Bowling for Columbine

And unless you boycott Roman Polaski movies too- I mean the man RAPED a young child- then you shouldn't boycott these movies.

AMEN again!

I usually don't touch political subjects with a 10 foot pole. I live by the rule...never discuss politics, religion or abortion. The topics are just too hot. That said...


I think Mr. Moore's ranting and raving at the Oscars was completely out of place. We all have opinions on things. Do we go to work and stand up on the desk and go on and on about our opinions?? No. So why is it that these 'stars' feel it's appropriate to use their 'jobs' to get their opinions across??

If you REALLY want to get your opinion across VOTE!! Volunteer for your party of choice during election time. There are ways to express your opinion without being obnoxious and inappropriate.

He's an artist. Why not USE art to express himself. Make a frickin' movie about it. Don't shove your opinion down my throat. Freedom of speech is a wonderful thing. But like ALL things, it can be taken too far. You can't yell FIRE in a crowded movie theater on the basis of free speech. There NEED to be limits.

I also find it interesting how people like Susan Sarandon, Barabara Streisand, Jane Fonda, the Baldwins, Jessica Lange, and now even Johnny Depp ( ) go on and on about how they hate America, or how America is an embarassment. Last time I looked, it was because they are IN AMERICA that they became such a huge stars, it's AMERICANS that pay to see their movies or buy their albums, it's the FREEDOM of this country that allowed them to pursue their careers, and made the lives they live today possible. Where's Hollywood?? AMERICA! Hmmm, you don't hear them complaining about the MONEY they made in this country, do you??? But then they turn around and spit in its face.

It's the same for all the immigrants who feel it's just fine and dandy to come here, make their money, take full advantage of all our programs and aide, while all the time bad-mouthing this country and it's people, and demanding that WE change to suit them and make them feel more comfortable. They feed off this country like leaches and then go back to their own countries with their 'riches.' So let me get this straight, America stinks, but our money is fine?????

When my grandmother came over through Ellis Island she was **** grateful to be in this country. She got a job, worked her backside off in a factory, and she LEARNED THE LANGUAGE. She didn't demand or expect everyone to cater to her native German. People back then RESPECTED this country, and appreciated it as the land of opportunity it truly is.

You want to talk about deceptive governments? Rampant guns? Dangerous streets? Poor healthcare? Try living in China, or Cuba, or Korea, or Afghanistan. You want to talk about prejudice and intolerance?? Try living in South Africa. Still think we have it SO bad? Still think America is an embarassment?

Anyone who thinks they have it SO bad in this country should find somewhere else to live. No America is NOT perfect. NO country is. But as far as other countries are concerned, as far as opportunity and freedom goes, give me America ANY DAY.

God Bless America!

Love it or leave it.

I think Mr. Moore's ranting and raving at the Oscars was completely out of place. We all have opinions on things. Do we go to work and stand up on the desk and go on and on about our opinions?? No. So why is it that these 'stars' feel it's appropriate to use their 'jobs' to get their opinions across??
AMEN!!!!!!!!!!

Id take America any day.... But in defence all though id agree that Stars should keep their mouths shut America has freedom of speech which all gets tied into this whole day....

I agree, and I wish Barbara Streisand would have held to her promise to move out of the country when George Bush was elected.

Don't let the door hit you big mouth!

I agree!
Well said

You can't yell FIRE in a crowded movie theater on the basis of free speech

if there is a fire you can...


but anyway...I have NO PROBLEM letting the stars say whatever they want to say...I hear George Bush speak and I listen and will comment on it...


Michael Moore has done TONS of things with his art to express his opinion of the government...did you know that he got a ficus tree on the 1996 presidential ballot...against Clinton...so you can't say that he is biased...


think where this country would be if people didn't speak up...or sit in...etc

It's semantics really, but MM used his job to get his opinion across - his job is to make movies and that is what he did with BFC. He took advantage of his *opportunities* - like most 'stars' - at the Oscars, to get more of his opinions across.

(Same as when Eddie Vedder ranted on at his shows this summer. Pis*ed some 'fans' off but it's his show, his venue, his opinion, his opportunity - he voiced it. You can't tell me that you didn't know going into the show what his politics were - you ain't a fan then. :P )

I agree Yabbobay, but there is still a time and place for everything, and free speech CAN be taken too far.

I also think if actors and actresses want to be so politically outspoken and involved, they should become politicians.

kmc!!! DON'T SAY THAT!!! Do you really think Arnold Schwarzenegger is qualified to be governor of CA? or Gary Coleman to go deeper into it...


ALL films have symbolism...would you criticize Steven Spielberg for speaking out against hatred when accepting an award for Schindler's List...


actors have taken their notority to get their point across...its one thing to disagree with them...but I truly think that it was a great opportuinty for him to express his opinion...


or should it be all about Versace and Vera Wang...lets get real...we should be happy that Americans (actors, filmakers, teachers, police, butchers...whoever) have opinions - and aren't afraid to express them



a lot of you think there should be limits to free speech...but do you REALLY believe that...censorship is moving backwards...

okay...

lets say for one moment the war in iraq didnt happen and Saddam was free to rein in terror.

The embargo would in no doubt lead to a very upset dicator that would want one thing, war. He knew his country is not prepared to fight a conventional type of battle, so he would in turn lean on his allies, hamas, UBL and other sorts. This alliance is a documented fact, he would support finacially sucide bombers familys.

By the shadow of a doubt that he supplied either money or weapons of mass destruction to these groups they would have the power to cause another attack on us soil. With lessons learned from sept 11, we can not sit idle and take that chance.

Yes, we supported UBL, not the taliban, to fight russia, but we learned from the operation. Hence the need for pre-emtive action. We can not afford to loose thousands because we had to wait and see if this was real or not. We are in a state of war, weather you like it or not, we didnt ask for this, we were attacked.

So before you all start blaming Bush or any other party for that matter, lets really think about the facts here. Could you live with yourself if you said lets wait and see and the next thing you knew, new york or washington DC was inhabital for years upon years, because a dirty bomb exploded? I couldnt and i'm sure Bush couldn't.

So in conclusion, lets not praise the MM's of the world...

If you dont like something, then do something to change it.

I am talking from experience. When I was in JHS and in HS I was so upset with what I was learning about our country so what did I do, I wrote a letter to the president of the USA. YES little old me decided I am going to change the world.

Guess what I got in return. A wonderful prefabbed letter telling me how the president of the US is taking all my concerns and will put them into action. At such a young age I really believed those words.

In HS I was beyond mad at how the educational system was running and how my school was beyond over crowded. Something needed to be done. So what did I do, I wrote many letters to the board of ed, our assemblyman, our congressman and I even wrote a letter to the daily news as an editoral and to our local community papers. (they were published)

Little old me who had no power made my voice heard. I fought long and hard to get my voice heard. I even knew political leaders and went to them to help me because I am no one, they are someone. People will listen to them.

Finally the big shots heard my words and because they were older and wiser, heard my cries and took my words and put them into action. I couldnt do something, but those with power could.

All it takes is a voice. So if you dont like something, open your mouth, speak up and do something.

This was sent to me via email, given this conversation I thought it was appropriate to share it. This was published in a newspaper.

IMMIGRANTS, NOT AMERICANS, MUST ADAPT. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Americans. However, the dust from the attacks had barely settled when the 'politically correct' crowd began complaining about the possibility that our patriotism was offending others.

I am not against immigration, nor do I hold a grudge against anyone who is seeking a better life by coming to America, Our population is almost entirely made up of descendants of immigrants. However, there are a few things that those who have recently come to our country, and apparently some born here, need to understand. This idea of America being a multicultural community has served only to dilute our sovereignty and our national identity. As Americans, we have our own culture, our own society, our own language and our own lifestyle. This culture has been developed over centuries of struggles, trials, and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom.
We speak ENGLISH, not Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language!
To be continued...

The rest...

'IN GOD WE TRUST' is our national motto. This is not some Christian, right wing, political slogan. We adopted this motto because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture.

If Stars and Stripes offend you, or you don't like Uncle Sam, then you should seriously consider a move to another part of this planet. We are happy with our culture and have no desire to change, and we really don't care how you did things where you came from. This is OUR COUNTRY, our land and our lifestyle. Our First Amendment gives every citizen the right to express his opinion and we will allow you every opportunity to do so. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about our flag, our pledge, our national motto, our way of life, I highly encourage you to take advantage of one other great American freedom, THE RIGHT TO LEAVE.
Pretty heavy stuff, but makes you think.

Johnny Depp 'lives' in France a majority of his time....however, the nimrod *conveniently* keeps a Hollywood Hills mansion as his legal address....hmmmm, wonder why - if he dislikes America SO MUCH

Dork!

Amen Groovy!!

Yabbo, I still have to stand firmly in my opinion that the Oscars were not an appropriate place for Moore to launch his diatribe. Just as my workplace, or your workplace, is not an appropriate place to preach about religion, or any other personal issues.

ALL the actors and actresses were WARNED by the Oscar people and by the network NOT to say anything political, and if they did, they would be pulled. He deliberately went against their wishes.

Susan Sarandon said it best, when she came out and silently gave the 'peace' sign with her hand.

Others expressed their opinions by wearing a pin on their lapel--I can't remember what it was, but it clearly showed their view of things.

That's freedom of speech at its best in that particular setting, expressed with grace and sophistication.

Mr. Moore was out of line--not for expressing his opinion, but for HOW he expressed it.

I still have to disagree...the kids in Iowa in the 60's (Tinker vs Des Moines)were not supposed to wear armbands to protest the Vietnam War, but they did...took it to the Supreme Court and WON...

If they had never went against the wishes of the school symbolic speech may not be what it is today


you can't say that one person's speech is right b/c you agree with it...and another is wrong, b/c you don't agree with it...



and while we are on the topic...'under God' was put in the Pledge in the 1950s to prove that we were not an atheist nation like the Communists...it is not part of our culture or history...unless you are proud of the red scare and mccarthyism