Page Two

The first draft of this column was a long rant about how insane the impending American misadventure in Iraq is. But it is so obvious that the cause is base politics rather than any sense of sophisticated international vision that the simpler statement is the more honest. American policy is misguided, and the desire for war overriding any sense. President Bush is failing his country and failing history. We all will suffer.

Just a moment to salute Congressman Lloyd Doggett and his principled stand of conscience in the midst of a zoo of political considerations.

I'm going to rant more on this one, but my heart is being broken by my country, and my fear for the world is almost unbearable.

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The Austin Film Festival takes place over the next week, offering up a spicy schedule of fascinating films. I always suspect that it is the ones that I know nothing in advance about that may prove the most interesting. Check out the Chronicle film folks' tips this issue, but the best part of any festival is exploration. Take a chance, go out on your own. The Screenwriters Conference offers its usual impressive lineup, with many of the most important writers currently working in film and television in town. If you're interested in scriptwriting, this is worth checking out.

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If it's not a script you're working on, but a more traditional story, The Austin Chronicle Short Story Contest is alive and well despite my best efforts to kill it (don't ask). Check out the ad on p.31 of this issue for details. If you're not working on a story but always secretly figured that you're going to be a writer, now's your chance. Put pen to paper or finger to keyboard and send it in.

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We've been backlogging letters again, so I'm going to be very brief this issue in hopes of catching up. Enjoy it while you can. We all know the brevity can't last.