. Fish Frye, the official band of Sounds of Cinema, will be playing on Saturday at 8pm at The Bookshelf/Blue Heron.

You can find out more about Mid West Music Fest here and you can find out more about Fish Frye here.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Supplements to the 'Lake of Fire' Screening

I have made two supplements to the Lake of Fire screening available online.

The first is an audio file of guest commentaries from various individuals including Winona State University faculty and pro-abortion and anti-abortion activists. You can find a downloadable mp3 file here.

Second, I have published an essay on Lake of Fire at Winona360, explaining why I showed Lake of Fire, why I think it is an important film, and what can be learned from it. Here is an excerpt:
Before screening Lake of Fire at Winona State I introduced the film to the audience and read a short excerpt from The True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements by Eric Hoffer. He writes, “The true believer is everywhere on the march, and both by converting and antagonizing he is shaping the world in his own image.” This quote could well play as an epigraph to Lake of Fire as it encapsulates the underlying theme of the film. It also answers one of the main criticisms of the film: that it focuses on the extremists, particularly on the anti-abortion side of the debate.

It may be true that most people who hold opinions about abortion one way or the other (which accounts for the majority of Americans) are not violent nor do they approve of violence toward those who hold opposing viewpoints. But the loudest voices have been those who have declared the abortion debate a holy war and their battle cries drown out the rational or moderate voices. In that respect, the extremists are setting the tone. Because the moderate voices cannot get a word in, they are like a television program that no one watches or a blog that no one reads. This source may have the best material or the most accurate information but if no one receives it, then it may as well not exist at all. Perception is reality and the extremists, by dominating the discussion, are in the process of reshaping reality, for themselves and for the rest of us, to fit this holy war perspective.
Also, related to the subject of Lake of Fire, check out Rachel Maddow's interview with Stephen Singular, author of The Wichita Divide, a new book about the murder of abortion provider George Tiller:

Part 1:


Part 2

Saturday, April 9, 2011

'Lake of Fire' Commentary on Sounds of Cinema

Depending on where you hear Sounds of Cinema, listeners will receive one of two episodes.

Listeners to 89.7 KMSU FM in Mankato will hear a special pledge drive edition of the show. If you listen to this station, please consider supporting its fundraising efforts.

Listeners to 89.5 KQAL FM in Winona will hear a follow up to the screening of Lake of Fire, including commentary on the film from viewers on either side of the abortion issue as well as several Winona State University faculty members analyzing the film based upon their academic specialties.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Support KMSU's Spring Pledge Drive

Listeners in the Mankato area are encouraged to support 89.7 KMSU FM's spring pledge drive. The station is dependent upon the support of its listeners in order to keep functioning.

This Sunday, Sounds of Cinema will broadcast a special pledge drive episode that will showcase what this particular program adds to the station as well as drawing attention to the other great programming on KMSU.

As I have pointed out in the past, how much you give is not nearly as important as the fact that you do give. While it would be easy if one particularly wealthy and generous individual could gift the station a large sum of money twice a year, it would be far more impressive if a large cross section of listeners made small contributions that resulted in a comparable sum because that demonstrates just how important the station is to the community. Your pledges not only keep the station on the air but they also justify its existence.

To make a pledge, call 507-389-5678, or 1-800-456-7810 or visit the website http://www.kmsu.org/.

Monday, April 4, 2011

'Lake of Fire' on April 5th

A reminder that the abortion documentary Lake of Fire will be showing on the Winona State University campus on Tuesday, April 5th at 7pm in the Somsen Auditorium. The event is open to the public and admission is free. The film is not rated but viewer discretion is advised. Find out more about the film here.

Update: Thanks to all who came out to see Lake of Fire. Additional thanks to those that supported the screening by placing signage in their businesses or offices and otherwise promoted the event.