More Moore

Many of Moore’s critics decry his not presenting "objective" documentaries (like the ones we think we remember seeing on PBS back before Reality TV got so good and we got sidetracked by whether or not a hot model would marry a dorky computer geek). Moore has said in interviews that he doesn't see his role as presenting "both sides" because the public has already been getting the "other side" in spades for the last 3 years. We don't need to be reminded that Saddam was a bad man -- that's a given. There's not that much that is genuinely NEW information in the film, if you follow poitics closely; for most people, though, it's an eye-opener, and for me, it was very powerful to see the interviews with our soldiers in Iraq, and very moving to follow the story of Ms. Lipscomb and her family.

Does Moore present footage in a way that best supports his theses? Uh, yeah -- that's what a good filmmaker does. I think he was a little heavy-handed with the guilt-by-association between the Bush and Saudi and bin Laden families, but on the other hand, shockingly few Americans know what a deep history the Bushes have with the House of Saud, and it sure has at least the appearance of influencing US foreign policy. Why isn't that reported on Fox News? Probably something to do with Rupert Murdoch being a wealthy conservative -- which is exactly why we need a Michael Moore making films like this.

One significant criticism of the film: Moore doesn’t go into the Neo-conservative agenda at all, which is a glaring omission. It may be overly charitable, but I believe the Neo-cons advising Bush in some cases had what they think are the world’s best interests at heart: that the Middle East would be a better place if Democracy were to take hold; and that establishing a Democracy in Iraq by force would be a shortcut to jump-starting that change. But they forget that our very own nation was founded on the belief that people have a right to self-government. You can’t force Democracy on people. Democracy spreads by example. We didn’t have to bomb the Soviet Union for them to realize the advantages of a free market and Western-style democracy; we just needed Levis, and the Beatles, and grocery stores with food in them. That’s what spreads Democracy.