Change "Gunner Palace" MPAA Rating

Mr. Dan Glickman
President and CEO
Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. (MPAA)

We the undersigned demand that the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) immediately change the voluntary movie rating assigned to the upcoming Iraq War documentary film "Gunner Palace" from "R" (Restricted) to "PG-13".

We stand united in the belief that film subject matter deemed politically sensitive or controversial should not be arbitrarily "Restricted" by a trade association. The recent assignment of an "R" rating to "Gunner Palace" appears to fly in the face of both the spirit and letter of the MPAA's own ratings guidelines. The MPAA has assigned the rating solely on the basis of "language" contained in the film. In consideration of the combat conditions facing the human subjects of a war documentary, it is our opinion that this language, while strong, does not constitute gratuitous profanity.

The de facto truth is that the MPAA holds the keys to the commercial theatrical distribution network in the United States. With this broad power comes the responsibility to evenly apply ratings standards.. In the absence of other arguments from the MPAA, we must assume that this decision was the product of political pressure.