My Personal Tribute to Michael Moore -- An American Patriot

[jokerman93]

I've been depressed for a long time. Most of the time, I didn't even know I was depressed. Other times, there could be no doubt. I grew up thinking America stood for something, and that Democracy was a human achievement worth struggling and dying for.

And I could point out people, ordinary geniuses -- men and women, who could back me up on that. People like General George Washington who led a revolutionary struggle against an empire that took much and returned little. Americans like Walt Whitman, Susan B. Anthony, Abraham Lincoln; on and on. One could fill pages and libraries with the names and stories of real Americans. Men and women who lived and died by a commitment to the genius of Democratic ideas -- people for whom Democracy and Freedom weren't just cynical marketing slogans. Somehow, to me being an American meant being larger than life, broad minded and valuing the participation of all in the business of running a successful society. Americans were people who thought truth and justice were supposed to be a way of life.

Like I say I've been depressed lately. Though my personal life and career are more fulfilling than anytime before, I haven't been able to shed this Grey sense of blight whenever I turn on the news and am forced to look at the state we're in.

But here's something that made me smile. With all the furor about his new film, and now the story about the Nick Berg footage, it doesn't take an ordinary genius to figure out that Michael Moore is a smart, courageous man -- to speak out against the forces of control as he does. I did a search on google images for "Michael Moore", looking for a good shot to collect for an on-line journal entry.

While I was looking at his various faces and poses, something about his expression in some of the portraits turned a light on. I was reminded of someone very dear to me. I opened up another google image window and did a search on "Ben Franklin".

My friends, do you want a little glimmer of hope? If you do, then spend just a few seconds comparing the expression of these two lively spirits as I did. And tell me if you don't see what I see:

That same old feisty, defiant Democratic Spirit of the real America. The unique spirit of optimism and broadmindedness that can be adopted by the highest in any culture without debasing its own history and values.

Maybe Democracy in America is still alive, I thought. Maybe the good things find their way.

Thank you citizen Michael Moore for being our Town Cryer this time around. We owe you one.

[senseandsensibility]

1. It's funny

when you look back at Michael's Oscar speech, how tame it seems now. He was so completely right. You just think, "what the * was all the controversy about?" But that is the mark of a genius, to see clearly and to be ahead of the trend, and NOT to be afraid to speak out in the most public of forums. I agreed with eveything he said at the time, but when he dared to say it at that moment, in front of the whole world, I broke down in tears.

[jokerman93]

2. I remember that speech

I was amazed and impressed at his brashness. He knew he was going to piss allot of people off with that outburst. Hollywood wanted none of the uncomfortable politics it seemed. The Hollywood politicos must have had fear of censure, or simply didn't want to be reminded of the danger they were in.

Whatever his personal flaws, Michael Moore is a man of principle, and he did what he considered his duty. He earned his moment on that stage. And then he took that moment, and did precisely what Michael Moore does -- he called out the warning.

I teared up as well.

[NJCher]

3. maybe Ben is reincarnated as Michael Moore

There were some threads about a month ago in The Meeting Room that discussed reincarnation. One was about a television segment that showed remarkable similarities in the physical resemblence of a young boy and a fighter pilot. I happened to see the segment and the similarities were remarkable.

Go back a page or two and you'll find this thread and others that discuss that topic.

Wish I could see the "look in the eye" that you speak of.

Michael Moore and Ben Franklin are both geniuses.


Cher

[jokerman93]

4. look in the eye

I suppose reincarnation is a possibility, but for me, what is best and worst about humanity just keeps reasserting itself through history.

Just look at the way they both mug for the "camera" -- the character, the humor, the broad spirit -- knowing what you know about these two brilliant American people, separated by centuries, but not by common character.

Interesting that there were threads on this comparison just recently. I hadn't caught them.

Now that's a meme with real legs!