Bowling for Columbine - Have you seen it?
 

I just watched Bowling for Columbine this weekend and I must say, it was a very eye-opening documentary! (although it only confirmed a lot of my conspiracy theory-like beliefs :D)

For those that haven't seen it, its not about the Columbine school shooting (although it is in there). but its moreso about guns, the NRA, racism, and violence ~ and its prevalence in America.

There were things in the documentary that you would think only happens in cartoons - i.e. at a bank in utah, you get a free gun when you open an account, a barbershop that sells ammunition. :eek:

I see why this documentary had such a limited release (only about 300 theatres in the US ) :eek:

This is a must see.

Does anyone else have any thoughts?

I watched it a few weeks ago & I think that it was wonderfully done. Really opened my eyes to some stuff. Good documentary.

I saw it a couple of months ago. I love Michael Moore. He made a lot of compelling points. I love the comparison between Canada and the United States. They have the same gun culture, minorities, but gun violence is not high.

I peeped that too. Did you also notice that when he asked Charleton Heston (NRA spokesperson, actor) his opinion to why there is such a large difference, he responded "because the US has more ethnicities". :mad: When Michael asked him to explain, he then tried to change the subject.

Fear
 

I saw this this weekend as well. I must say it was very thought provoaking. I think he is implying that the gun violence is born out of fear. But he doesn't quite know where the fear comes from. The racism comes from fear, the violence comes from fear. I think this fear is at the core of Americanism. People are afraid of not having the things that they feel will define them (House,car money, "security", etc.). This drives our consumerism, which is the basis of capitalism. The answer to this fear, I think is a stronger sense ofself and purpose.
What do you guys think?
Blackwatch!!!!!!

Well, I think he blames our government and the media for instilling fear in the minds of Americans. That's the point, we are reactionary. We do not take time out to think rationally about things. For instance, during the America/Canada comparison, he discovered that most people do not lock their doors. As opposed to Americans who secure their homes with three locks and security systems, whether or not they have ever been burglarized. It was just really interesting. OH, I loved the History of America cartoon. He keeps it soooo real!

I was left feeling very disheartened about the US. I also thought the film was overlong, and the bit with Charlton Heston just seemed mean -- it was pretty obvious that ol' Chuck was in the early stages of alzheimer's and Moore's "interrogation" seemed more like an ambush.

Still, it was worth it just to see the "History of the United States" animated segment. That part alone should be required viewing for all undergraduate American History courses.

Oh, and the thing about no one in Canada locking their doors: I lock mine, as do all of my neighbours in the apartment building where I live.

I think it was a bit of artistic license - no one locks their doors when they're at home (maybe - but I still do), but we do lock our doors when there's no one home.

Even though I realize that Heston is a puppet for the NRA, I have NO SYMPATHY for him. Why???? His handlers should have common sense, even if he is not in his right state of mind. I mean, seriously, why go to Columbine or Pearl after the shooting incidents. That's mean to me.

My job has us doing a staff development next week by seeing the movie. Should I expect anything shocking?

I agree with your assesment of Heston as a pawn/puppet for the NRA. And I agree that ol' Chuck should not have gone to Columbine to stump for the NRA after the shootings. But that doesn't make Moore's ambush of a very sick, very confused old man any more worthy of applause.

I'm a big Michael Moore fan, but after that scene, I became convinced that for Moore, it's less about being a voice for the voiceless than pushing forth his own agenda.

Have we met you in our NEW TO GC/NEW SORORS POST HERE THREAD? If not, please introduce yourself. :D

:confused:

Saw it and loved it...
 

I had my children (7 & 8) watch it, too. They thought it was great and it managed to keep their attention. I agree that the animated part was fabulous.

I saw it and thought it was great, especially the US history cartoon.

A lot of the stuff he mentioned in the flick has been said over and over again.

I just purchased the DVD. I have to watch it ASAP. Is there a lot of cursing or anything? I may want to show it to my students. I will have to screen it first.

Let Me Introduce Myself I am proud to say that I am a new ivy. I came across this site while shopping and I was impressed by the topics and various types of responses.

I'm not sure what else to say to my sisters in the way of an intro. If you email me @yahoo.com, I would love to get to know more of you.



RUOPRETTYPEARL:rolleyes:

I think 2D was saying that you must introduce yourself in the member intro thread and include your "information." You'll see if you go there.

Anyway, I am about to watch the movie. I am excited since I have heard rave reviews. I hope that I won't be disappointed. I'll let y'all know what I think of it later.

We watched this film in my Criminology class. It was so interesting that I am going to buy it for my movie collection. I just loved the way Moore added some comic relief in between the hard hitting information.

I really liked the South park cartoon on the history of guns in America.

We have a thread for this
 

Again, we have a thread to introduce new sorors and new sorors to the GC community. It's near the top of the forum.
:)

That's exactly what I thought when I saw the movie. I had to watch it for a class, and I'm glad I did. I couldn't believe that they went to towns after the shooting of young individuals opccured more than once (Columbine, Michigan (I think--the shooting of the young black girl), etc. ), and you expect people to understand your cause, esp. when they already disagree with it in the first place? :eek: :mad: It's a shame that Canada has just as many guns as the US, yet have lower crime rates and shooting deaths...Obviously, there's got to be a reason...

I've been a fan of Micheal Moore since I read his book, "Stupid White Men". IOt's about how the stupid white men who are running our country are ruining it and digging us further and further in a hole in the ground (i.e. Bushand his cabinet). It's hilarious, yet sad and informative at the same time.

i rented it after reading this thread and i must say that i did enjoy it. i don't know about anyone else, but canada sure does look like a nice place to live now. i'd recommend every one to watch this--esp. my dad who we JUST got to stop shooting at new years

I finally watched it and parts of it made me cry. It's just so alarming at times. When they showed the actually footage from inside the school while playing the 911 tapes, I started crying. That part hit me hard. What if that had been my high school? I went to a large, diverse high school and there were "freaks" there that were teased sometimes. What if they would have burst into the cafeteria one morning? What if....? I can't even think about it

I'm with you MeezDiscreet. I am about to relocate to Canada. I hear that some areas of Toronto look like New Orleans (they tape movies and shows that are set in New Orleans there), so I might fit right in.

This seems like something I should watch. Has anyone read his book, "Stupid White Men"? My auntie says it's a very good book. I'm supposed to get it from her but I might just have to buy my own.

Yeah...

You can find pretty much any type of "enviroment" in Toronto somewhere.... gues that's why the film people love it. Anyways hit up 'toronto.com' if you want info on Toronto.

Oh... and as for the movie; we do lock our doors around here more than Michael Moore shows..... if you're not home it's locked; if your home it's about 50/50 on whether the door will be locked.

Thanks for the tip. I may put Toronto on my travel list for the summer. :D

Since, I have not mastered the multiple quote...
 

Ok, I own Stupid White Men and it is a great book. Interesting points. I put it in my guest bathroom, so that people would be tempted to read it.

@RD I cried too. Doesn't take much to make me cry, but it was really sad.

And...I agree, Canada seems pretty cool. Even if the doors are unlocked 50% of the time, that's 50% more than my door is unlocked. I lock my door when I take my trash out. I'm really sensitive about the locked door thing.


Also...some movies set in New York (Head over Heels) was taped in Canada.