Posted on 09/02/2004 10:32:01 AM PDT by raccoonradio
(Guest Columnist) 'From Here to Eternity." "Tora, Tora, Tora." "In Harm's Way." These are three films made about Pearl Harbor. There have been more than 20 films made about Pearl Harbor, and over 200 films made about World War II. These films inspire patriotism, courage, and nationalism. They tell us about the honor and bravery of the soldiers and the nation that supported them. Two and a half years after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the world watched American forces fight on D-Day. Two and a half years after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the world is watching Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11."
Moore's film is the first major motion picture about Sept. 11, 2001. This bears repeating. When future generations look back on the Sept. 11 massacre, their first impression, through the medium of film, will be a work in which the president and the government are blamed for the attacks, and the soldiers who are protecting this country are defamed. Instead of a film version of Lisa Beamer's book, "Let's Roll," or Richard Picciotto's "Last Man Down," we are presented with this fallacy. How could this happen?
It would be a colossal insult to insinuate that Franklin D. Roosevelt or the U.S. government were in any way responsible for the attacks on Pearl Harbor. Can you imagine the indignation of the men and women who lived during that period?
"Fahrenheit 9/11" is indicative of a nation that has become too apathetic, ignorant or deceived to face the enemy at the gate. America, where is your fury?
On Sept. 11, 2001, I stood across the Hudson River, watching the Twin Towers burn, knowing that if the plane had struck at 9:46 a.m. instead of 8:46 a.m., I would be dead. As a survivor and witness to the attack on the World Trade Center, I am more than insulted by this film. I am outraged. This film is based on conjecture, hearsay and propaganda. At a time when this country desperately needs to rally in support of our brave soldiers and our strong leaders, Moore is content to spread discord and divisiveness. The base of his argument is that the Bush administration had strong ties with the bin Laden family. However, sound facts are conspicuously absent from this "documentary."
The 9/11 commission did not indict President Bush. According to the report, the president's actions before, during and after the attacks are fully justified, including the military action in Iraq. The commission did not find a direct link between Saddam Hussein's Iraq and the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. A similar commission in the 1940s would not have found a direct link between Hitler's Germany and the attack on Pearl Harbor. In both instances, the threat was imminent; the president and the military acted decisively.
Could we have been more prepared for a terrorist attack on Sept. 10, 2001? Certainly. Could we have been more prepared for an attack on Dec. 6, 1941? Most definitely. In the weeks and months following Pearl Harbor, there were reports and criticisms that the government and military should have been more prepared. The difference is that the people of the nation did not waste a lot of time pointing fingers at each other. Rather, they unified and engaged the enemy head-on. I guess that is why we call them "The Greatest Generation." How will future generations refer to us?
So, how do we explain Moore's film to future generations? I wonder. More than that, I wonder how I would explain this film to Nancy D., Jerome N. or Heather H. I am sure you don't know their names, but their faces haunt me day and night. How would I explain to them that a film was made accusing the president and vilifying the soldiers, the same president and soldiers who are attempting to avenge their murders and protect other citizens. Moore has not only insulted the nation, he has insulted the victims of the terrorist attacks.
During his acceptance speech at the Oscars, Moore said, "Shame on you, Mr. Bush." Well, I say, "Shame on you, Michael Moore." Shame on everyone who supports this travesty of a film. Shame on a society that allows this sham of a film. You have weakened the nation.
Michael Niewodowski was a chef at the Windows on the World restaurant at the World Trade Center until Sept. 11, 2001. He lives in Bradenton, FL
Bring back John Wayne!!!!
F911 has backfired in a big way. The Dems thought they had a movie that would be devastating to Bush. All it has done has enraged Republicans, conservatives, veterans, military personel, and some independents.
The only person that has benefited is Michael Moore and the Republicans.
Thanks Michael. You deserve to be at the RNC Convention because you helped us in a big way to win this election.
"So, how do we explain Moore's film to future generations?"
In a few years this movie will be a popular as Kerry's book "The New Soldier" is today. (meaning not at all) All this "hate America" and Bush bashing stuff is only for the election. Once the election is over, these materials will become like yesterday's newspaper.
Only a fool (or a Dem) would point to that movie as a temperature of American feelings about the attack.
Great article. I understand the DVD of F911 is coming out next month and the dems are hoping and praying it creates more outrage at Bush. Hopefully the exact opposite will occur...
BTTT
bttt
As someone who stood on their roof in greenwhich village and saw the attacks and the fallout on 9/11 I agree that Moore has co-opted and exploited the events to promote his film and squeeze out controversy to push what is basically a snuff version of "america's funniest home videos." Moore is a marxist Bob Sagett bookending his funny clips of wolfowitz spitting on his comb and bush playing golf with footage of people being murdered. I think a lot of people on the right give Moore too much credit for believing that he has a political viewpoint. His cinema is a shallow one and controversy only forwards the notion. The best thing to do is ignore his buffoonery and he will go away because his arguments have no legs. A flash in the pan.
BTTT
This is a BRILLIANT article that makes an indisputable point ... unless the reader's intellectual capacity is such that it can actually accept Moore's thesis.
BTW, Windows on the World was atop the WTC; every employee who reported to work on 9/11/2001 -- cooks, dishwashers, servers -- was murdered. There was no escape.
Before that day, the author spent every working day with these victims and, by accident of fate, survives them. I imagine that this article substantially understates its author's loathing of Michael Moore.
It will be on one of those VHS's (or the equivalent) like "Cartoons Go To War," about propaganda (of course, it will be about the *bad* kind of propaganda, meant to erode support, rather than the Bugs Bunny propaganda, meant to bolster support)...
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