So my essay on Moore hasn't been officially graded, but I can't think of anything else to post right now.
I'm tired. I've been working and writing so much for my job, going to classes, coming home and talking to
Paulie as much as possible (because he's the best boyfriend in the world), and let's not forget studying, working out, and whatever else I can fit in.
I read that
Michael Moore may already be starting on a documentary concerning
Katrinagate. Should be interesting.
The essay is all centered in MLA style, but I tried to make it easier to read. I am too lazy to clean it up and make it look pretty. I'll let you know what kind of grade I get on it.
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Michael Moore’s Battle
When asking any voting American how they feel about the controversial author and filmmaker Michael Moore, it comes as no surprise to receive a barrage of multi-faceted answers. The general American public either loves him or hates him, with little or no grey area in between. However, for a man to ethically and powerfully expose his views of America, while concurrently searching for truth and solutions to better the country, deserves a special kudos for his efforts.
Moore has been referred to by some as a hater of America due to his politically charged documentaries “Fahrenheit 9/11” and “Bowling for Columbine.” Upon visiting Moore’s official website, michaelmoore.com, it is evident that he does care for America greatly, while simultaneously expressing his outrage at the costly failings of American leadership. The website shows that Moore’s interests include subjects such as helping the soldiers in Iraq and making donations to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. A hater of America would not go to such lengths to assist the less fortunate and try to make the country a better place to live.
Moore is also considered controversial because of his stance against President George W. Bush and the war in Iraq. From this he has been labeled as a liberal extremist. On the other hand, when a country has only two political parties to choose from, one will always be against the other in many ways. The method Moore takes to express his stance is his right, according to the first amendment of our nation’s Declaration of Independence: that all Americans have the right to free speech.
In an article in Rolling Stone magazine, Peter Travers states, “There’s no discounting the power of Moore’s ferocious, cathartically funny film. It’s the highest grossing documentary in movie history, and oddsmakers claim it may become the first documentary ever to be Oscar Nominated for Best Picture. What makes it great is the way Moore indicts hypocrisy across all party lines. The film’s theme? Political expediency and who gets to die for it. Watch the scene in which Moore rallies members of Congress to get their own children to enlist in the Iraq war …” (Travers 114-144.)
Moore was named one Essence magazine’s Men of the Year in 2004. Writer Pamela K. Johnson states that Moore is, “one smart, courageous, filmmaking White guy, who we know has our back” (Johnson 175).
Moore, a man who likes to rile people up socially and politically, should not be discredited at first glance. He is an excellent researcher, author, and filmmaker who simply searches for the truth in a world where honesty is not the easiest attribute to find. The way he expresses himself harms no one, but only serves to open the eyes of those that may be searching for those same truths.
