So I just saw Farenheit 9/11 and I must say, overall it was a very good movie. I think you have to go into it realizing the type of movie that it is, and filter every piece of information you see/hear, but upon doing that, I think there are several positive aspects and pieces that viewer should take away from it:
1) The movie does a good job of "telling the story" in the sense that it gives specific examples of how Bush and many people in power have abused their name, money and power at the expense American lives and trust. (Of course this is based on the assumption that these facts are true, which of course MM promises.) Basically, if these facts are true, MM did his homework and a good deal research. Oftentimes people make claims like, "Yeah we are in Iraq because of oil and money, etc. etc. but rarely do people ever know specifics, and this movie does a good job of spelling that out.
2) Trust + ignorance = disaster. This movie makes us remember exactly how much trust we place in the powers that run our country, without really understanding the complete underworkings of what is really happening. Of course this is no real revelation, there are many things we place trust in on a day to day basis without really thinking about it, however I think very few people realize exactly how dangerous placing this trust blindly can be, and this movie does a good job of illuminating that. Lets say 80% of the facts in the movie are false, and 20% are true (which is being very generous). If you are one of those really naive, conservative people who believed everything Bush ever said, and saw this movie and knew that at least one piece of information was true, this should be enough break that trust. Enough for you to stop and say, "Wait! Things may not be as they seem. I need to start thinking and finding things out for myself." This change in mentality and realization is the first step for change, but it is amazing how hard it is to get people to see this.
3) Money corrupts. I spoke to someone after who was offended that the movie "demonized the wealthy. " While I don't think this was the primary intention of the movie, it does illustrate how wealth, unbridled wealth without accountability leads to corruption and opression, even if those responsible didn't "mean to". Wealth is a privilege, sometimes earned, sometimes not, and what those who have it need to realize is that whether they ask for it or not, they have power and this power affects people, oppresses people even. Like racial privilege, it is is not something you have to excercise, its something you have innately. It is impossible to be wealthy and think that you have no affect on people of less economic standing even if you only convort among your "base" as George W calls it and never interact with those "under" you. The money they amass must come from somewhere, and its usually at the expense of the poor. One of the comments made to me was that the opportunity for there to be an extreme wealthy class is what gives our ecomony strength--essentially the notion of the "American Dream"--that with hard work, wealth ensues. I think this of course is a scapegoat for the rich to justify their position as few realize that the it isn't exactly a direct relationship between hard work and money. Especially for those living in poverty, there are many obstacles, many unfairly created by both the gov and the wealthy which prevent them from ever rising above the poverty level.
This movie made me very sad and depressed, however much I enjoyed it. In general, life isn't fair. But I knew that already. I cried a lot even though I thought that this month, there weren't anymore tears left.
