An informational chart, comments.
June 29th, 2004 | by Scott Jennings || Movie | Reason I Cried |
|---|---|
| Spellbound | Identified with protagonists, stressed that cat was missing |
| Harold And Maude | Bittersweet ending, choked back tears to appear “strong but sensitive” to girlfriend |
| Fahrenheit 9/11 | Intense hatred for President, seething anger at his actions and inactions, failure to defend New York, sending brother to fight unjust war |
The film was far from perfect, but it was incredibly powerful and effective. Ethan and I were completely overwhelmed afterwards, and didn’t say much of anything on our way back to our cars. Jeff and I talked about it for awhile — it was good to hear that the film was selling out in Norfolk, and that he was able to take at least one of his friends to see it.
But Jeff also told me that most of his Navy colleagues are basically putting their thumbs in their ears and singing “la la la la, I can’t hear you” when he mentions the film to them. They have a fear of being corrupted by a film that you could generously call an “op-ed” and possibly call “propaganda” — as if something weren’t completely true, it’s not safe to view.
Well, guess what, Chester: nothing’s completely true. Certainly not the network news, they’re not getting the whole story, be sure of that. Moore has done a very effective job at presenting another side to this sordid and complex story, and there’s certainly no way he could possibly be completely accurate or not color it with his point of view. But you’re doing yourself a disservice to not see it and consider it and consider the possibilities it presents, you’re willfully keeping your head in the sand by not considering that our government doesn’t always have your best interests in mind.
I’m not asking you to see the film and have your mind completely and instantly changed and donate the maximum to Kerry. I’m not asking you to apologize for voting for Bush in the first place. (Don’t get me started on what a douchebag Al Gore is.) I don’t want you to get defensive about your support of Bush, that’s none of my business. All I ask is that you watch the film and consider the arguments and feel free to reject them. I’m talking to you, the sailors that serve with my brother, my friends, my teammates, my coworkers who read me on company time, all of you.
Watch George W. Bush in that classroom on 9/11 and see the look on his face while New York burned. I was infuriated to tears.
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