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Got it from Amazon and started reading it last night.
If you are even slightly interested in politics, America, the current situation with Iraq or why there is so much anti-US Government feeling, it's worth reading.
Whether you are for or against Bush, take a few moments to read just the intro where Moore talks about the difficulty in getting published.
It's not a pro-terrorist book, it's not a pro-Iraq book. It is from a man that has become a "celebrity" purely because Ford Motors shut it's plant in Michigan and prompted Moore to try and interview the CEO of Ford about why he did that and decimated a small Mid-Western town.
And from there, Moore has become a social-commentator albeit with a lot of humour. He's also written "Downsize This" and made "Bowling for Columbine". Again, he is not anti-American. He is anti-abuse of power and also admits that America's government does a lot for the country, but any decent democracy also demands that you investigate and try to change things that are immoral and against the constitution, the cornerstone of American beliefs and rights.
And his latest, Stupid White Men is utterly jaw-dropping in high-lighting how George W Bush is NOT the elected leader of The United States of America at all. He describes, with references, quotes and interviews, how Bush's brother, father and business associates managed to block and invalidate over half of Florida's voting community (black) by eliminating anyone with a conviction. Not only this, (voting rights are re-established after a certain amount of time), but anyone that shared a birthdate with a supposed non-eligible voter was barred, and anyone that had a similar name.
Including the head of Electoral Process in Florida...whoops.
Out of 200 millions Americans, 157 million did not vote for Bush.
I'll let that sink in.
Only 43 million, less than a quarter, actually voted for Bush.
Yet there he is, fumbling speeches and telling his own people and ours why we should be afraid of a country that had no involvement with Sept 11th and has never displayed any aggression towards any Western country.
Raising fear levels at home and here, keeping us terrified of a non-existent threat so that we are cowed and meek and unable to stand up and realise just how vile and corrupt our nations have become thanks to the ruling through fear and loathing, rather than the restrained, intellectual reasoning most adults are capable of.
It's here as well. Daily we are faced with reports of immigrants that want to come and kill us or enslave our women. We are told of narrowly-avoidable terrorist threats and tanks patrolling airports (but hey, a guy with a grenade was arrested. Strangely, not using tanks), we are fed a steady diet of fear, anger and hatred so that we are so busy infighting and arguing with ourselves about what we think that those in control are able to get away with gross violations of our rights.
We are living in an age of fear and repression. If you try to say how you feel and it does not go with official-party line, then you are deemed a "sympathiser" or "with them".
We have reached a time on this planet where if we continue on this current course of action, we will not exist in another 50 years. There is a climate of fear and suspicion in our lives, but this does not need to be the case.
By taking a step back, by mediating what you see and hear it is possible to realise that not everyone that looks different to you is trying to kill you.
It's misdirection, the oldest trick in the book. If you seperate people and keep them frightened of each other, then they'll quite happily kill and maim in fear of what "might be".
This current course of action in Iraq will only lead to further, more hardline anti-Western feeling.
This current climate of newspapers screaming about immigrants will lead to lynch-mobs and homeland hatred.
Do you want to live like that? Do you want to bring kids into a world where from day one it will be told that Johnny Foreigner wants to kill him?
And think of it from somebody born into a Middle-Eastern country.
You are born. You have no schooling, no future. No education. Then a recruiter comes round and shows you a picture of decadent Westerners and tells you how they hate you and want to bomb you and the West is the reason your parents are dead.
He offers you training and weapons to right these wrongs. You see this as just and right, this is revenge for your family.
This entire world, not just America, not just Al-Queda, not just Iraq, not just England operates on a basis of hatred, fear and suspicion of each other.
I dont know what is right or wrong, but I do know that we will - without question - descend into screaming man-monkeys trying to kill each other before too long and that's a shame.
If you are even slightly interested in politics, America, the current situation with Iraq or why there is so much anti-US Government feeling, it's worth reading.
Whether you are for or against Bush, take a few moments to read just the intro where Moore talks about the difficulty in getting published.
It's not a pro-terrorist book, it's not a pro-Iraq book. It is from a man that has become a "celebrity" purely because Ford Motors shut it's plant in Michigan and prompted Moore to try and interview the CEO of Ford about why he did that and decimated a small Mid-Western town.
And from there, Moore has become a social-commentator albeit with a lot of humour. He's also written "Downsize This" and made "Bowling for Columbine". Again, he is not anti-American. He is anti-abuse of power and also admits that America's government does a lot for the country, but any decent democracy also demands that you investigate and try to change things that are immoral and against the constitution, the cornerstone of American beliefs and rights.
And his latest, Stupid White Men is utterly jaw-dropping in high-lighting how George W Bush is NOT the elected leader of The United States of America at all. He describes, with references, quotes and interviews, how Bush's brother, father and business associates managed to block and invalidate over half of Florida's voting community (black) by eliminating anyone with a conviction. Not only this, (voting rights are re-established after a certain amount of time), but anyone that shared a birthdate with a supposed non-eligible voter was barred, and anyone that had a similar name.
Including the head of Electoral Process in Florida...whoops.
Out of 200 millions Americans, 157 million did not vote for Bush.
I'll let that sink in.
Only 43 million, less than a quarter, actually voted for Bush.
Yet there he is, fumbling speeches and telling his own people and ours why we should be afraid of a country that had no involvement with Sept 11th and has never displayed any aggression towards any Western country.
Raising fear levels at home and here, keeping us terrified of a non-existent threat so that we are cowed and meek and unable to stand up and realise just how vile and corrupt our nations have become thanks to the ruling through fear and loathing, rather than the restrained, intellectual reasoning most adults are capable of.
It's here as well. Daily we are faced with reports of immigrants that want to come and kill us or enslave our women. We are told of narrowly-avoidable terrorist threats and tanks patrolling airports (but hey, a guy with a grenade was arrested. Strangely, not using tanks), we are fed a steady diet of fear, anger and hatred so that we are so busy infighting and arguing with ourselves about what we think that those in control are able to get away with gross violations of our rights.
We are living in an age of fear and repression. If you try to say how you feel and it does not go with official-party line, then you are deemed a "sympathiser" or "with them".
We have reached a time on this planet where if we continue on this current course of action, we will not exist in another 50 years. There is a climate of fear and suspicion in our lives, but this does not need to be the case.
By taking a step back, by mediating what you see and hear it is possible to realise that not everyone that looks different to you is trying to kill you.
It's misdirection, the oldest trick in the book. If you seperate people and keep them frightened of each other, then they'll quite happily kill and maim in fear of what "might be".
This current course of action in Iraq will only lead to further, more hardline anti-Western feeling.
This current climate of newspapers screaming about immigrants will lead to lynch-mobs and homeland hatred.
Do you want to live like that? Do you want to bring kids into a world where from day one it will be told that Johnny Foreigner wants to kill him?
And think of it from somebody born into a Middle-Eastern country.
You are born. You have no schooling, no future. No education. Then a recruiter comes round and shows you a picture of decadent Westerners and tells you how they hate you and want to bomb you and the West is the reason your parents are dead.
He offers you training and weapons to right these wrongs. You see this as just and right, this is revenge for your family.
This entire world, not just America, not just Al-Queda, not just Iraq, not just England operates on a basis of hatred, fear and suspicion of each other.
I dont know what is right or wrong, but I do know that we will - without question - descend into screaming man-monkeys trying to kill each other before too long and that's a shame.
Page:
Got it from Amazon and started reading it last night.
If you are even slightly interested in politics, America, the current situation with Iraq or why there is so much anti-US Government feeling, it's worth reading.
Whether you are for or against Bush, take a few moments to read just the intro where Moore talks about the difficulty in getting published.
It's not a pro-terrorist book, it's not a pro-Iraq book. It is from a man that has become a "celebrity" purely because Ford Motors shut it's plant in Michigan and prompted Moore to try and interview the CEO of Ford about why he did that and decimated a small Mid-Western town.
And from there, Moore has become a social-commentator albeit with a lot of humour. He's also written "Downsize This" and made "Bowling for Columbine". Again, he is not anti-American. He is anti-abuse of power and also admits that America's government does a lot for the country, but any decent democracy also demands that you investigate and try to change things that are immoral and against the constitution, the cornerstone of American beliefs and rights.
And his latest, Stupid White Men is utterly jaw-dropping in high-lighting how George W Bush is NOT the elected leader of The United States of America at all. He describes, with references, quotes and interviews, how Bush's brother, father and business associates managed to block and invalidate over half of Florida's voting community (black) by eliminating anyone with a conviction. Not only this, (voting rights are re-established after a certain amount of time), but anyone that shared a birthdate with a supposed non-eligible voter was barred, and anyone that had a similar name.
Including the head of Electoral Process in Florida...whoops.
Out of 200 millions Americans, 157 million did not vote for Bush.
I'll let that sink in.
Only 43 million, less than a quarter, actually voted for Bush.
Yet there he is, fumbling speeches and telling his own people and ours why we should be afraid of a country that had no involvement with Sept 11th and has never displayed any aggression towards any Western country.
Raising fear levels at home and here, keeping us terrified of a non-existent threat so that we are cowed and meek and unable to stand up and realise just how vile and corrupt our nations have become thanks to the ruling through fear and loathing, rather than the restrained, intellectual reasoning most adults are capable of.
It's here as well. Daily we are faced with reports of immigrants that want to come and kill us or enslave our women. We are told of narrowly-avoidable terrorist threats and tanks patrolling airports (but hey, a guy with a grenade was arrested. Strangely, not using tanks), we are fed a steady diet of fear, anger and hatred so that we are so busy infighting and arguing with ourselves about what we think that those in control are able to get away with gross violations of our rights.
We are living in an age of fear and repression. If you try to say how you feel and it does not go with official-party line, then you are deemed a "sympathiser" or "with them".
We have reached a time on this planet where if we continue on this current course of action, we will not exist in another 50 years. There is a climate of fear and suspicion in our lives, but this does not need to be the case.
By taking a step back, by mediating what you see and hear it is possible to realise that not everyone that looks different to you is trying to kill you.
It's misdirection, the oldest trick in the book. If you seperate people and keep them frightened of each other, then they'll quite happily kill and maim in fear of what "might be".
This current course of action in Iraq will only lead to further, more hardline anti-Western feeling.
This current climate of newspapers screaming about immigrants will lead to lynch-mobs and homeland hatred.
Do you want to live like that? Do you want to bring kids into a world where from day one it will be told that Johnny Foreigner wants to kill him?
And think of it from somebody born into a Middle-Eastern country.
You are born. You have no schooling, no future. No education. Then a recruiter comes round and shows you a picture of decadent Westerners and tells you how they hate you and want to bomb you and the West is the reason your parents are dead.
He offers you training and weapons to right these wrongs. You see this as just and right, this is revenge for your family.
This entire world, not just America, not just Al-Queda, not just Iraq, not just England operates on a basis of hatred, fear and suspicion of each other.
I dont know what is right or wrong, but I do know that we will - without question - descend into screaming man-monkeys trying to kill each other before too long and that's a shame.
If you are even slightly interested in politics, America, the current situation with Iraq or why there is so much anti-US Government feeling, it's worth reading.
Whether you are for or against Bush, take a few moments to read just the intro where Moore talks about the difficulty in getting published.
It's not a pro-terrorist book, it's not a pro-Iraq book. It is from a man that has become a "celebrity" purely because Ford Motors shut it's plant in Michigan and prompted Moore to try and interview the CEO of Ford about why he did that and decimated a small Mid-Western town.
And from there, Moore has become a social-commentator albeit with a lot of humour. He's also written "Downsize This" and made "Bowling for Columbine". Again, he is not anti-American. He is anti-abuse of power and also admits that America's government does a lot for the country, but any decent democracy also demands that you investigate and try to change things that are immoral and against the constitution, the cornerstone of American beliefs and rights.
And his latest, Stupid White Men is utterly jaw-dropping in high-lighting how George W Bush is NOT the elected leader of The United States of America at all. He describes, with references, quotes and interviews, how Bush's brother, father and business associates managed to block and invalidate over half of Florida's voting community (black) by eliminating anyone with a conviction. Not only this, (voting rights are re-established after a certain amount of time), but anyone that shared a birthdate with a supposed non-eligible voter was barred, and anyone that had a similar name.
Including the head of Electoral Process in Florida...whoops.
Out of 200 millions Americans, 157 million did not vote for Bush.
I'll let that sink in.
Only 43 million, less than a quarter, actually voted for Bush.
Yet there he is, fumbling speeches and telling his own people and ours why we should be afraid of a country that had no involvement with Sept 11th and has never displayed any aggression towards any Western country.
Raising fear levels at home and here, keeping us terrified of a non-existent threat so that we are cowed and meek and unable to stand up and realise just how vile and corrupt our nations have become thanks to the ruling through fear and loathing, rather than the restrained, intellectual reasoning most adults are capable of.
It's here as well. Daily we are faced with reports of immigrants that want to come and kill us or enslave our women. We are told of narrowly-avoidable terrorist threats and tanks patrolling airports (but hey, a guy with a grenade was arrested. Strangely, not using tanks), we are fed a steady diet of fear, anger and hatred so that we are so busy infighting and arguing with ourselves about what we think that those in control are able to get away with gross violations of our rights.
We are living in an age of fear and repression. If you try to say how you feel and it does not go with official-party line, then you are deemed a "sympathiser" or "with them".
We have reached a time on this planet where if we continue on this current course of action, we will not exist in another 50 years. There is a climate of fear and suspicion in our lives, but this does not need to be the case.
By taking a step back, by mediating what you see and hear it is possible to realise that not everyone that looks different to you is trying to kill you.
It's misdirection, the oldest trick in the book. If you seperate people and keep them frightened of each other, then they'll quite happily kill and maim in fear of what "might be".
This current course of action in Iraq will only lead to further, more hardline anti-Western feeling.
This current climate of newspapers screaming about immigrants will lead to lynch-mobs and homeland hatred.
Do you want to live like that? Do you want to bring kids into a world where from day one it will be told that Johnny Foreigner wants to kill him?
And think of it from somebody born into a Middle-Eastern country.
You are born. You have no schooling, no future. No education. Then a recruiter comes round and shows you a picture of decadent Westerners and tells you how they hate you and want to bomb you and the West is the reason your parents are dead.
He offers you training and weapons to right these wrongs. You see this as just and right, this is revenge for your family.
This entire world, not just America, not just Al-Queda, not just Iraq, not just England operates on a basis of hatred, fear and suspicion of each other.
I dont know what is right or wrong, but I do know that we will - without question - descend into screaming man-monkeys trying to kill each other before too long and that's a shame.
Yegads, I actually have this book! Haven't read it yet, but it's on the to-do list - along with Return of the King and my Fred Bassett 1997 year book (I'm not kidding, I really do own that!).
Bowling for Columbine was running at my uni cinema again. Couldn't get tickets again. Teach me to not book weeks in advance...
And the pesron I was going to borrow SWM from left it at home at christmas, and if I buy a copy I can't eat or something...
Ah well, one day.
And the pesron I was going to borrow SWM from left it at home at christmas, and if I buy a copy I can't eat or something...
Ah well, one day.
I read this over Christmas, and it's a damn good read.
It's a very good book. Very funny in places, and jaw-drroppingly frightening in others. The first chapter on the 'Presidential' Elections is incredible - No wonder he starts of by asking the UN to intervene, if that so called democratic election was run in an African nation then the UN would of been all over it like a rash.
I thought I'd add this, as the list at the beginning of the book mentions how various members of the Republican party benefited from Georges usurping of power, it involves former Secretary of Defence, now Vice 'President' Dick Cheney. This is based on an article written by Arianna Huffington, see WWW.Ariannaonline.com for the full article.
This is just to call Cheney out on his morals/ethics as a person who has the audacity to carry on the facade set out by the Bush administration over the war.
During the first Gulf campaign, Cheney and the Butcher of Baghdad weren't what you would call close, Cheney referred to Suddam as 'Hitler Revisited' on more than one occasion, then beat the crap out of his countries infrastructure.
Strange then, that following the Gulf spat, Cheney took up his new role in the corporate sector as CEO of a Company called Halliburton, which then proceeded to do business with 'Hitler' and make around 70 million (US) providing equipment and services to help Iraq rebuild it's slaughtered oil industry, and was in fact Iraqs biggest supplier of this service. Nice to see that things worked out well for the VP, overseeing the destruction of a Nations major industry, then having them pay your company to rebuild it. It seems strange, that you would do business with a man who sent US soldiers home in body bags, though not a US citizen, I'd question the patriotism of that action.
But then, Cheney had always liked Saddam, even during the 80's when he was quoted as saying 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend', with regards to the Iran/Iraq thing. And because The Iranians were PE no1 at the time, it didn't matter that Cheney's 'Friend' was gassing Iranians and Kurds on a daily basis. During 2000, Cheney was campaigning for the sanctions against 'Hitler Revisited' to be lifted, but then he left Halliburton to get in on the Government action again, well, only after receiving a $34 million retirement package.
Halliburton are again, at the front of the companies baying for a piece of the estimated $2 Billion in contracts for the rebuild after Saddam is ousted. I'd say if - but it sort of helps your business when you have friends in high places that can organise the periodic blitzing of a country, ensuring your companies services are required.
Of course, it might not happen. Halliburton will be sorted anyway, as among it's other contract is the one to supply the Army with food services for the next ten years, which does not have a fixed amount associated with it, rather being an open ended agreement to pay what is required.
But then, that's what you can expect if you help fund the Republicans. The total donations from major oil companies to the Republicans in 2000 and then 2002 comes to $44.7 million, and last October Cheneys staff held meetings with the major players in the field; Exxon, Mobil, ChevronTexaco, ConocoPhillips -- and yes, Halliburton. I wonder what they could of been discussing???
I thought I'd add this, as the list at the beginning of the book mentions how various members of the Republican party benefited from Georges usurping of power, it involves former Secretary of Defence, now Vice 'President' Dick Cheney. This is based on an article written by Arianna Huffington, see WWW.Ariannaonline.com for the full article.
This is just to call Cheney out on his morals/ethics as a person who has the audacity to carry on the facade set out by the Bush administration over the war.
During the first Gulf campaign, Cheney and the Butcher of Baghdad weren't what you would call close, Cheney referred to Suddam as 'Hitler Revisited' on more than one occasion, then beat the crap out of his countries infrastructure.
Strange then, that following the Gulf spat, Cheney took up his new role in the corporate sector as CEO of a Company called Halliburton, which then proceeded to do business with 'Hitler' and make around 70 million (US) providing equipment and services to help Iraq rebuild it's slaughtered oil industry, and was in fact Iraqs biggest supplier of this service. Nice to see that things worked out well for the VP, overseeing the destruction of a Nations major industry, then having them pay your company to rebuild it. It seems strange, that you would do business with a man who sent US soldiers home in body bags, though not a US citizen, I'd question the patriotism of that action.
But then, Cheney had always liked Saddam, even during the 80's when he was quoted as saying 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend', with regards to the Iran/Iraq thing. And because The Iranians were PE no1 at the time, it didn't matter that Cheney's 'Friend' was gassing Iranians and Kurds on a daily basis. During 2000, Cheney was campaigning for the sanctions against 'Hitler Revisited' to be lifted, but then he left Halliburton to get in on the Government action again, well, only after receiving a $34 million retirement package.
Halliburton are again, at the front of the companies baying for a piece of the estimated $2 Billion in contracts for the rebuild after Saddam is ousted. I'd say if - but it sort of helps your business when you have friends in high places that can organise the periodic blitzing of a country, ensuring your companies services are required.
Of course, it might not happen. Halliburton will be sorted anyway, as among it's other contract is the one to supply the Army with food services for the next ten years, which does not have a fixed amount associated with it, rather being an open ended agreement to pay what is required.
But then, that's what you can expect if you help fund the Republicans. The total donations from major oil companies to the Republicans in 2000 and then 2002 comes to $44.7 million, and last October Cheneys staff held meetings with the major players in the field; Exxon, Mobil, ChevronTexaco, ConocoPhillips -- and yes, Halliburton. I wonder what they could of been discussing???
Started reading it, but to my mind it's all too cynical, if I was a cynical person I'd say it was written to cash in on a higher anti american feeling in these times. I know that it is not an anti american book, but face it, thats how a determined person can read it.
~~Belldandy~~
~~Belldandy~~
me love bush
Very very good book. Must see a film of his soon.
Belldandy wrote:
> Started reading it, but to my mind it's all too cynical,
--
Fair comment, but the beginning section on Bush and the simple fact he was not elected into power is nothing but facts. Moore doesn't include his own feelings at all, there's no "Well I hate him" or "I can't believe this".
It's simply reporting how Bush, Jeb, Jeb's cousin and some others systematically altered, lied, ignored and ordered the votes to be stopped counting when it became clear that Bush was losing.
And even right-wing Nazi Homophobe Pat Buchanan admitted something was wrong because "I got a hell of a lot of Jewish votes, and they just wouldn't vote for me, nor would I want them to"
Setting aside personal feelings, the fact that the current President of The United States was installed under lies and false counting techniques staggers belief. Fox News didn't report it (due to Jeb's relative being the controller)and owned by Murdoch - donater of over 4 million$ to his campaign fund.
Moore has simply collected the facts, and provided with links and no personal comment, on one of the most shocking coup d'etats ever seen in recent history. And this puppet-leader is waging war left right and center.
Moore also highlighted Bush's cabinet advisors and their previous history and dealings.
I'd like to see someone put a bullet through George W Bush's head. Because the man is a lying, hateful simpleton being manipulated by those that actually make the decisson. And he is dragging this country deeper and deeper into a situation that will echo for a long, long time.
> Started reading it, but to my mind it's all too cynical,
--
Fair comment, but the beginning section on Bush and the simple fact he was not elected into power is nothing but facts. Moore doesn't include his own feelings at all, there's no "Well I hate him" or "I can't believe this".
It's simply reporting how Bush, Jeb, Jeb's cousin and some others systematically altered, lied, ignored and ordered the votes to be stopped counting when it became clear that Bush was losing.
And even right-wing Nazi Homophobe Pat Buchanan admitted something was wrong because "I got a hell of a lot of Jewish votes, and they just wouldn't vote for me, nor would I want them to"
Setting aside personal feelings, the fact that the current President of The United States was installed under lies and false counting techniques staggers belief. Fox News didn't report it (due to Jeb's relative being the controller)and owned by Murdoch - donater of over 4 million$ to his campaign fund.
Moore has simply collected the facts, and provided with links and no personal comment, on one of the most shocking coup d'etats ever seen in recent history. And this puppet-leader is waging war left right and center.
Moore also highlighted Bush's cabinet advisors and their previous history and dealings.
I'd like to see someone put a bullet through George W Bush's head. Because the man is a lying, hateful simpleton being manipulated by those that actually make the decisson. And he is dragging this country deeper and deeper into a situation that will echo for a long, long time.
But then again, even if Bush technically lost, it's probably fair to say he didn't lose by *that* much.
So in a way there is only a slightly higher number of Gore voters having to live under Bush than there would have been Bush voters having to live under Gore.
Democracy is just failing a marginally higher number of people than would have been the case in a Gore victory.
Of course, that does nothing for the question of Bush's ethics, but in any democracy if you vote in a pirate there's a good chance you'll be stuck with him for a good few years.
And it does rest on the idea that a democracy is potentially just as bad for those forced unwillingly to live under it as a dicatorship is, there's jus typically less victims.
And I know not that many people share that view.
So in a way there is only a slightly higher number of Gore voters having to live under Bush than there would have been Bush voters having to live under Gore.
Democracy is just failing a marginally higher number of people than would have been the case in a Gore victory.
Of course, that does nothing for the question of Bush's ethics, but in any democracy if you vote in a pirate there's a good chance you'll be stuck with him for a good few years.
And it does rest on the idea that a democracy is potentially just as bad for those forced unwillingly to live under it as a dicatorship is, there's jus typically less victims.
And I know not that many people share that view.
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