Hot Ticket

Written by Natalie Davis
Published June 26, 2004
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And one of the most resonant continuing segments of the movie depicts the journey of a Flint woman who encourages her kids to join the military and ends up losing a son in Iraq and becoming an anti-war activist.

The film's R rating is deserved. Many images of war casualties and a grainy long shot of a beheading in Saudi Arabia are very difficult to view. I believe Moore was right to include them (and parents should allow their teenage kids to see the film) because it is vital to show what war is, what the Bush regime has done and continues to do.

Does Moore take some liberties and stretch some truths to make his point? Probably. We see the filmmaker (who wisely keeps his personal screen time to a minimum in this project) sandbag a Washington lawmaker to urge him to get his kids to enlist for the Iraqi occupation effort. Turns out the lawmaker's nephew is serving — and told Moore — but the film only shows the man's befuddled expression. In another instance, Moore insinuates that Osama bin Laden's family was spirited out of the US after September 11 while other planes were grounded; while we know that many Saudis, including a number of bin Ladens, were jetted out of the country on the government's our dime, chances are that the evacuation did not occur until after the ban on flying ended. (Then again, the White House easily could clear up the matter, but as of now, it won't.)

Update: Moore clarifies the statement at his site, noting that the film does say that the Saudis were flown out of the US after the flying ban was lifted. By all means, check it out — Moore does have the information to back up his assertions.

The sight of Moore driving around Washington in an ice-cream truck so that he can read the text of the Patriot Act to lawmakers is silly and unnecessary (but the act is a typical Mooreism, as fans of his previous work know). Still, what leads to it — an admission from a lawmaker that most in Congress don't bother to read the legislation on which they must vote, including the chilling, dangerous, and anti-liberty Patriot Act — should outrage any American who professes to believe in justice and fairness for all.

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Natalie Davis is an award-winning journalist, progressive- and GLBT-issues activist, musician and broadcaster. Davis' All Facts and Opinions - The Armchair Activist has existed since 1996. She is general manager and program/music director of Grateful Dread Radio, an 11-year-old multigenre Internet station dedicated to presenting diverse sounds for open minds.
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Hot Ticket
Published: June 26, 2004
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Writer: Natalie Davis
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#1 — June 26, 2004 @ 23:05PM — Tom [URL]

You don't even know what the hell you are talking about when you call this administration an inhumane administration. All Bush and his "Cronies" have done is free millions of people from bondage, and protect you and your family from people like Al Zaquawri who want you dead simply because you are an American, and who no doubt would nuke an entire American city just for fun.

Let me clarify some of your action points:


(Those five things:

Get behind the national voter-registration effort

Including, but not limited to homeless people and people who have been dead for years. Use Mayor Daley's Chicago as an example


Raise hell about Halliburton's war profiteering

After first finding out what the hell Halliburton does. Don't worry about seeing the irony in complaining about American jobs going overseas while trying to stop Halliburton's American employees from having jobs.


Protest the Republican National Convention in NYC on August 29


Afterall, we are all socialists, don't have jobs, and have nothing better to do with our time.


Join a peace group and help end the Iraqi occupation


The UN is a good example of said peace group. they did so well with the Oil for Food Program. With any luck another oppressive regime can take over so mass murders and rape rooms can open up again. So much better than the democratic Iraq set forth by the evil Republicans.


Educate your family and friends.

Don't let truth and facts get in your way. Just try to get them to have blind hatred for Bush like we do. Afterall, the best things have come from hate, just look at the Middle East.

#2 — June 27, 2004 @ 02:36AM — Ms. Tek [URL]

I am so sick of hearing about the damn "rape rooms" as IF that was one of the major reasons why the Bush Administration chose to invade Iraq.

And funny how the name of who we are supposed to be scare of is always changing. First is was Osama, then it was Saddam, now it's Al Zaquawri.

Tell ya what... if you are so worried about "rape rooms", when are you going to contact your senator and demand the invasion of Thailand or Cambodia where CHILD PROSTITUTION is RAMPANT. I mean, don't you care that THOUSANDS OF YOUNG GIRLS AND BOYS ARE RAPED MULTIPLE TIMES DAILY FOR MONEY in Thailand? Cambodia? Children as young as three. Its not like its only a few, or not common... Hell, convicted pedophile, Garry Glitter knew where to go when he got deported from Canada to keep engaging in his passion for "young meat."

Or do you think the "millions" of Thai and Cambodeans wouldn't be as happy as the Iraqis?

#3 — June 27, 2004 @ 03:36AM — Natalie Davis [URL]

Hey, at least Tom lived down to expectations.

#4 — June 27, 2004 @ 03:51AM — Douglas Mays [URL]

Here is the deal. The hard core facts are real and well researched. They are mixed with Michael Moore's point of view.

When viewing this film keep that in mind. The factual information is very true and right on. Don't let Mr. Moore's spin confuse the reality.

With that in mind, this is a great film deserving a standing ovation.

peaceloveguidance

#5 — June 27, 2004 @ 07:41AM — Tom [URL]


With that in mind, this is a great film deserving a standing ovation.

peaceloveguidance


Just like people gave standing ovations to the "great films" by Joseph Goebbels.

#6 — June 27, 2004 @ 09:19AM — Ms. Tek [URL]

LMAO!

#7 — June 27, 2004 @ 10:22AM — Tom [URL]

And by that I mean propaganda with the intent to stir the masses into a certain way of thinking, to an audience which basically is on the same page philosophically.


#8 — June 27, 2004 @ 10:40AM — Ms. Tek [URL]

And by that I mean propaganda with the intent to stir the masses into a certain way of thinking...


I see...

So leading the American people to believe that Iraq had something to do with 9/11 is not propaganda?

#9 — June 27, 2004 @ 10:57AM — Craig Lyndall [URL]

I haven't seen the movie yet. I can't wait to see it. My only problem with the whole thing, at least my fear of the whole thing because I haven't seen it yet, is that some truth goes out the window in order to make a point. I don't trust Rush Limbaugh who will do anything to further his agenda and I don't trust Michael Moore who will apparently do the same.

It still should be an interesting movie.

Also, I am not sure why Republicans are so upset over this whole thing. At this point all it is going to do is preach to the choir. I really doubt that many people are going to go to see this movie and have their minds changed. It is going to be more people who already agree with Moore's conclusions.

#10 — June 27, 2004 @ 11:11AM — Ms. Tek [URL]

I saw it yesterday.

If you have been keeping up with events then its old news. However, considering the fact that most americans have been tuned into "reality TV", it might be of use to them.

#11 — June 27, 2004 @ 11:17AM — Craig Lyndall [URL]

Are you telling me not to watch Survivor? Damn, I don't know if I could live without the ever compelling television created by Jeff Probst and company. (Sarcasm)

My expectations for Farenheit are that it will be entertaining and touching as he is a VERY good filmmaker, but that I definitely shouldn't trust it word for word because, well, he is a very good filmmaker and this is not objective at all.

I wish he would make some more non-documentary types of movies.

#12 — June 27, 2004 @ 11:35AM — Tom [URL]

I agree that if he made actual true documentaries or regular movies he would be very good. After all Canadian Bacon was a tremendously well received movie. JK. :p

#13 — June 27, 2004 @ 11:59AM — Craig Lyndall [URL]

dude... Canadian Bacon was funny.

#14 — June 27, 2004 @ 15:56PM — Douglas Mays [URL]

regarding CL's (comment #9) about 'preaching to the chior", that may be partially true. But Bush has ended up being a 'divider' during his tenure. So what we have right now is this huge swing vote available to influence. They could make the difference in an election outcome.

peaceloveguidance

#15 — June 28, 2004 @ 13:49PM — Douglas Mays [URL]

Tom (comment #5), applaud to Joseph Goebbel's films. Well, that is politics and social movement. Be it Hitler or the Republican Party followers. hhhmmm...kinda the same thing. The 'liberal' side of things need that sort of unity and energy to make any change. Or have the strength to adjust the Republican power. It is what we need to get democracy back on track in this country. Some Republicans should be Democrats and vice versa. And some from both parties should be some whole different party. Anyway...

peaceloveguidance

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