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Temperature’s Rising: Why You Should See Fahrenheit 9/11
By Tameka Bradley Hobbs
June 2004
Fahrenheit 9/11 is frightening, revealing, and inspirational at the same time.
As a whole, it is the tale of democracy gone awry. Starting with the controversy of
the 2000 elections, Moore paints a troubling picture of George W. Bush’s presidency,
which was born in chaos. Let’s face it, we already know that George W. Bush is nowhere
near being the brightest bulb on the tree. Still, it is almost painful to hear him speak
without being properly prepared, with cue cards and a teleprompter at the ready. The
examples of Bush’s lack of intelligence are not what is most surprising in Michael Moore’s
documentary.
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What hits the viewer between the eyes are the revelations about who actually
calls the shots when it comes to governing this country. It is no secret that The Golden
Rule is in full effect at the highest levels of government (he who has the gold makes the
rules), but it is deeply disturbing that one family, in this case the Bushes, and their
cronies, can have so much influence over our lives and, most tragically, the fate of our
soldiers.
Watching this film, you will see first-hand how ill suited Lil’ Bush is to be the leader of
the free world. Moore claims that Bush spent 42% of his time prior to the attacks of
September 11th on vacation or away from the White House (another study says it was 38%, a
lower figure but still grossly excessive). You will see an inarticulate George Bush attempt
to explain to the press that he is really working on national policy while at his Texas ranch
digging for armadillos…really. He is really working on some "things," which he struggles to
describe. In the end, tired of scrambling for answers that he doesn’t have, he simply tells
reports that they "will see when the reports comes out." He sounded like a schoolboy
explaining how the dog ate his homework. Frankly, my students have come up with more
believable excuses. Just plain scary.
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What is more troubling are the connections that Moore makes between the Bush
family, American oil companies, the Saudi royal family, the family of Osama
Bin Ladens, and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. It is a tangled web of money,
oil, and power, with the Bush family in the middle of it all. Despite all the
rhetoric about "weapons of mass destruction" and "evil-doers" and the desire to
make the world safe for democracy, this administration seems to be more interested
in pushing their own agendas, settling their own scores, and lining the pockets of
their friends who will kick back the rewards when the time is right. Money and
economic opportunity are the major factors in how foreign policy is decided in the
United States, especially where Iraq is concerned. Bush claimed that Saddam Hussein
was an evil dictator and needed to be removed from power. If that is the basis of
our actions, why hasn’t the U.S. taken greater steps to deal with corrupt leaders
in African nations who have slaughtered millions of innocent civilians over the
past few years? What is the U. S. going to do about the Sudan, where it is predicted
that the ethnic cleansing of black Africans by the Muslims in that country will rival
the atrocities committed in Rwanda? What about Haiti? It is cliché by now but there
is some truth to the logic: the suffering in those countries might garner true action
from the U. S. if those people were sitting on oil wells.
Make no mistake. Moore is out for blood where the Bush family is concern. The
intellectual in me would have been more comfortable if Moore would have showed some
restraint. Some parts of the film are gratuitous (his fangs were definitely showing).
On the other hand, I believe Michael Moore has done a great service to the American public.
He has stood, firmly and bravely, upon his First Amendment right to have his say, even
when the powerful attempted to silence his film. More importantly, Moore has given the
Average Joe & Josephine insight into how our capitalist democracy works.
Whether you agree or disagree with Michael Moore is not important. The larger question is
what are we going to do to make our voices heard in this democracy? The American public
needs to realize, embrace and utilize the power of our collective voices and votes. We
should ask ourselves why people fought so hard to prevent this film from being shown and
continue to work to discredit it. We need to remember the 2000 elections, especially
those of us in Florida, and educate ourselves about what is at stake this election year.
Democracy only works if we participate. Inactivity is not an option.
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