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"Dude, Where's my Country"

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Thu 30/10/03 at 14:14
Regular
"Wanking Mong"
Posts: 4,884
Is the new book by Michael Moore, he of 'Bowling for Columbine' and 'Stupid White Men' fame.

For those of you who don't know about him, Moore is one of those rare beasts; an angry liberal. The Oscar winning documentary, Bowling for Columbine, seethed with barely contained rage at the deliberate use of fear by the US government and media in order to keep people in line. The international bestseller, Stupid White Men, railed at the reality of America today; that the entire country is run for the benefit of a very few people, and that those people are happy to break and abuse the law to continue doing so.

'Dude, Where's my Country' is a follow up to 'Stupid White Men'. It deals with much the same theme as it's predecessor: How America is being run, and the direction it is heading in under Dubya and the Republican party.

Moore makes a number of quite startling accusations against Dubya and his government. So startling in fact that I found myself thinking "Nah, this can't be true...he must be exaggerating to make his point". Happily, references to the sources he drew the information from are provided in the book, so if you're as sad as I am, you can check the references and validate what he's saying yourself.

You may wish you hadn't though; Moore paints a very unwelcome picture of an America with numerous terrifying parallels to 30's Germany (in particular, the abuse of Patriotism; if you don't support Dubya/the Fuhrer, you're unpatriotic and woe betide you then...), and of a world in general that has more in common with 1984 than the fairytale that America is supposed to represent.

It's not all doom and gloom however. We in the UK have an image of Americans as reactionary conservatives with no interest in civil rights. Moore devotes a whole chapter to dispelling this myth. The average American is a lot more liberal than the average European. Unfortunately, Mr Average America is also a lot more apathetic, and this goes some way to explaining the disproportionate influence wielded by the extreme right in the US.

If I had to make a criticism of the book, it would be the tone used. Moore has a habit of transferring his rage directly onto the page. As such, some might be turned off by the angry rhetoric (and, occasionally, the snide sniping that one tends to associate with conservatives like Ann Coulter) that peppers the book.

But that would be to miss the point; one should concentrate on WHAT Moore says, and not the way in which he says it. Though the anger is palpable, Moore is also able to laugh at himself, as well as poking fun at his targets. This makes him a much easier read than, for example, the humourless displeasure that Dubya incurs in most other prominent liberals.

All in all, I would recommend this book to anyone with any interest at all in politics and international events, regardless of their political slant. It's accessible and well written. Liberals will find themself nodding in agreement, Conservatives will doubtless not even bother to read it. But they should, as it will give any reader a lot to think about.
Mon 03/11/03 at 09:38
Regular
"Best Price @ GAME :"
Posts: 3,812
Light wrote:
> Bell, as you've never, not ever, not ONCE, read a single word that
> he's written, you'll excuse me for pointing out that you haven't a
> clue what you're talking about. In fact, I believe I've read that
> opinion of Michael Moore from somebody in the Sun review section...

I've read about the first page of the book in WHSmiths and I could tell his writing style that easily, plus from reviews on Amazon - I'm not wasting money on something that'll be binned immediately. Still, you go ahead and buy his shiny new hardback - if only all authors could suddenly time their inspiration for the Holiday Season eh ?

I have read Ann Coulter though, but I didn't expect you'd like her either because she's the opposite to Moore, nor does she feel the need to make irrelevant documentaries which need to be edited around to fit the theme...
Mon 03/11/03 at 08:49
Regular
"Wanking Mong"
Posts: 4,884
Belldandy wrote:

>
> Spot on. When he can write intelligently without his work reading
> like he's got sky high blood pressure and frothing at mouth then I'll
> read it. Until then it's a whinging liberal who knows his market and
> plays to them every Christmas in the form of a book to make them
> happy.

Ha.

Ahaha.

AAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!

Bell, as you've never, not ever, not ONCE, read a single word that he's written, you'll excuse me for pointing out that you haven't a clue what you're talking about. In fact, I believe I've read that opinion of Michael Moore from somebody in the Sun review section...
Fri 31/10/03 at 18:13
Regular
"Vote For Pedro"
Posts: 5,679
Yeah I ordered it a week ago today. Would be here by now if it wasn't for the damn post strikes! Ah well.
Fri 31/10/03 at 18:09
Regular
"Look!!! Changed!!!1"
Posts: 2,072
CDouch wrote:
> Has anyone seen his film 'Roger And Me'?

Yeah - it's out on R1 DVD now. I think that's when he's at his best (aside from some TV Nation gems) - he's more tender and genuine than super shouting man. Though he never does really meet Roger… and has the trademark Michael Moore I-win-because-you-don’t-agree-to-my-ludicrous-request conclusion.
Fri 31/10/03 at 16:53
"I love yo... lamp."
Posts: 19,577
I plan on getting this sometime when I have the time to read it, been really busy lately.

I've read Stupid White Men and Downsize this, and they did raise some interesting points. Of course there is always two sides to every story though.

What I don't like is the style of his writing, I find it really patronising, which detracts slightly from what he is saying.

Still, he's worth a read as long as you take what he says with a pinch of salt.
Fri 31/10/03 at 14:19
Regular
"Vote For Pedro"
Posts: 5,679
Has anyone seen his film 'Roger And Me'?
Fri 31/10/03 at 13:40
Regular
"Look!!! Changed!!!1"
Posts: 2,072
I think Michael Moore is a fantastic entertainer, but I wouldn’t take him any further than that. He uses bizarre logic, some questionable research and a style that doesn’t really befit the political activist he clearly thinks he is. His style is simply to decide what he wants to prove, research only the points that’ll help him prove it (using brain bending logical leaps of fancy to get past any barriers) and then just shout louder than the other guy.
Fri 31/10/03 at 12:44
Regular
"twothousandandtits"
Posts: 11,024
Belldandy wrote:
> Spot on. When he can write intelligently without his work reading
> like he's got sky high blood pressure and frothing at mouth then I'll
> read it. Until then it's a whinging liberal who knows his market and
> plays to them every Christmas in the form of a book to make them
> happy.

This coming from the man who openly admits he has never read any Moore? Yep, okay.
Fri 31/10/03 at 11:54
Regular
"you've got a beard"
Posts: 7,442
Belldandy wrote:
> Until then it's a whinging liberal who knows his market and
> plays to them every Christmas in the form of a book to make them
> happy.

ooooooohhhhhhhhhhhh, spot the cynic! :)
you're quite right of course.
personally i like Moore, his style and presentation kind of reflect the society he's writing about; directionless anger that seems to have no positive beginning or end... a rainbow of rage if you will :)

but it's channelled quite well to get his points across, although i thought a few parts of "Bowling..." were a excessive, like the Charlton Heston interview, basically just firing a load of questions at a baffled old man :(

either way, i'll be buying the new book.... and a copy of "the socialist worker" for effect :)
Thu 30/10/03 at 19:49
Regular
"+34 Intellect"
Posts: 21,334
I spotted it in waterstones a few weeks ago, the front page made me laugh.

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