Moore film heats up emotions

[stickdog]

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/content/auto/epaper/editions/today/news_04ed14be20b901b40032.html

Moore film heats up emotions

By Stephanie Simon, Los Angeles Times
Sunday, June 27, 2004

DES PERES, Mo. -- Before the movie started, Leslie Hanser prayed. "I prayed the Lord would open my eyes," she said.

For months, her son, Joshua, a college student, had been drawing her into political debate. He'd tell her she shouldn't trust President Bush. He'd tell her the Iraq war was wrong. Hanser, a 41-year-old homemaker, pushed back. She defended the president, supported him fiercely. But Joshua kept at her, until she prayed for help understanding her son's fervor.

Emerging from Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11, her eyes wet, Hanser said she at last understood. "My emotions are just... " She trailed off, waving her hands to show confusion. "I feel like we haven't seen the whole truth before."

That's the reaction Moore hopes to provoke with his film, which explores the ties between the Bush family and Osama bin Laden's relatives, the president's response to the Sept. 11 attacks and the war in Iraq. Moore has said he aims to shake the apathetic, move the undecided -- and inspire voters to deny Bush a second term.

[wtmusic]

1. And stories like that

make it possible for many others to admit they were wrong. It's the "Republicans for Kerry" syndrome.

[Rabrrrrrr]

2. Bravo!

I bet there are a lot of people doing the same thing.

That war criminal Shrub is toast, unless he pulls something utterly illegal, like a night of long knives are just declaring an election illegal or "innoprtune" (not that he would know that word) during a time of war.

Which I wouldn't put past him, and which is even more interesting since technically we're not at war for two reasons: 1) he never declared war, and 2) he said "mission accomplished" anyway.

[Skittles]

8. they will pull something

you can count on it

[fearnobush]

3. And yes, the facts do not lie. The media can spin Mike's spin

but when confronted with the facts, they make themselves look like a Soviet style media if they lie about them.

[DeepModem Mom]

4. Contrast other LBN articles today; LATimes not afraid of the truth!

Kudos to them --

[Swamp Rat]

5. Awesome!!!

Though it may seem insignificant compared to the headliners, this the best news I've read today!

[lostnfound]

6. Thanks for posting that. I am passing it on to many. nt

[Skittles]

7. WTF does praying have to do with it?

I mean, reeally.

[Cocoa]

9. if you have to ask, you'll never understand

just kidding! that's how the Chimp once answered a reporter's question about his religion. :-)

[Skittles]

10. *shakes head*

typical sanctimonious response of an asshole (I am of course referring to Bush :7)

[Tatiana]

15. For those who believe in God, praying has a LOT to do with it.

I'm a Christian. Perhaps I would be labeled as an "evangelical." This woman is searching for the truth and she is asking God to provide her with clarity to find and understand the truth. It makes me so damn mad to see how this administration has given Christians a bad name. I am a Christian and I know the truth... that Bush is a liar and must be defeated. This man doesn't talk to God. He's likely talking to the devil.

Please, let's not belittle people for their faith, their religious beliefs (or lack thereof). This is a big tent and women like that who are truly searching for the truth needs big hugs and understanding from us. It's a devastating thing to realize everything you thought was true was a lie.

[Skittles]

21. I guess I was provided clarity by just paying attention

nt

[TexasBushwhacker]

23. I have a Christian friend ,,,,

who has been open about her political beliefs. She is not a Bush supporter now and never has been. Some people in her congregation have told her she was a bad Christian for not supporting Bush.

[Dr Fate]

18. Well, some folks get a lot out of it...

...call it meditation, reflection, a talk with yourself, whatever...

Hey, if some one feels the need to call on a "higher power"- I wont stop them...

[Chovexani]

11. I'm going to assume this lady is an evangelical Christian

(I know it's bad to make assumptions about people, but just bear with me for a moment.)

People like her are why we as Dems shouldn't make sweeping statements about religious folk, even evangelicals. I'm a recovering evangelical and I was never even remotely close to being a conservative or a Republican in my church going days. Not all of them fit into the Jerry Falwell/Pat Robertson mold. Many are Dems (my mom and sister for instance) or indies. Even among the die-hard Republican ones you find a lot like the woman in the article, who aren't necessarily evil neocons, it's just that they've been brainwashed (probably by the reich wing pastor and friends at their church) like everyone else. Sincere people who really are interested in the truth but are just misguided. These people have been used rather cynically by the BFEE and the sideshow barkers that pass as pastors in those Wal-Mart style suburban megachurches (trust me I used to go to one), and they are just too naive to realize it. It's almost like the Matrix--once they take the red pill there's no turning back, and for some the cognitive dissonance they go through is almost too much.

This article just really affected me for some reason, it's hard to explain why. I guess what I'm trying to say is that apart from the really knuckle-dragging Freepers (like, say, your average Ldotter), we shouldn't write anyone off as hopeless, and we should be persistent but respectful when trying to open these folks' eyes. A honey rather than vinegar type of thing. I don't mean we should be lily-livered sissies about it, but we shouldn't beat people over the head (at least not at first :evilgrin:). F9/11 is a *great* starting point...the "red pill" so to speak...we can use it greatly to our advantage. That's why the whore press is trying to downplay the impact of this movie and the wingnuts are busting out all the talking points they can muster against it.

[kimchi]

12. You are so right.

I've been working on my neighbor for 3 years, and couldn't get anywhere with her. After she heard about Bush sitting in the classroom while we were being attacked, even though she spewed the right wing talking points, she finally admitted to me: "that man is as dumb as a stump, and I can't believe I voted for the asshole." She didn't even have to SEE the film. All it took was the perception that it was okay to say it in public.

Thank you, Michael Moore.

[Coventina]

13. Thank you for this post

My background is apparently very similar to yours.
I feel exactly as you do.

[Voltaire99]

14. Met a retiree on the street yesterday...

Woman in her sixties, walking the dog.

We exchanged pleasantries.

With me, it usually gets down to politics before very long. ;-)

"And that situation in Iraq..." she began. I wasn't expecting much. Suddenly: "We have to get our people out! That's none of our business!" she said. I was floored.

This from a woman who looked for all the world like she'd have a George Bush lawn sign and a plastic Jesus on her dashboard.

The people are angry. There's something in the air. They want change, an end to this deceitful violence. They want their nation to stop being on the side of evil.

Stop ignoring us, John Kerry. It's getting awfully late in the day for your ersatz, occupation-enabling "internationalism."

[skooooo]

22. Why floored?

The generation who lived through WW2 know very well that this is war is a complete waste. The older people will not support Bush in the next election.

[msmcghee]

16. I haven't seen F9/11 yet but . . .

. . it opens in my town on the 9th of July.

But this thread is reassuring.

The RW has embedded their world view emotionally into the minds of millions of Americans. They have had a well-financed and expertly planned program to do this for at least the last 20 years.

I am reading David Brock's "The Republican Noise Machine" right now and he describes in detail how this has happened. This is a really well written book BTW and an enjoyable read. His last book, "Blinded by the Right" didn't display his writing skills nearly as well, IMO.

People do not give up an emotionally-held world view easily. Especially, they will not give it up for logical reasons. This is the crux of the (apparent) weakness of the left.

We tend to see politics as an inherently logical process - that good policy comes from a dispassionate examination of the alternatives. While that is basically true, it only applies when both sides agree to follow that path. If one side uses emotional, passionate, true-believer rhetoric and underhanded diry tricks to win their case - the sheep will follow the passion and the the calm rationalists will lose every time.

I'm so glad Michael Moore is showing the left the path to taking back our democracy from the zealots. Hopefully, we'll be able to retain some semblance of rationality when we do.

[peacetalksforall]

17. What a great example of the war that is going on in our country

regarding the press.

It might be safe to say this woman formed her opinions with the help of the right wing propganda machine, primarily in the form of TV.

Her son probably had alternate sources of opinion-shaping material.

A documentary (that condenses a lot of what has already been covered here on DU and other sites) is helping to wake people up? Please make it so.

Also point people with new eyes and ears to www.costofwar.com . The eyes can't believe it. The accompanying silence is deafening.

[Az_lefty]

19. Excellent film. I saw it Friday night here in Tucson.

It was a great sold out crowd of like minded people. After being pissed off over all the crap the shrub has gotten away with, it was very uplifting. I've been telling everyone I know they need to see this film.

[Defecit]

20. Good news!

The good news is that they plan on expanding the film to more theatres! Also consider this movie took in more than Pulp Fiction which had an incredible return viewing rate. So if Fahrenheit can get enough return viewings it could really make an impact. (As it already hasn't) However the beast that is Spiderman will be released on Wedensday.

Michael Moore's new controversial documentary Fahrenheit 9/11 topped the box office with an impressive $21.8 million from just 868 screens. The film averaged a big $25,115 per screen, which is the third highest average of the year behind only Mel Gibson's The Passion of The Christ and DreamWorks' Shrek 2. The opening also marks the highest ever for a documentary of any type (including IMAX and concert films), is the biggest opening for a wide release under 1,000 screens (beating previous record holder Rocky III in 1982), is the best opening ever for a Palme d'Or winner (topping previous record holder Pulp Fiction in 1994), and the film has already outgrossed the $21.6 million total box office for Moore's Academy Award-winning Bowling for Columbine. The film's distributors will expand the movie for Fourth of July weekend and again on Friday, July 9.