Fear Up is important for a lot of reasons. First, because all the stories are true and they reflect a variety of perspectives. The stories are horrifying, sad, hopeful and just plain funny. They are real. Told by real people.

But secondly, and perhaps more importantly, Fear Up connects us for a moment to the actions of our government. That is what democracy is, in theory – a government that exists by its connection to the governed.

Washington-based DMC present a reading of documentary accounts from prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, ordinary people in Iraq, US Soldiers and Journalists.

The accumulation of these stories, hearing them one on top of the other, takes us way beyond this mornings news and serves to remind us of what are all still involved in, challenging us to examine our actions – or inaction.