The Man from Plains

Over the weekend, Patrick and I went to the Detroit Film Theater and saw the Jimmy Carter documentary following the book tour for his controversial best-seller, "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid.” The movie reviewers were more kind than some of those reviewing his book, but not by much.

I, however, really liked the film -- even if it didn't delve enough into the actual controversy which prompted Carter's provocative title. Here's why: we don't often hear a lot of deep debate about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. I mean, yes, we see photos and video footage of suicide bombers (or freedom fighters, depending on who's talking), but we don't often tackle the political debate or discuss the longstanding political history behind the conflict.

Yes, this documentary may have too-lovingly painted Carter as a persecuted, God-fearing do-gooder, but at least it showed that there is an actual debate on which side is right in the Palestinian-Israeli fighting. Maybe it'll do what the book did -- get people talkin'.