Go Michael!

Michael Moore blasts U.S. war

On behalf of our producers Kathleen Glynn and Michael Donovan from Canada, I'd like to thank the Academy for this. I have invited my fellow documentary nominees on the stage with us, and we would like to — they're here in solidarity with me because we like nonfiction. We like nonfiction and we live in fictitious times. We live in the time where we have fictitious election results that elects a fictitious president. We live in a time where we have a man sending us to war for fictitious reasons. Whether it's the fictition of duct tape or fictition of orange alerts we are against this war, Mr. Bush. Shame on you, Mr. Bush, shame on you. And any time you got the Pope and the Dixie Chicks against you, your time is up. Thank you very much. –Michael Moore (2003 Oscars)

At this point I don't even care if he was right or not. Anyone who was surprised by what he said doesn't understand his methods of operation, which are to say the most inappropriate and uncomfortable thing possible to make a point. He received an Oscar for those very same methods. You can't applaud him and then rebuke him in the same breath. Well, actually you can, because that's your right to do so. I believe in the everyone's right to speak their mind, especially if it is really funny, really important or both.

It was so sweet backstage, you should have seen it. The Teamsters were helping Michael Moore into the trunk of his limo. –Steve Martin (2003 Oscars)

I think that Steve Martin summed up my feelings best- that Moore had just dealt himself a difficult hand. Whatever you say, I think that you should have to deal with the consequences. The Teamsters don't have the right to rough someone up, but they could boo all they want, show up at Moore's home and confront him with photos of Saddam's atrocities, camp out at Moore's office asking for interviews- well, you know, all the stones that Michael Moore is throwing at other people's glass houses.

Backstage at the Oscars, Moore was asked why he made the remarks. Moore answered: “I'm an American.”

“Is that all?” a reporter asked.

“Oh, that's a lot,” Moore answered.

“What was the lesson that we taught children of Columbine this week? … That violence is an acceptable means to resolve a conflict,” Moore said.

“I'm an American, and you don't leave your citizenship when you enter the doors of the Kodak Theatre. What's great about this country is that you can speak your mind,” he said.

He said that, far from being appalled, many people in the audience stood up to applaud him.

“I say tonight I put America in a good light,” he said praising the decision to push ahead with the Oscars despite the war raging in the Middle East.

“I showed how vital it is to have free speech in our country and all Americans have the right to stand up for what they believe in,” he said.

Moore told reporters: “Don't report that there was split decision in the hall because five loud people booed.”

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: we jumped into this war too quickly, and we should have waited for the United Nations. Moore's message is to think very hard about our actions. When Moore thinks very hard he doesn't see war. When I think very hard I see that we are running headlong into a tar pit. I've already heard Iraq compared to Southeast Asia. I'm prepared to be wrong. I'd prefer to be wrong on this, but I'm not in charge of that.

I wish our troops health, safety and a speedy return.

If Frida was alive, she would be on our side, against war. –Gael Garcia Bernal (2003 Oscars)

[I dedicate this award to] all the people that are raising their voices in favor of peace, respect of human rights, democracy and international legality, all of which are essential qualities to live. –Pedro Almodovar (2003 Oscars)

It fills me with great joy but I am also filled with a lot of sadness tonight, because I am accepting an award at such a sad time. My experiences in making this film made me very aware of the sadness and dehumanization of people in times of war and the repercussions of war. Whatever you believe in, whether it's God or Allah, let's pray for a peaceful and swift resolution and may he watch over you. –Adrien Brody (2003 Oscars)

In light of all the troubles in this world. I wish us all peace. –Chris Cooper (2003 Oscars)

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Blowin’ Up Stuff

Another sleepless night- not because I'm worried about things like jobs and war, but more because I'm just wide awake. I'm watching the war coverage on CNN.

Okay, I'm not a saint. I enjoy watching stuff blow up. Case(s) in point:

http://gallery.jpmullan.com/fireworks

http://gallery.jpmullan.com/2002independenceday
I understand that fireworks are really different from war.

Nonetheless, I'm enjoying watching Marines dump high explosives into unmanned enemy tanks. I'm enjoying watching Marines fire .50 caliber machine guns into abandoned Iraqi trucks. Wow! Cool!

Does that make me a bad person? I don't want people to die, and the US went in too soon, like a hotshot in a Navy pilot movie. This looks like a rerun of a bad movie and I'm not interested in watching it- except that I can't stop watching it.

We should have waited for the UN. This is crazy and scary. I fear retribution from terrorist groups who consider the US an imperialist country. I love my country, and as far as I know we an imperialist (anymore).

Even if we suppose that we are in the right in our actions, are we being a good world citizen by ignoring the wishes of our friends and neighbors?

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Boom

Saddam Hussein orders the execution of his opponents.

Everybody's talking about it! It's the new thing! Oh hell. I'm terrified.

Our military is the best in the world. I wish our troops health, safety and a speedy return. Saddam Hussein has taken evil actions in the past and he will do so again.

I just don't know for sure that these reasons are enough for us to go to war.

  1. reliance by the United States on further diplomatic and other peaceful means alone will neither

    1. adequately protect the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq
    2. nor

    3. likely lead to enforcement of all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq;

    and

  2. acting pursuant to the Constitution and Public Law 107-243 is consistent with the United States and other countries continuing to take the necessary actions against international terrorists and terrorist organizations, including those nations, organizations, or persons who planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001.

Saddam Hussein orders more executions

Bush's explanation seems to have three parts.

  1. Iraq is a military threat to the US
  2. Iraq is disobeying UN edicts
  3. Iraq supported the terrorists from 9/11

Can Iraq attack the US using conventional military methods? Can Iragi missiles, planes, or troops reach the US?

Isn't the US disobeying UN edicts?

Iraqi Stromtroopers

Can a line be traced from the 9/11 terrorists to Saddam Hussein? I would buy general terrorist ties without further explanation, but I want more proof before I believe that this is retribution for the events of September 11th. I have an emotional attachment to the idea of revenge- I want revenge, but I want it to be on the right people, otherwise it's just misdirected anger.

It's too late to debate. We are taking our course of action, and I'm sure that the repercussions are already in motion. Be cautious. Be afraid. We won't be untouched by war forever, and we might have started something that we will regret. We should have waited for the UN.

Then came Peter to him, and said, “Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?”

Jesus saith unto him, “I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”

King James Version of the Bible

Book of Matthew, Chapter 18, Verses 21-22

Then again, didn't a lot of Christians get eaten by lions? Sometimes you have to draw a line. I just think that line should have been drawn amongst international agreement.

Hilary Andersson prepares for chemical or biological attack in Northern Kuwait

The BBC has terrific news coverage. The thumbnails are from their broadcast on the local public television station.

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