We: Arundhati Roy
Nationalism of one kind or another was the cause of most of the genocide of the twentieth century. Flags are bits of colored cloth that governments use first to shrink-wrap people’s brains and then as ceremonial shrouds to bury the dead. When independent- thinking people (and here I do not include the corporate media) begin to rally under flags, when writers, painters, musicians, film makers suspend their judgment and blindly yoke their art to the service of the Nation, it’s time for all of us to sit up and worry.
This is an unusual kind of underground production. An anonymous sympathizer has edited a video recording of Roy’s speech over 64 minutes, interspersing an impressive array of archival footage to illustrate themes and specific historical events. Contemporary music overlaid throughout the piece shifts the mood and quickens the pace. The result is a visual essay rather than a traditional documentary, perfectly suited to its creator’s intentions, which is to spread the anti-imperialist, social justice politics of Arundhati Roy everywhere.
Watch the full documentary now
March 29th, 2009 at 21:46
Another great documentary that features Arundhati Roy’s activism pertaining to India’s Dam building projects is “Drowned Out.”
April 12th, 2009 at 06:35
That was very well made and her speech was amazing. I never even heard of her before. Think I would have seen her on another documentary before, cause I watch a lot and it seems someone would have clipped some of that speech in. I would have. lol
August 5th, 2009 at 07:02
Any idea, where did she deliver this speech?
October 17th, 2009 at 08:53
she’s so clear and amazing. Arundhati Roy is a gift.
November 16th, 2009 at 11:49
“start reading…or we’re all screwed” totally agree. although i must say that this website tdf has deeply cut into my reading time
knowledge breeds ideas, & ideas breed action, and organized action changes the world & reality…
December 7th, 2009 at 09:29
brilliant..well spoken ..gentle and assertive ..a beautiful and truthful documentary…ive been watching alot of things about corporations and the banking elite lately..and this speech and image montage was the most imformative and thought prevoking …i hope she is not silenced ..her thoughtful honesty will educate the public and slow the manufactured progress that thrives on suffering in exchange $$$$$…i will be talking about this woman and looking for more insight in the future ….i hope you do the same!!
January 5th, 2010 at 12:45
Thank you very much for this documentary! Her speech is brilliant and clear. The message is clear and the video montage it’s exactly how I would have done it: by contrast with what is really happening around us and what others want us to think about the world we live in. But history reveals all. Read and get information so you don’t make the same mistakes again.
There is only one problem here: there is even a bigger picture. This all is happening for a reason and maybe this is the only way the world can function: with good and bad. The truth is hidden indeed because truth hurts. All this talk about who is behind what and world peace and nature and stop the killing is great for me and I would really like the world to change that way. But if you put an end to some things that seem bad, even worse things can arise. It’s hard to find equilibrium.
Arundhati Roy did a great job making the message clear an I hope it reaches many minds and opens many eyes. And what then? Do you have a new system that works, did you find the balance in all things? We have the truth but can we act upon it? Can we really change the world? what is the replacement? what’s the new policy? If someone has a good philosophy and good politics that would work…then we act.
January 20th, 2010 at 22:49
Phenomenal. Very compelling, relevant, and non-idealogical. This is a must-see, a wake-up call for anyone who still thinks that America is a beacon of peace and morality.
“The American way of life is simply not sustainable, because it doesn’t acknowledge that there is a world beyond America.” Well put.
January 23rd, 2010 at 22:49
lol Arundhati Roy, another silly Inbred funded by Saudi oil money to speak rubbish for the guillable inbred minds which belive any nonsensible rubbish.
The funny thing is, Arundhati after being an Indian, goes off to her trips in Pakistan and criticizes India and the Indians, when the Hindus and Buddhists have been bearing the brunt of the Islamic Extremism for the last 800 years.
Great Job arundhati, make sure your Burkha is on tight, or else the peaceful Muslims will publicly stone you.