Bowling For Columbine

Greg and I just saw "Bowling For Columbine." I can't believe we waited this long to see it! It was incredible and sad and thought-provoking. If you haven't seen it, it's basically about the underlying problems in America that make our children shoot other children in their schools. It deeply examines the very nature of our country and how and why it is so troubled, warped, and violent. If you haven't seen it, stop right now and go out and rent it. It's that important. It should be required curriculum in the public schools.

I also just read an article in Utne magazine about the pros and cons of leaving America and becoming ex-patriots. There are so many reasons to leave--neither Greg nor I can believe the things that are happening in this country right now under this administration. It saddens and shames me to be a citizen of such an aggressive, domineering country whose motto is to "kill them before they kill you." However, as the article stated and as I believe, it is cowardly to leave just because there are problems and you don't like the way things are going. It is infinitely more difficult and stronger to stay and fight for what we believe. I also happen to feel that this country is wonderful and full of a lot of incredible people. And way back when John Adams and his fellow revolutionaries tried to convince the country to declare Independence from Britain, it was not the popular opinion. But he did not just give up and move to Canada; he fought tooth and nail for his values. The abolitionists and suffragettes didn't give up either, and they were certainly not in the majority! All the things they fought for are now just accepted as the right and proper way for things to be. And so it will also be in our future. Yes, I'm sick at heart about a lot of things here. Yes, a part of me would love to just move to Canada or Switzerland. But if all the dissenters just leave, I'm scared to think what America would become. The story of our country and its freedoms and strengths is all about a long history of dissention. So I urge everyone who reads this to commit to making their voice heard. I don't care if you don't believe in the same things I do--that's what makes us great! Not unity, but unified diversity. Apathy is the only true evil here.

by Matt Stone and Trey Parker (Creators of South Park)

Comments

[A.J.]

It's funny that you just now watched that. I think it brilliant as well and on New Years Eve got into a discussion with a friend that thinks it's one big leftist lie. Well, after both parties had stated their case.... of course I was still right. :) The next day he sent me this link for an article that tries to refute everything in Bowling for Columbine. The writer does a good job, but granted he has his own agenda, he is a conservative lawyer who practices in 2nd amendment rights. He protects gun laws for a living and tries to persuade the reader with a bunch of statistics that disprove Moore's statistics. In any case, we all know, no matter what the statistics are, PEOPLE ARE DYING! So, if you would like to read some thoughts from the other side.... heres the link. http://www.hardylaw.net/Truth_About_Bowling.html It's important to look at both sides. I still think Moores documentary was simply brilliant and I truly hope more people venture out and see it!

[Greg]

That was a very interesting article. However, you are right in saying that he certainly isn't "objective" in his comments, either. I think that he is right in putting the information out there for us to criticize, but, as with most things, the answer is somewhere in the middle. After I read his article, I was still not convinced that he refuted some very important points that the movie made:
1) The second amendment is entitled "The right to bear arms." It does not state the right to bear arms of all types. In essence the words could be upheld with a variety of circumstances from the right to make small chemical, biological, and nuclear bombs for personal safety to the right own bows and arrows only (both cirucumstances that I think would not be good). In essence, some limitations and interpretation must be made. Just because some believe that the interpretation should include less guns than others believe, does not make the former individuals "anti-bill of rights" or even anti-second amendment."
2) The choices of our government to frequently solve foreign problems with mass bombings and the use of capital punishment as a desirable method of dealing with felons of any type are symptomatic of a pervasive mentality that affects the way that the citizens of this country deal with each other. One thing that Moore did not lie about: Ghandi stopped the British empire's possession of India without the use of a single bomb.
3) American mass media (and the government) do indeed manipulate people with fear. Advertisers have always tried to make you think you need things by making you scared and our government uses the media to alert us to some dangers and not to others. It's surprising how little some administrations discuss environmental dangers while others make sure everyone knows about it.

Thanks for the comment and the link, AJ!

[Ricky]

The movie is thought provoking that is for sure, be it lies or not. Moore himself, answers the opponents to Bowling' on his own site as well http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/wackoattacko/.
Though I still think he edited and went the wrong way on the editing of the Heston speech and interview, most of it is there in black an white. The backwoods militia guys were quite scary especially since ive seen them in person (in Texas and Northern Arkansas that is, those michigan (if I spelled that wrong sorry guys) folks is scary.
Just my .02 on Issue number 1. Greg, I actually got into a debate on that subject with a local gun owner/hunter/animal murderer(The guy hunts constantly, has a brand new vehicle, large house, etc... has no need for any kind of meat he slaughtered this year, yet has a total of 6 deerheads scattered about his house.) Anyways, enough with the tangents, I have always seen it has those guys wrote that thing up when their country was new. They were actually having for their right just to be known as a country, war was at americans doorsteps. Farmers, homesteaders, anyone was a soldier back then, the right to bear arms was a right to fight for your country. Their right to bear arms was a right to generally protect their freedoms. Today be they just or not, we have the military, police, Nat Guard, and other agencies to handle this task for us. Their is no need for Joe Public to have a Semi-Auto Rifle, 2 pistols, and a few shotguns lying around his house. Thats my take on the whole Gun Issue.
Anyways guys, Greg, glad the surgery went well. Also it looks like its a sure thing we will be moving to the general vicinity of Benton, Bauxite, Tull. Just as I was considering it my boss, informed me that my company may be going down and she is cutting the repair, and website design all together. Making my job of tech, webmaster, sys admin, be just a sys admin, and therefore not affordable. Good thing is im going to be getting unemployment and have begun to fill out a new fafsa (what ever it is) for the fall school year. Bad thing is we are moving again. Hey I also have your Finding Nemo, if you want I can mail it yall.

[Ricky]

God, I just read that post, I need an editor.