Frontline: Springfield Goes To War

Filmed in November of 1990, this Frontline special about the specter of war hanging over the U.S. would seem to be a bit dated, considering that--as of this writing--the military war is officially over. On the contrary, however, the program, which features Bill Moyers moderating a town meeting between Springfield, MA citizens and a group of guest speakers, is an interesting portrait in microcosm of a country strongly divided but exceptionally articulate on the eve of a war that no one's yet certain will come. Soul-searching has not been a recent priority for Americans, but the Persian Gulf situation--while it has given people a taste of a true media circus in a global communications world--has been the catalyst for a lot of soul-searching out there in the American heartland. Springfield Goes to War with an overview of the situation up to November 1990, and then offers mini-portraits of some of the Springfield citizens--like the husband and wife who are both very outspoken in their convictions about the necessity for war, but each takes a different side. The "town meeting" begins simply enough with surface commentary equating oil and blood, but before long the underlying issues of human rights, world security, America as police watchdog, and the complexities of Arab politics take center stage. The debate takes on even greater meaning when a young man from India stands up and criticizes the narrow view of Americans who don't understand that whatever action they take will have significant consequences for the entire Islamic world. Unless interest in the war abroad should fade (highly unlikely), this is sure to be a popular program among library patrons. It is highly recommended for those libraries who can afford it. (See AMAZING GRACE for availability.)