Dark Times

Here's my metaphor for why the American public continues to put up with the Bush administration's utter incompetence and rejection of constitutional and Geneva Convention rights: olfactory fatigue. If you were forced to live in an outhouse, thanks to this phenomenon, the stench would bother you for less than a day. Likewise, after seven-plus years in which Dubya's only success has been helping the rich get richer, we're so used to the lies, cronyism and failure emanating from the White House that we no longer notice them. Viewing 2008 Best Documentary Oscar winner Taxi to the Dark Side should serve as a reminder of how badly this administration stinks. The film examines the torture practices of the United States in Afghanistan, Iraq and Guantanamo Bay, focusing on the Rumsfeld-approved techniques and vague orders that led to the torture and homicide of an innocent Afghan taxi driver in 2002. As part of the Magnolia at the Modern film series, Taxi... will be shown at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Friday; 5 p.m. Saturday; and 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday at The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, 3200 Darnell St. Tickets are $8.50 or $6.50 for Modern members. Visit TheModern.org.
Fri., May 9, 6 & 8 p.m.; Sat., May 10, 5 p.m.; Sun., May 11, 2 & 4 p.m., 2008