Judy Baker, a teacher at Henry M. Jackson High School, showed the anti-Bush documentary last week to students in her government class as part of a lesson in propaganda and politics.First, allow me to remind you that I am a teacher. In the Public School System. And many of my brethren are not thinking and it amazes me. But back to the article.
The [local GOP] office also sent a copy of "FahrenHYPE 9/11," a movie that responds to and critiques Moore's film. Cheshire, the principal, said he'd approve the film if Baker requested its use.
Filmmaker Michael Moore's condemnation of Bush's actions regarding the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon became the first documentary to top the $100 million mark domestically. In the film, Moore examines the Bush administration's alleged financial ties to Saudi Arabia and the bin Laden family.
I've got several problems with this idea.
First, using a film such as this, when labeled a documentary, is dishonest. I think all of us have read and been made aware of fantasies and fallacies of this film. About the best discussion of it that I have seen is Dave Kopel's Fifty-nine Deceits in Fahrenheit 911 Kopel is clear, concise and definitely on target with this issue. Moore is free to generate whatever trash fiction he chooses to but calling this, or most of his other hate-filled work documentaries, is not something honest, thinking people do.
Second, using films as a substitute for teaching is an action I cannot agree with. As a teacher, I use excerpts of films here and there to demonstrate a point or explain, visually, a concept, but putting a 122 minute long film in the player and letting someone with a grudge and deep pockets he's looking to fill teach your class for you is a shame. Moore is a liar and a buffoon.
And he could use a bath, a shave and some clean clothes but that's for another day, I think.
Moore has now put out a "teacher's guide" for watching the movie. It is filled with the same kind of venom and pointlessness as the movie and, were I a parent of a child being shown this movie, I would be disgusted with any teacher so lazy and lacking in thinking ability that he or she would use this as a substitute for actual teaching.
Excerpt:
According to the Boston Globe, tens of thousands of protesters showed up along Bush's inaugural parade route to proclaim that he and Vice President Dick Cheney had "stolen" the election. Bush chose not to partake in the traditional walk to the White House.
Why was this not more widely publicized? Why would news networks choose not to highlight such a large demonstration? While Bush continues to be protested virtually everywhere he goes, especially in foreign countries, why do we see so little of this in the national media? Has the media been fair or have they been guilty of failing to report many negative aspects of Bush’s presidency?
Bush's "War on Terrorism" has cost the nation billions of dollars in an effort to beef up security. In March of 2003 roughly 180,000 personnel from 22 government organizations became part of the Department of Homeland Security. It's said to be the largest government reorganization since the onset of the Cold War. The DHS's many activities include keeping out terrorists, criminals and dangerous material, strengthening seaport security, and improving security at airports.
With all this DHS activity, how do you explain the fact that a single Oregon state trooper is assigned to patrol a 1,400-square-mile territory that includes 100 miles of roads on the central coast? Why is it that passengers are allowed to take four books of matches and two lighters on an airplane? Have you or someone you know carried something on an airplane you shouldn't have?
Beyond the obvious slant of the questions (which is egregious enough), why does this not address our President by his title? Why would any teacher ask a child to implicate him or herself in a crime? Why would a teacher not make clear that the Federal Government does not assign State Troopers anywhere? Why, Why, Why? Why would any teacher use this film as a so-called teaching tool? Ms. Baker and the District should be ashamed.
What Michael Moore and his rabid followers do not seem to understand even now about the election and our President is simple enough. The majority of the voters have faith in his leadership. The majority of the voters support Conservative issues. The majority of voters are not off in La-La Liberal Land.
And last time I checked, majority rules.
But, frankly, it's ok with me if the Left wanders even further left because that means the next time the polls close, there will be even more votes supporting the issues the majority of us believe in.
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