HeiBlog

Just saw Michael Moore’s new film Fahrenheit 9/11. I’ll start by saying that about 90% of the information in the film I had heard before, but Moore stitches the information together in such an elegant and convincing fashion that you can’t help but think that he might be right. The film does have Moore’s spin, all of the opinions are his, this is obvious. His facts are straight (and very closely checked by independent sources) and conclusions logical. Many will have issue with what he has to say, but I hope in the process they realize that they might have been duped by the Bush administration.

Truth be told I was pissed off after leaving the theater. Not at the movie, not at Mr. Moore, and not really complexity pissed even at Dubba (aka President George W. Bush). I was pissed at a whole group of people, spent the 20 minutes walk home from the Coolidge bitching to myself. Bush is the figurehead and I think there is a strange mixture of blood and oil on his hands, but he is not the only one responsible. I was pissed at his whole family and administration, pissed at the boulder heads who elected him, pissed at America for what it seems we have become. I think this is what Moore was shooting for.

What is the state of the nation when I am expected just to fall in line like a drone and to do otherwise is considered by many to be “unpatriotic.” Will they want me to march in high-step down some grand boulevard shouting “Hale to the Chief” (might as well be “Zigheil!”). Fortunately we are fluid enough as a nation that the euphoric buzz that results from wrapping yourself in the flag seems to be waring off. When it is un-American to question the ruling authority? How does that weaken us as a nation? Wasn’t this country founded by a bunch of smart guys to questioned the status quo and were generally pissed (in more ways than one most likely)?

I saw this undertone to Moore’s current films and like is last film “Blowing for Columbine,” he does not really answer any questions. What he does do however is force you to question his argument, forces you to think. Right now this country is split down the middle. One scary trend I started to see in the USA was the lack of thinking among her citizens. This struck me after I came back from my year abroad in German, after I had experiences another way of living (all be it one with many similarities to our own). Political debate is almost a sport in Germany as people freely express their opinion and question that of others. It’s my fear that people in our land just don’t question enough. I want Moore’s film to be popular, I want it to make people uncomfortable, I want it to make people question. If it takes a few highly exposed people to make an ass of themselves and shout out “What the hell is going on here-!!?”, I’ll be the man to buy the bullhorns.

What I found most discouraging in the film was the realization that Moore might be right and that we as a race are doomed to repeat our own mistakes. The fact that a group of leaders (private and government) would call a rally based on “American” values and freedoms for their own gain. How many times have a handful of men (usually men, though women seem to be catching up, equality in all things I needed I suppose) used the state for their own gain? And how often has this resulted in the downfall of that state? I’m no historian, but I think I am seeing a pattern here. You sacrifice the people, shit on your backbone so that you can make a short them gain. As the foundation of your state decays you try to make your people feel that things are still alright. The current leadership is even more perverse using fear to keep us going forward, making us long for the feeling that all is okay.

As a nation right now I see our power in the world waning. In my idea world this would be because the nation-states of the world would actually state to work together. As the big kid on the block the USA could be a facilitator. Richard Clark made the point is his book “Against all Enemies” that we had this opportunity after 9/11. We could have brought focus on peaceful coexistence and fought against the reactionaries who who do otherwise. What do we do? We piss it away and play the bully. We lose the respect of our allies and go against some our basic ideals, all the time hiding our eyes from what is actually happening. We’re done as the only big player, what we can do though is make sure that there is not a next one. Is the UN the answer? Maybe, but I’m sure that not all parts of the world will want to live up to our ideals. Didn’t Europe try that in the 18th and 19th Centuries?

My final point? Look around you and think about what your see. What do you think? There is a reason that compulsory education was pushed at the end of the 19th century. The fruits of that progressive era might just save our collective sorry and now too comfortable asses. Need help? See the film!