Fahrenheit 9/11, Dubyah, and "I Need Your Boogie"
You ever just stop and think, "hey, what the hell am I doing here?" or some similar such derivative such as "hey, what the hell is going on here?" Of course you have. Well this happened to me several times this evening.
Don't get me wrong, the company was great--my friends rock--it was more the circumstances, particular events, and emotional experiences of the evening that made me have to get to the kebab van quicker than usual tonight (chips, cheese, onion rings -with ketchup and bbq sauce for those who are curious, don't know me, or weren't around for my last blog where onion rings and ketchup were often discussed at length).

We'll start with Michael Moore. His work has always depressed me. But I do have to say that I think it's in a good way. I haven't read reviews and criticisms of Fahrenheit 9/11 (so I'm giving what might be seen as a fairly unresearched rebuttal), but I've heard the usual critiques of "he's too manipulative" and "he's got his own agenda," etc., etc. . . . well of course he does! And why shouldn't a man from Flint? Yes, Moore's work is manipulative and one-sided. But the deal is this: sometimes when a group has no voice at all, then that voice needs to be exaggerated to be heard at all and this is what Michael is doing for the people getting crapped on in America (and in the rest of the world for that matter).

I left America and came to England the first time Dubyah was elected and I'd like to say I'd do it again, but this time I'm going home and I'm sticking around for a bit, so America has to pull itself together. The whole Bush/Gore/Florida debacle killed me and a good part of the Democratic party too. It was just sort of like, "whah? errr...um, huh?" Gore's personal appearance after the tragedy was a good reflection of what I would say over half of America was feeling like in the aftermath of that election.
And I have to say, if Fahrenheit 9/11 can get Puppet Bush out of the theatre, then America might have a chance. But we will never get back all the people we've lost. And neither will Iraq or any others involved.

Michael Moore is an extremist. He does not present all sides fairly. But if he did, then who would care? Who would listen then? I watch documentaries critically and am well aware of Moore's "aggressive" documentary style, but SO IS HE. He never for a moment pretends that he's going to give both sides a chance and then sit them down for tea and a chat. In a nutshell, he's doing the talking for those who don't have the money to speak for themselves. The point is this: it's money that makes the world go round and if you haven't got it then you'll work for the people who have. If Moore's work can get people thinking and talking about this, then this is a good thing. There is some truth, in my opinion, to the "dumbing down of America" by what we're fed by our media. But this truth is made even sadder by the fact that it's the still hierarchical (and aristocratic) government --our leaders--who have fed us the more damaging of the dumbing-down material.
Come election time, we need a to elect a leader who can think for himself (first of all) and we need to work on educating America. As long as there is not enough time between now and the elections to gather a backlash, then I think Moore's effect will be good. And people need to be smart with their votes. You can "express yourself" and "make a statement" by voting for the Green party or whatever, but don't do it if it's going to put Bush back in the House! Be smart with your vote.

The Democratic convention will be in Boston when I get home---a playground and festival for the ruling class. They're telling people to just "stay home that week," and "don't go to work, take the kids to the beach." Because WE ALL HAVE THE LUXURY TO DO THAT, DON'T WE!" "Oh, it will bring money to the state." Nooooo, it will bring lobster to the politicians and 5-star hotels to their friends! Forget about the "Flint" people of metro-Boston. Who cares if they don't get paid if they can't get to work for a week because 'oops, Boston wasn't quite laid out for a national convention of this calibre.'

Sorry! The rant is done. For now. My blogging seldom gets this serious, but you have to understand how high my emotions are running at the moment with my imminent return State-side.

I think I'm ready for bed, so the "I need your boogie" explanation will have to be brief. That was some of the techno-crap (with "I need your boogie" being one of the oft-repeated lines) playing at BabyLove or LoveBaby or BarLove or whatever the Oxford club is called. (again, the company was great!) I just don't find that scene so appealing. And then when the only (there is, after all, usually just one) cute guy in the place leaves, well then it's just plain crap. And then it all gets as good as it's going to get when you're finally leaning in to tell your friends you gotta get out--and then SPIKE! Skinny b**ch hip-hops her stiletto right through your sneaker!

And then it's time for chips 'n cheese.

I'm going to go hang out with Bill Goldman a bit more before sleep, that always makes me feel better.
- posted by Annie Bergen @ Friday, July 09, 2004