Opinion

This article first appeared on Reel Time with Richard Ades.

Two of the bravest movies I’ve seen in the past couple of years have taken aim at Iranian authoritarianism. In 2024, there was The Seed of the Sacred Fig, followed this year by the judo-centric Tatami.

Now, add a third flick that raises a middle finger to Iran’s Islamic dictatorship: It Was Just an Accident, a ballsy effort written and directed by Jafar Panahi. The low-budget thriller deftly creates tension leavened with flashes of humor, all the while wading through moral quagmires and asking questions that defy easy answers.

The tale begins on a dark highway, where we meet a family man (Ebrahim Azizi) who’s driving home with his wife and young daughter when his car breaks down in front of a garage that’s closed for the night.

Luckily for him, the mechanic agrees to take a look at his vehicle anyway. Unluckily for him, the mechanic’s assistant thinks he recognizes this stranded motorist.

Catch up with Simply Living’s founding member Chuck Lynd — a lifelong advocate for local economies, sustainability, and the power of community to shape a just future.

Few people embody Simply Living’s mission as fully as Chuck Lynd — longtime board member, community organizer, and local economy advocate. Chuck’s journey from small-town Ohio to the frontlines of social and environmental change offers a model of what it means to “live simply so that others may simply live.”

“I was very lucky to grow up in a loving family in Ironton, a small town on the Ohio River. My parents grew up during the depression and my brother and sister and I were all born during WWII, while my dad worked double shifts at Armco Steel. Later my dad owned the Ironton Book Store, which also sold office supplies, typewriters, gifts and dishware. From age 11 though high school I worked at the store and learned everything about running a retail store, and even kept the books. This experience gave me a good work ethic and influenced my love of local economics and my involvement in helping start the Clintonville Community Market.”

I hadn’t heard Sawyer Fredericks. I saw Sawyer’s farm strum was scheduled at Rhumba Cafe October 21st, 2025. The email said Sawyer Fredericks won on the Voice in 2015.  Pharrell coached Sawyer into victory.

I pondered. Pharrell brought us the Clipse. Pharrell produced NORE. I love Nothin, I love Drink Champs. “Homeboy I Came To Party. Your Girlfriend Was Looking At Me.”

I revisited The Clipse new record, Let God Sort Em Out. Which feature y’all like best: Kendrick, Nas or Tyler? I pressed play on Sawyer Fredierck’s newaest album…No Need To Wonder.

Pharrell wasn’t involved but Sawyer’s politics seemed correct. Sawyer Fredericks – I read online 11-14 million people watched season 8 of the Voice in 2015. I haven’t seen this show.

I watch Democracy Now, Fallon and Rick+Morty. I found Secrets Declassified with David Duchovny is fun because it’s like the real X-Files.

I love NORE. Sawyer Fredericks, I saw Pharrell was your coach for Season 8 of the Voice.  I like the Clipse, and Nore.

Are there suggestions Pharrell made which assisted your victory from the Voice?

Suddenly and violently, their childhoods were shattered. No child should have to live in a war zone. No child should have to bear witness to the murder of their mother. Some stopped talking. Others endured long rehabilitation for physical wounds in hospitals. We spoke to half a dozen Ukrainian orphans who witnessed their mothers killed in Russian drone or missile attacks. They are the hardest cases in a generation of children growing up scared by war, though many young people in Ukraine will have to make their way in life without one or both parents. We asked about interests, hobbies, plans and coping in times of terrible uncertainty, of facing the future and moving on.

Katia and Yulia

I sit here at my desk, looking out the window – and see someone walking through the parking lot. This is the most ordinary of moments. I shrug quietly. Life goes on.

My impulse is to stop writing the column here. That’s it. Nothing more to say. Life is totally fine and civilized and I’m here in the middle of it, growing old but giving no thought whatsoever to the darkness that lurks at humanity’s margins. Sure, the news covers that stuff, but what do I care? Things are fine where I live.

But the darkness tugs. I read the news. I know that hell consumes parts of the planet and certain lives have no safety – no value – whatsoever. Here’s a recent New York Times headline, as ordinary as the fact that someone was walking through the parking lot outside my window:

“U.S. Military Kills Another 6 People in 5th Caribbean Strike, Trump Says.”

Well, so what? They were transporting drugs. “The military has now killed 27 people as if they were enemy soldiers in a war zone and not criminal suspects. . . .”

I love Chinese food, but I have standards. What if there was a Chinese restaurant a mile away and rated 2 stars? NOT A CHANCE. No matter how hungry I might be, it’s worth it to drive farther for better Chinese food.

Why then, do we KEEP SETTLING FOR LESS? Recently, Columbus City Schools were rated overall as a TWO-STAR SCHOOL DISTRICT by the State of Ohio.

The Columbus City School Board has three Board of Education positions open for election this November 4. Every election we keep voting for the approved Franklin County Democratic Party (FCDP) “endorsed candidates.” And for all of our loyalty, our schools earn TWO STARS. No, it’s not the fault of the teachers or the students. It’s a MONOPOLY OF FAILED LEADERSHIP.

Politicians and education don’t mix

A stark but unsurprising contrast in the philosophy of governance and civil rights enforcement is emerging between the proposals of Project 2025 and the grassroots efforts of the Ohio Coalition to End Qualified Immunity.

While Project 2025 seeks to curtail federal oversight and reshape the civil service, the Ohio initiative, much like the historic 1871 Ku Klux Klan Act, aims to intensify and reinforce the accountability of government officials who’ve committed civil rights violations. The Protecting Ohioans’ Constitutional Rights citizen-led ballot amendment initiative was cleared for signature gathering earlier this year. The initiative seeks to restore a fundamental check on government power by allowing Ohioans to hold public officials and entities accountable in civil court.

The city of Columbus no longer celebrates "Columbus Day" and has removed all Christopher Columbus statues, however there's a movement to return one. Instead, as of 2020, the day is referred to as "indigenous People's Day" -- something the Free Press and many local activists had been demanding for decades. 

In honor of this day, here is a poem by longtime local activist Michael Eckhardt, from his recently published book, Navigation: In these uncertain times. You can purchase the book from the Free Press here. 

dance with destiny

tall ships danced

across the water

the course of history

about to change

fence rows appear

each post a stake

in mother earth's breast

church and state combine

to commit acts of genocide

manifest destiny continues

proud indigenous peoples

deceived and displaced

environmental harmony

replaced by greed

just a spark remains

steeped in tradition

a pride and respect

too strong to overcome

Are American's seeing the images of ICE attacking people? It would seem that the entire population would revolt. There are a brave few protesting but not enough to change the behavior. Unless enough American's take to the streets or revolt in other ways, we will see this government to continue to commit crimes against innocent American citizens, for at least 3 more years.  In a Democracy, public opinion alone would be enough to stop this.  

Here are just a few links of ICE running wild in America.  I urge everyone to have access to TwitterX/ TicTok and/or Bluesky.  This is just a small sample of the horrors being inflicted.

Illinois State Police confronted a group of aggressive anti-ICE protesters,

WATCH: Law enforcement officers clash with anti-ICE demonstrators