Every War Has Two Losers

Poet and antiwar activist William Stafford (1914–93), a registered conscientious objector during World War II, created a wide body of both prose and poetic work that focused on warfare's horrific toll. This moving program features a number of writers and activists who bring Stafford's thoughts to life through his almost daily journal entries and his poetry. Supplementing their work with a rich variety of still photographs and archival film/video footage, the producers have created a powerful tool that keeps pertinent the age-old question of the ultimate value of war. The nicely paced presentation begins with a cautionary message from President Dwight Eisenhower on the dangers of the military mindset and also includes reference to Gandhi's ideals of nonviolence. A welcome bonus is the inclusion of an hour-long documentary on Stafford's literary friendship and philosophical accord with writer/activist Robert Bly. This affordable title will be popular for both its literary and its social conscience.—Dwain Thomas, William Rainey Harper Coll., Palatine, IL