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Showing posts with label Michael Moore. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Michael Moore. Show all posts
Sunday, August 23
Monday, March 24
Michael Moore on the Anniversary of the Iraq War
Friends,
It would have to happen on Easter Sunday, wouldn't it, that the 4,000th American soldier would die in Iraq. Play me that crazy preacher again, will you, about how maybe God, in all his infinite wisdom, may not exactly be blessing America these days. Is anyone surprised?
4,000 dead. Unofficial estimates are that there may be up to 100,000 wounded, injured, or mentally ruined by this war. And there could be up to a million Iraqi dead. We will pay the consequences of this for a long, long time. God will keep blessing America.
And where is Darth Vader in all this? A reporter from ABC News this week told Dick Cheney, in regards to Iraq, "two-thirds of Americans say it's not worth fighting." Cheney cut her off with a one word answer: "So?"
"So?" As in, "So what?" As in, "F*** you. I could care less."
I would like every American to see Cheney flip the virtual bird at the them, the American people. Click here and pass it around. Then ask yourself why we haven't risen up and thrown him and his puppet out of the White House.
The Democrats have had the power to literally pull the plug on this war for the past 15 months -- and they have refused to do so. What are we to do about that? Continue to sink into our despair? Or get creative? Real creative. I know there are many of you reading this who have the chutzpah and ingenuity to confront your local congressperson. Will you? For me?
Cheney spent Wednesday, the 5th anniversary of the war, not mourning the dead he killed, but fishing off the Sultan of Oman's royal yacht. So? Ask your favorite Republican what they think of that.
The Founding Fathers would never have uttered the presumptuous words, "God Bless America." That, to them, sounded like a command instead of a request, and one doesn't command God, even if they are America. In fact, they were worried God would punish America. During the Revolutionary War, George Washington feared that God would react unfavorably against his soldiers for the way they were behaving. John Adams wondered if God might punish America and cause it to lose the war, just to prove His point that America was not worthy. They and the others believed it would be arrogant on their part to assume that God would single out America for a blessing. What a long road we have traveled since then.
I see that Frontline on PBS this week has a documentary called "Bush's War." That's what I've been calling it for a long time. It's not the "Iraq War." Iraq did nothing. Iraq didn't plan 9/11. It didn't have weapons of mass destruction. It DID have movie theaters and bars and women wearing what they wanted and a significant Christian population and one of the few Arab capitals with an open synagogue.
But that's all gone now. Show a movie and you'll be shot in the head. Over a hundred women have been randomly executed for not wearing a scarf. I'm happy, as a blessed American, that I had a hand in all this. I just paid my taxes, so that means I helped to pay for this freedom we've brought to Baghdad. So? Will God bless me?
God bless all of you in this Easter Week as we begin the 6th year of Bush's War.
God help America. Please.
Michael Moore
MMFlint@aol.com
MichaelMoore.com
It would have to happen on Easter Sunday, wouldn't it, that the 4,000th American soldier would die in Iraq. Play me that crazy preacher again, will you, about how maybe God, in all his infinite wisdom, may not exactly be blessing America these days. Is anyone surprised?
4,000 dead. Unofficial estimates are that there may be up to 100,000 wounded, injured, or mentally ruined by this war. And there could be up to a million Iraqi dead. We will pay the consequences of this for a long, long time. God will keep blessing America.
And where is Darth Vader in all this? A reporter from ABC News this week told Dick Cheney, in regards to Iraq, "two-thirds of Americans say it's not worth fighting." Cheney cut her off with a one word answer: "So?"
"So?" As in, "So what?" As in, "F*** you. I could care less."
I would like every American to see Cheney flip the virtual bird at the them, the American people. Click here and pass it around. Then ask yourself why we haven't risen up and thrown him and his puppet out of the White House.
The Democrats have had the power to literally pull the plug on this war for the past 15 months -- and they have refused to do so. What are we to do about that? Continue to sink into our despair? Or get creative? Real creative. I know there are many of you reading this who have the chutzpah and ingenuity to confront your local congressperson. Will you? For me?
Cheney spent Wednesday, the 5th anniversary of the war, not mourning the dead he killed, but fishing off the Sultan of Oman's royal yacht. So? Ask your favorite Republican what they think of that.
The Founding Fathers would never have uttered the presumptuous words, "God Bless America." That, to them, sounded like a command instead of a request, and one doesn't command God, even if they are America. In fact, they were worried God would punish America. During the Revolutionary War, George Washington feared that God would react unfavorably against his soldiers for the way they were behaving. John Adams wondered if God might punish America and cause it to lose the war, just to prove His point that America was not worthy. They and the others believed it would be arrogant on their part to assume that God would single out America for a blessing. What a long road we have traveled since then.
I see that Frontline on PBS this week has a documentary called "Bush's War." That's what I've been calling it for a long time. It's not the "Iraq War." Iraq did nothing. Iraq didn't plan 9/11. It didn't have weapons of mass destruction. It DID have movie theaters and bars and women wearing what they wanted and a significant Christian population and one of the few Arab capitals with an open synagogue.
But that's all gone now. Show a movie and you'll be shot in the head. Over a hundred women have been randomly executed for not wearing a scarf. I'm happy, as a blessed American, that I had a hand in all this. I just paid my taxes, so that means I helped to pay for this freedom we've brought to Baghdad. So? Will God bless me?
God bless all of you in this Easter Week as we begin the 6th year of Bush's War.
God help America. Please.
Michael Moore
MMFlint@aol.com
MichaelMoore.com
Sunday, July 22
Saturday Reflections and Sunday with 'Sicko'
Every now and again it is important to remember that not everyone thinks about things the same way, but it is also important to remember that people can surprise the the holy bejeebies out of you. Yesterday at a fundraiser for our friends, Ashley and Shannon, who are dealing with massive bills, despite Shannon being insured through the National guard. I watched a community come together which included people like me, gung ho soldiers, middle-of-the-roaders, and rambunctious kids to help friends who are going through the worst of times that a family can go through. No matter what I might think of someone else's politics or life choices, the love of our fellow human beings can make you believe that we aren't as far apart as we can think we are. Simple human kindness is a great equalizer.
Today, my wife and I go to see 'Sicko' with our friend Nancy who is a recipient of health care (physical therapy) almost daily due to a stroke she had when she was 41. The audience was not exactly full of flaming progressives, but more of your elder-after-church set and a few of us 40- to-50 somethings. Was I surprised when the closing credits rolled to hear people applauding the movie with the same enthusiasm one usually hears after the National Anthem is played at the ballpark.
And it deserves it, despite its small flaws (like Michael Moore giving a self-serving, sharp jab to a guy who runs an anti-Michael Moore website who needed help paying the bills after his wife became very ill. Mike makes a big deal about how he helped by sending a check "anonymously" to his detractor).
The fact is we do not give health care the importance it deserves as a nation.
Moore points out that his film isn't about the 47-50 million without health insurance, it is about those of us who do and how the insurance industry does it utmost to keep us from getting what we think we are paying for (not even "deserve"--just what is owed us). The horror stories are exactly that and the walls that we are up against are not only that industry, but also the people who supposedly guard our interests in Congress.
Moore shows us Canada, France, and England's versions of universal health care and dispels the often dispensed myths about the long waits, the lack of equipment, and so on. Then he shows us Cuba, poor Marxist, Cuba. Somehow, despite the lack of wealth, they manage to provide universal health care which, while overall is ranked 2 spots below the US, does allow for less infant mortality and a population that outlives us on the average.
Now do I believe that Moore cherry-picks data? Yep--but it doesn't matter. For all the hoopla over "the facts", Moore (whose facts are accurate, that is they are attributable to real sources, but not always in an apples-to-apples way that research people appreciate) asks a very important question: Given the wealth of this nation (and we are the seventh wealthiest country based on per capita GDP), shouldn't everyone have access to the best medical care (or even the 7th best medical care, if you want to be a stickler--we are 37th right now)?
If countries like Afghanistan*, Argentina, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Cuba, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iraq*, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Oman, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Ukraine and the United Kingdom can all have universal health care, why can't we?.
*Universal health coverage provided by United States war funding
Today, my wife and I go to see 'Sicko' with our friend Nancy who is a recipient of health care (physical therapy) almost daily due to a stroke she had when she was 41. The audience was not exactly full of flaming progressives, but more of your elder-after-church set and a few of us 40- to-50 somethings. Was I surprised when the closing credits rolled to hear people applauding the movie with the same enthusiasm one usually hears after the National Anthem is played at the ballpark.
And it deserves it, despite its small flaws (like Michael Moore giving a self-serving, sharp jab to a guy who runs an anti-Michael Moore website who needed help paying the bills after his wife became very ill. Mike makes a big deal about how he helped by sending a check "anonymously" to his detractor).
The fact is we do not give health care the importance it deserves as a nation.
Moore points out that his film isn't about the 47-50 million without health insurance, it is about those of us who do and how the insurance industry does it utmost to keep us from getting what we think we are paying for (not even "deserve"--just what is owed us). The horror stories are exactly that and the walls that we are up against are not only that industry, but also the people who supposedly guard our interests in Congress.
Moore shows us Canada, France, and England's versions of universal health care and dispels the often dispensed myths about the long waits, the lack of equipment, and so on. Then he shows us Cuba, poor Marxist, Cuba. Somehow, despite the lack of wealth, they manage to provide universal health care which, while overall is ranked 2 spots below the US, does allow for less infant mortality and a population that outlives us on the average.
Now do I believe that Moore cherry-picks data? Yep--but it doesn't matter. For all the hoopla over "the facts", Moore (whose facts are accurate, that is they are attributable to real sources, but not always in an apples-to-apples way that research people appreciate) asks a very important question: Given the wealth of this nation (and we are the seventh wealthiest country based on per capita GDP), shouldn't everyone have access to the best medical care (or even the 7th best medical care, if you want to be a stickler--we are 37th right now)?
If countries like Afghanistan*, Argentina, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Cuba, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iraq*, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Oman, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Ukraine and the United Kingdom can all have universal health care, why can't we?.
*Universal health coverage provided by United States war funding
Wednesday, July 11
Health Has No Fury
On the light side...sort of...my sincere thanks to P-C opinion page editor Jeff Charis-Carlson for his editing prowess.
Health Has No Fury (Today's Poetic License)
Billions on anti-depressants each year get spent.
So what in the world's making us a "Prozac Nation"?
(Well, OK ... there's climate change, a war without end,
an energy crisis and the Prez's secretive administration.)
Still didn't one of our greatest presidents propose,
"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself?"
Things on earth could be worse, I suppose,
And, if nothing else, at least I have my health!
But speaking of health, there's been a delay.
Michael Moore's movie "Sicko" has yet to hit town.
Is there some hidden agenda at play?
Or just not enough copies to go around?
Regardless, I worry for the 47 million of those
folks who need health insurance badly.
Because whenever "Sicko" comes, and long after it goes,
The uninsured will still be left without any -- sadly.
Maybe Wellmark should flout its university cynics --
those nonbelievers at the UI College of Public Health --
by offering $15 million to Iowa's free medical clinics.
That'll prove they're only out to help share the wealth.
Health Has No Fury (Today's Poetic License)
Billions on anti-depressants each year get spent.
So what in the world's making us a "Prozac Nation"?
(Well, OK ... there's climate change, a war without end,
an energy crisis and the Prez's secretive administration.)
Still didn't one of our greatest presidents propose,
"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself?"
Things on earth could be worse, I suppose,
And, if nothing else, at least I have my health!
But speaking of health, there's been a delay.
Michael Moore's movie "Sicko" has yet to hit town.
Is there some hidden agenda at play?
Or just not enough copies to go around?
Regardless, I worry for the 47 million of those
folks who need health insurance badly.
Because whenever "Sicko" comes, and long after it goes,
The uninsured will still be left without any -- sadly.
Maybe Wellmark should flout its university cynics --
those nonbelievers at the UI College of Public Health --
by offering $15 million to Iowa's free medical clinics.
That'll prove they're only out to help share the wealth.
Tuesday, July 10
Friday, June 29
No "Sicko" in Johnson County This Week
If you have been eagerly awaiting the release of Michael Moore's SICKO in Johnson County, you'll have to keep waiting or travel to Davenport to the Showcase Cinema on 53rd St. or to Des Moines to the Fleur Cinema. It opens on 441 screens across the nation and only two of them are in Iowa.
As a shop local kind of guy, I will be glad to wait for it and enjoy jazz this weekend.
I've sent an e-mail to Marcus Theatres and will post their response (for the record, Marcus is showing Sicko in only one of their 67 theaters in Illinois, Iowa, North Dakota, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin this week--so if you happen to be in Madison, WI this weekend, you can also check it out there.
Update: From Marcus Theaters
Thank you for your inquiry. Initially the film Sicko was scheduled to open
in most of our locations starting on June 29th. Unfortunately, Lion's Gate
has decided to scale back on the number of release locations and at this
point we have only been granted one print to play specifically for Madison
at the Eastgate cinemas. We are actively seeking additional placements for
the following weeks. Please keep watching www.marcustheatres.com for
additional locations to be added.
Thank you,
Angie Kadis
Guest Services
As a shop local kind of guy, I will be glad to wait for it and enjoy jazz this weekend.
I've sent an e-mail to Marcus Theatres and will post their response (for the record, Marcus is showing Sicko in only one of their 67 theaters in Illinois, Iowa, North Dakota, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin this week--so if you happen to be in Madison, WI this weekend, you can also check it out there.
Update: From Marcus Theaters
Thank you for your inquiry. Initially the film Sicko was scheduled to open
in most of our locations starting on June 29th. Unfortunately, Lion's Gate
has decided to scale back on the number of release locations and at this
point we have only been granted one print to play specifically for Madison
at the Eastgate cinemas. We are actively seeking additional placements for
the following weeks. Please keep watching www.marcustheatres.com for
additional locations to be added.
Thank you,
Angie Kadis
Guest Services
Wednesday, June 27
Moore and Peace
This from the Washington Post
Filmmaker Michael Moore on Tuesday launched into the final days before the U.S. debut of his movie "SiCKO" with two things that might surprise his detractors: a call for compassion for others and well wishes for President George W. Bush.
Moore is the director behind 2004's anti-Bush documentary, "Fahrenheit 9/11," and he is back on the attack with this Friday's release of "SiCKO," which aims to expose weaknesses in U.S. health care.
At a rally on Tuesday on the steps of Los Angeles' City Hall, the fiery filmmaker recalled his grandfather as a doctor who "wanted to help people, not make a buck."
Moore remembered nuns who schooled him as a boy and taught "the most important lesson, which is we will be judged by how we treat the least among us."
After his speech, a reporter asked if he had one thing to say to President Bush, what it might be. Moore replied in a soft voice: "I would wish him well, and ask him to please bring the troops (in Iraq) home."
Filmmaker Michael Moore on Tuesday launched into the final days before the U.S. debut of his movie "SiCKO" with two things that might surprise his detractors: a call for compassion for others and well wishes for President George W. Bush.
Moore is the director behind 2004's anti-Bush documentary, "Fahrenheit 9/11," and he is back on the attack with this Friday's release of "SiCKO," which aims to expose weaknesses in U.S. health care.
At a rally on Tuesday on the steps of Los Angeles' City Hall, the fiery filmmaker recalled his grandfather as a doctor who "wanted to help people, not make a buck."
Moore remembered nuns who schooled him as a boy and taught "the most important lesson, which is we will be judged by how we treat the least among us."
After his speech, a reporter asked if he had one thing to say to President Bush, what it might be. Moore replied in a soft voice: "I would wish him well, and ask him to please bring the troops (in Iraq) home."
Sunday, June 24
Screening of Sicko with Health Care Lobbyists
Next week "Sicko" opens in theaters everywhere. Michael Moore sent 900 invitations to a screening for lobbyists, 11 showed up. This is worth a watch.
Thursday, May 31
Michael Moore is a "Sicko"
Go here and see a preview of his film about health care in America. It should stir up some conversation
Friday, May 11
Moore Hot Water
Award-winning film-maker Michael Moore is being investigated by US authorities for a possible violation of the trade embargo against Cuba, he has announced.
Mr Moore took a group of 9/11 rescue workers to Cuba in March to film part of his new documentary about healthcare provision in the US.
The US Treasury has sent him a letter asking him to explain himself.
Mr Moore is a long-time critic of the Bush administration and has campaigned against the war in Iraq.
The US imposed an economic embargo on Cuba more than 40 years ago in a bid to isolate Fidel Castro's communist government.
Ailing workers
Mr Moore made the trip to Cuba to film part of "Sicko", an examination of America's health care industry which, according to the film's producer, Meghan O'Hara, will "expose the corporations that place profit before care and the politicians who care only about money".
His spokeswoman, Lisa Cohen, told the French news agency AFP that he took around 10 ailing New York rescue workers with him for medical treatment.
The group were suffering from conditions thought linked to their work clearing up debris from the site of the World Trade Center bombings on 11 September 2001.
In a letter dated 2 May, the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control gave Mr Moore 20 working days to provide more details of his visit, including who went with him and why.
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