This article is a classic "Pity Party" so pass it if you want; but step in if your up to seeing if its just me... (See archive ...)

Fahrenheit 9/11
Propaganda and Pride

What I noticed about Michael Moores's new "documentary" is that it is not really a documentary in the true sense, it's more like a definite point of view. Beautifully filmed would not be the words for it; some of the images were so disturbing that I almost lost it. But it was masterfully shot; not one of the images of horror or gore stayed on the screen for longer than anyone could take. That isn't to imply that the image of human frailty isn't burned into your memory or the sense that things in Iraq haven't spun way the hell out of balance.

One way that I can gauge when something has affected me on a deep and personal level is the amount of swear words I use when spouting my often quick and uninformed opinion on the subject; when I left Fahrenheit 9/11 I was cussing up a storm. Every other word was a vile tirade at the hopeless quagmire that our government has put us in. And I say it now as it won't make me popular with my liberal friends, but its not fair to lay all of the crap at Bush's doorstep either.

The other gatekeepers were on watch also (democrats and independents) and they dropped the f'ing ball too. They have just as much access to the "people that know" as the other guy they claim is to blame for it all, access both direct (through the proper channels of their offices) or indirect (through the good ol' boy network of cronies and gossip) to have at the very least an idea of what was truly going on. All of which makes me wonder if all of their asses were not in some way ultimately going to benefit from the whole debacle that is Iraq.

Was it a good movie? Did you like it? Was it biased? All good questions but all ending up with me making the wishy-washy answer of Yes and No. Was it a good movie? Yes, Moore's organization of information leads you down the path that he created and using the technique of a black screen for a minute or more while the sounds of the World Trade Centers going down plays in the inky blackness of the theater harkens to the bump in the night you hear that freezes you in indecision in your bed. It was the only time I really teared up. And No, it's not a movie, it's not a documentary, it is just a well organized opinion put to music and lights, and like Birth of a Nation by D. B. Griffith it will have an effect on the national conscious for good or bad only time will tell, but effect us it will.

Was it entertaining? Yes, Moore's sense of humor is as irreverent as ever and the way he juxtaposed the music with the silly faces of the politicians was just too much for me, I laughed hard. But No... What is entertaining about watching real human suffering, beheading, mangled babies, civilian deaths, and soldiers fighting? What is entertaining about watching fanatics rant with fervor or watching a mother suffer the loss of a son too later wonder if she was right in her initial belief in a military life as a way to get ahead with an education? Watching the recruiters actively prey on the poor and disenfranchised, retooling their spiel to fit the dreams of the hopeless and desperate, like some crazed telemarketer on the veldt hunting its prey. And as you watch like some horror movie, you want to yell out to their targets, "It's a set-up, look behind the door, run!" But you can't because it's a gamble that might work for them and what other option do they truly have? We all have dreams but where's the road map for them? The community used to provide that but hey, the community is bearly alive itself.

Did I like it? Yes, because it opened my eyes to some of the dual aspects of our political system, and No, because it opened my eyes to those same aspects again with the fact that I am too easily manipulated by both sides of the political spectrum. That I was gung ho about stopping terrorists in Iraq and sending in the boys, but I was ignorant about all the other backdoor shenanigans going on like the corporate deals being made by friends of the decision makers. It really sickens me to think that the people deciding that we should go to war might make a dime of profit off of it at all. All it shows me is you can't win nor can you make an informed opinion with all the lies and cover ups, trade offs and gossip from both sides of the argument. It makes me so f'ing mad I could spit or just go to sleep for another four years. But I don't think we can afford the apathy any longer.

Was it bias? Hell Yes! Without a doubt but what argument isn't. You're trying to prove your point not trying to support the other guy's opinion in anyway. That's his damn job and the truth is that Bush and the other side have done a hell of a good job presenting a biased side of things themselves; they won't be getting any tears from me just because the other side is now doing it, too. My only problem is that the truth is only revealed in time and time is a very elusive state of being. Do we really have enough time left in this situation to let these things just wash themselves out? I don't think so but what else can we do but make snap judgments based on the information that we have and keep going?

Well the truth as I see it is that we have to, as individuals, reserve the right to change our minds at any time and go the opposite way if need be once we figure that something is not going right, regardless of how it is viewed by others. There is only shame when what could be corrected is not just because of pride.

The truth of the matter is that you should see this movie and form your own opinion and once you have formed them keep an open but skeptical mind and stand by your convictions knowing that you reserve the right to change your opinion based on any new information that you receive. What I come away from Fahrenheit 911 with is don't take their entire word for it, watch, look and listen for yourself. Moore loves America; just because he's airing the dirty laundry doesn't mean that it isn't in need of some cleaning or some good old fashion fresh f'ing air.

This started out as a simple review on Ookee.com but I find myself wondering if it's just me and my naivete' or are others wondering the same things as I am about the shape of our political systems? Please drop by and leave a comment plus or minus I am a big boy I can take it.

Is It Just Me? Is it just me or are other people noticing what I am seeing too. In this area we will be pondering what, through our personal life's filters, we observe to be actually going on out in the great big world and in a few cases the small worlds of our own making. meta-creation_date: 5/30/2004 12:30:00

Remember when you were a kid and your favorite word was why... Well were adults now (at least most of the time any way) and were still asking why.

Why are things the way they are... should things be this way, or is it just me?