Michael Moore responds to the right-wing attacks on “Bowling for Columbine.” Good reading.
What’s always fascinated me about “Bowling” is that while Moore castigates the NRA and Charlton Heston for some of their tactics, he’s not some sort of gun-hating commie. He even talks about how Canada has as many guns, gun owners and hunters as we do, but we have exponentially more gun violence. Moore’s real target, it seems to me, is the media that whips up fear of “the other” in the public’s mind. When you don’t feel safe, even if the reasons are fake, you lock your door and grab your gun. That’s the real message of Moore’s movie, if you ask me.
Good stuff as usual. Thanks for the link Adam.
I don’t see how anyone who’s seen the movie could miss the message you described. Ironically, though, Moore seems to employ some of the same techniques he criticizes the “media” for — and it’s rather cringe-worthy.
It’s Marilyn Manson who really makes that movie come together by outlining its central premise.
David: I totally agree about Marilyn Manson. Interesting that of all the people Moore interviews in the movie, Manson makes the best and most nuanced points.
Yeah, Manson’s words were among the most compelling, for me, as well. Also, I agree with you that the movie is not anti-gun, since it goes into how many guns other countries have and that Moore is an NRA member himself. I don’t think the film entirely blames mass-media though, I think it’s a question that is unanswered by the film. Having said that, it is true what the film said about the portrayal of Africans in the news. Also I think the film makes a big point about this culture of fear. Having it pointed out to so vividly, you can’t help but continue to see it for what it is afterward.