The Arena Grand theater is a masterpiece, and it's currently showing a masterpiece, CHICAGO, just rightly voted Oscar's best picture.  My advice:  see them both, asap!!!

By way of introduction:  this "dual review" marks my first for the new freepress.org web site.  By way of disclosure, the operators of the Arena Grand Theater---along with the legendary Drexel East and Grandview Theaters---are Jeff and Kathy Frank.  They are old friends of mine, and Jeff has kindly agreed to provide passes to those films I review.  He understands that I will be panning those films I don't like. 

I will, however, be lavishing praise on all three of these gems of theaters.  Here we are on solid mutual ground.  I've always loved the Drexel and Grandview.  They are oases of class and taste in an industry now dominated by crass and fake.  They combine the old style grace of the golden age of cinema with brilliant and often daring choices of product and programming.  More on them as the opportunity arises.

International women's organizations, including MADRE, Women of Color Resource Center, Center for Women's Global Leadership, and the International Women's Human Rights Law Clinic, today joined other women's organizations worldwide as they called on the member states of the United Nations General Assembly to enact an emergency application of UN Resolution 377 ("Uniting for Peace") to stop the US-led bombing of Iraq and protect Iraqi civilians.

Uniting for Peace provides that in the event of a "threat to the peace or act of aggression," which the Security Council does not counter, the General Assembly "shall consider the matter immediately." The Assembly can recommend collective measures, including the use of armed forces, to member states to "maintain or restore international peace and security."

This action follows a recent call in New Delhi made by women's organizations from over 35 countries condemning the Bush Administration's war against Iraq and urging the General Assembly to challenge US aggression. The organizations also condemn the Bush Administration's attempts to undermine the United Nations, which have been reported in the Chilean newspaper, La

Leaders of the Central Ohio Muslim community, representing area Islamic and Arab-American organizations, met Monday with top officials of the FBI. The goal of the meeting, facilitated by the Ohio office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio) was to have an open and informal discussion about topics of concern to the Muslim community.

Issues addressed at the meeting included ways to prevent hate crimes and backlash attacks that may result from the war on Iraq and how the local Muslim community can do its part in the defense against terrorism.

"Like all Americans, the Muslim community in Ohio is concerned about America's national security," said CAIR-Ohio Executive Director Jad Humeidan. "The leadership of our community is ready, willing and able to work with law enforcement authorities for the safety and security of this country," said Humeidan.

He added that CAIR-Ohio has received several complaints of harassment by FBI agents, and that agency supervisors need to ensure that agents in the field are not over-stepping their legal authority.

Two months ago, when I wandered through a large market near the center of Baghdad, the day seemed like any other and no other. A vibrant pulse of humanity throbbed in the shops and on the streets. Meanwhile, a fuse was burning; lit in Washington, it would explode here.

Now, with American troops near Baghdad, the media fixations are largely tactical. "A week of airstrikes, including the most concentrated precision hits in U.S. military history, has left tons of rubble and deep craters at hundreds of government buildings and military facilities around Iraq but has yielded little sign of a weakening in the regime's will to resist," the Washington Post reported on March 26.

Shrewd tactics and superlative technology were supposed to do the grisly trick. But military difficulties have set off warning bells inside the U.S. media echo chamber. In contrast, humanitarian calamities are often rendered as PR problems, whether the subject is the cutoff of water in Basra or the missiles that kill noncombatants in Baghdad: The main concern is apt to be that extensive suffering and death among civilians would make the "coalition of the willing" look bad.

Some have asked me about Fred Phelps impending visit to Granville:

1. On April 27, the hate promoting GodHatesFags website owner Fred Phelps is coming to picket in Granville at several churches. The incident which triggered him to visit Granville is a Granville High School Junior who started a Gay Alliance at his school. When Fred finds out about God's Promise MCC, which meets in the First Baptist Church, he will undoubtedly picket here also. We are asking people not to counter picket and not to engage him in any way--he loves to start law suits with people who challenge him. Instead we're asking everyone to join us in a celebratory service at our usual service time of 3 pm. We will be affirming God's love for all people--even our enemies. First Baptist is on the corner of Main and W. Broadway in downtown Granville (30 miles east of Columbus).

We are taking pledges to support the Licking County AIDS Task Force for each minute that Fred pickets outside our church. Please send your commitment per minute--for example 50 cents per minute--to this email address. I'll send you the Task Force's address after we tally his