Michael Moore – Why some people don't like him

[stevenleser]

http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_steven_l_070729_michael_moore__96_why_.htm
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July 29, 2007

Michael Moore – Why some people don't like him

By Steven Leser


The most important person in my life, my daughter, let me know that several people she knew did not like Michael Moore. I promised I would take some time and explain to her why I liked Moore so much and why they did not.


The answer is best and easiest viewed when we consider other important figures in history who challenged the mindset of those who advocate the status quo. How were they viewed? How were they treated? At 13, my daughter is fairly gifted in math and science, so lets look at two figures in those disciplines:


Galileo Galilei

Given the titles “The Father of Modern Observational Astronomy”, “The Father of Modern Physics” and “The Father of Science” Galileo was hated by many in his time for opposing the church’s Aristotelian view of the solar system and universe which said that all heavenly bodies revolved around the earth. Instead, Galileo said that the solar system was Heliocentric, and the earth and other planets revolve around the sun. While Copernicus originally put forth the theory and physics behind Heliocentrism, it is Galileo who more prominently rose to its defense through his book “Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems” leading to the showdown between himself and the Catholic Church. In 1633, Galileo was forced by the church to recant his beliefs and was placed under house arrest for the remainder of his life and his book “Dialogue…” was banned.

I feel it useful to include two quotes by Galileo before moving on:- I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect intended us to forgo their use.
- All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them.


I would add an addendum to the last quote if I could be so bold. I would say “All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them and then not insist on stubbornly clinging to the status quo”


Sir Isaac Newton

If Galileo was the father of Modern Physics, Newton is his most important son. Children like my daughter, at age 13 will be learning the foundations in mathematics and science to hopefully be eventually able to tackle one of Newton’s most important inventions/discoveries, Calculus. Newton gave us many important discoveries including his work on Optics, and on the classical mechanics that bear his name (Newtonian mechanics).


Newton did not face the round criticism from many corners that Galileo did, but it is also commonly known that Newton had a large ego. This ego was turned loose on other important scientists and mathematicians of his time including Liebnitz and Hooke among others. I cite this because many say they dislike Moore because they say he has a large ego that is on display in many of his films. To them I say, since Newton did also, if it is your intent to live a life that depends on rejecting the ideas of people with big egos, feel free to go through the rest of your lives without using any invention that depends on Newtonian discoveries. Which can basically be translated as “Have a nice life living in a hut in the middle of some rainforest somewhere without electricity, running water or any other modern convenience”. Can anyone say “Unabomber”?


Leaving Science, let’s look at philosophy. Socrates is credited for laying the foundations of Western Philosophy and thought. Law schools in the United States today use the Socratic Method of dialectic reasoning to teach their students. His adherence to truth and virtue conflicted with Athenian society and government. Many hated him including those in the highest echelons of power in Athens. He was found guilty of “corrupting the youth of Athens” and sentenced to death by drinking the poison Hemlock. In reality, Socrates was guilty of challenging the idea “Might makes right” which was the accepted belief of the Athenian government. Put yet another way, here was another person who challenged the status quo and was subjected to hatred and persecution for it.


Whatever you think of Moore, he challenges the status quo. Moore says through his film that the official story of 9/11 looks suspicious. It does. Moore says healthcare is broken in the United States and it is. Moore says that Universal Single Payer healthcare in countries like Canada, the United Kingdom and France do a much better job taking care of their citizens and they do. If you want to hate Moore, go ahead, but have the courage to tell people the truth. You hate him because he is brilliant, because he wants to change things and because he is right.





Authors Bio: Steven Leser specializes in Politics, Science & Health, and Entertainment topics. He has held positions within the Democratic Party including District Chair and Public Relations Chair within county organizations. Mr. Leser broke the story of the Bush Impeachment Resolution being drafted in the Illinois General Assembly. The story was printed right here on OpEdNews.com

[xchrom]

1. you got the phrase exactly right -- status quo.

we don't use it enough any more.

and you're right about why people don't like moore -- and it's about destroying the messenger because you fear the message.

[Jackpine Radical]

2. A beautiful essay.

Thanks.
And please get it some circulation beyond the choir here & on Rob Kall's site.

[ladym55]

3. Michael Moore is a threat

He asks questions and has strong opinions that challenge the folks in power.

So instead of debating the issues he raises, let's discredit him!!!!

It's a very effective tactic unfortunately. Right-wing media fan the flames of hate to keep the message away.

My local newsrag -- err -- paper cannot write about Michael Moore without taking cheap shots.

[bvar22]

13. Not just Right Wing Media.

Right Wing Democrats (DLC) attacked MM viciously after Farenheit 911.

http://www.ndol.org/ndol_ci.cfm?contentid=252483&kaid=127&subid=177

http://www.alternet.org/election04/20650/


Right Wing DUers too.

[Cha]

4. cnn hates his guts..just ask kira phillips

Was it she who said, "Michael Moore's coming up next if you can stomach it"?

I've always liked Michael Moore except for those times I was pissed at him for supporting nader and dissing Dean. :)

But, Michael is a work in progress and always evolving..do not hold it against 'im.

Recommended~

[comtec]

12. To his credit he has appologised for supporting Nader

Now it's up the the greens who bad mouthed Gore to apologize.. TO THE WORLD!

[ellenfl]

5. k&r eom

[rucky]

6. Pass the Hemlock. n/t

[John Q. Citizen]

7. Michael Moore puts demands on power. His first movie Roger and Me, condensed

the concept of putting demands on power down to the very simplist and most understandable form.

He wanted to ask Roger Smith, former CEO of GM a question. The whole movie was about his attempt to place a demand on Corporate power.

Sicko does the same, but in a more complex way. It places the demand for universal healthcare on the Corporations who are ripping us off , on healthcare.

Power doesn't like having demands placed on it. And so they smear, impede, distort, whatever they can do to ignore, ridicule, or discredit the demand.

[Triana]

8. Excellent explanation, and absolutely correct - K & R (n /t)

[Hissyspit]

9. "All great truths begin as blasphemies." -George Bernard Shaw. Also:

"All truth passes through three stages," wrote Schopenhauer. "First, it is ridiculed. Second it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident."

[snot]

10. Hmmm . . . I don't like MM because

he's insecure and obnoxious.

I like him because he basically cares about the truth, happens to be right about a lot of things, and has what it takes to go to the mat with it.

[Vidar]

11. Excellent. K&R.

[Locrian]

14. uncomfortable

Michael Moore makes people feel uncomfortable. (So does Al Gore).

People want to be "comfortable" in their lives.
Esp in the "consumer" culture where everything is just a purchase away. We are told again and again that you're a sucker to work hard, that you can buy happiness, etc.

It takes a strong person to recognize that they don't know everything. That learning something new can make you uncomfortable, or it can actually (oh no) be **hard**. Sure, sometimes people say its "fun" to learn - they haven't really ever challenged themselves outside their comfort zone. (edit: a love of learning can overcome this negative side, but there are still moments when learning something deep or profound can be "challenging")

This is why, I think, "smart" people can like bush - they find some things easy, but have never had to push themselves. Usually because they have been "born into it" or some other lucky circumstance.

[Douglas Carpenter]

15. K&R

[BridgeTheGap]

16. If Moore looked like George Clooney

He would be better liked.

[LuckyLib]

17. MM also crosses some interesting social class lines. He could sit down with anyone in a bar

and LISTEN to what folks have to say. But he also reads voraciously, so he's informed. Before slinging BS at him, you'd better know your stuff. Suits hate him because he not only challenges corporate power, he does it in unusual and confrontative ways. He's an informed loose cannon, likely to ask the exact right question at exactly the wrong time. Above all, he has a way of asking very basic, simple questions that lie at the root of our values and our practices -- Sicko's "Is this the kind of people we are? The kind of people we want to be?" is a powerful statement.

[groovedaddy]

18. Moore is extremely effective

and for this alone, he is vilified