In defense of Moore's documentary
Katie Murray
freshman
In his Viewpoint column last Thursday entitled, "Michael Moore's gutterball," Peter Wicks claims that Michael Moore's Oscar-winning film, "Bowling for Columbine," uses lies and deception to further Moore's own political agenda.
Mr. Wicks further criticizes Moore for his overabundance of explanations for the problem of violence in the United States. In fact, Moore attributes American gun violence to one thing: a climate of fear. Moore mocks political activists who claim one party is culpable for the violence at Columbine. "Bowling for Columbine" highlights the various factors which create this climate of fear which distinguishes America from other nations.
Mr. Wicks attacks one such example, "the implied parallel between the NATO campaign in Kosovo and the Columbine massacre." Mr. Wicks terms this deception and idiocy. However, I cannot imagine the parallel was intended to suggest that NATO is analogous to Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold. Moore simply uses these coincidentally simultaneous events to demonstrate the depth of the fear problem in our society. This ironic coincidence illustrates how fear influences our military as well as domestic affairs.
Mr. Wicks also labels the South Park cartoon burlesquing American history "propaganda." Mr. Wicks himself notes that, by their very nature, cartoons are not intended to depict reality. This cartoon grotesquely identifies two historically controversial American organizations (the Ku Klux Klan and the National Rifle Association) that sprang up from fear. Moore connects the two organizations only to suggest that they are both fruits from the same poisonous tree.
I grant that Moore likely edited his documentary for the purpose of persuading his audience. However, this hardly justifies labeling the entire film propaganda. Mr. Wicks seems to have missed Moore's core message: America is a nation controlled by fear.
Maybe I am biased because I live in the community (Littleton, Colo.) where much of the documentary was filmed. I hope that Notre Dame students will take the opportunity to see this film and make their own judgments when it comes to campus April 24.
Katie Murray
freshman
Pangborn Hall
April 4
All Viewpoint Stories for Monday, April 7, 2003
