Letters to Mike

[karmattack]

Having talked with a few soldiers myself who all follow this perspective, I thought I should share a link here. It's an excerpt from Michael Moore's new book that is made up of letters from soldiers in Iraq, and it's worth a read.

Dear Mike, Iraq sucks.

Bush is an [censored].

It's nice to see that Moore's complete appeal to emotion still works on many people.

***TRAGEDY***

"Hey I have an idea, why don't I capitalize on people's deaths and suffering and get rich while others die? Better yet, I'll blame it on someone else because I obviously had no power to change it even though I could have voted for someone else!"

Michael Moore eats money, and he doesn't present a very balanced picture. Ever.

Bush is smarter than you ZyronDrazil, that's a fact. Bush may do a lot of questionable things but I can guarantee anyone he's smarter than he looks. How did he become president after all? He's rich too isn't he?

*Sigh* When will people stop feeding this humongous being that is Michael Moore? It's ok, he doesn't need more money to eat, he won't starve people, quit feeding him. Give the money to someone who actually needs it.

People should do exactly as he suggested they do, download and pirate all his work instead of buying it. After that happens I would LOVE to see how he tries to keep claiming he's only doing it "America" when he's dead broke and filing suit on all the people who followed his suggestion.

I didn't say, whether Bush was smart. He could be the smartest man alive, for all I care. It still doesn't erase the fact that he's an [censored]. FYI: He's rich because of his daddy. Bush SR didn't want to go to Iraq, because "We'd never get out of there" in his own words.

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
He's rich too isn't he?

[/ QUOTE ]
If only inherited wealth corresponded with inherited intelligence. If George Bush Sr. was running for office this time around, I have very little doubt who would be getting my vote.

[Razorback]

What? You mean that some troops don't agree with the war and even dislike Bush? NO WAY!

[Affleckie]

He's not worth the late fee at the library... definitely not worth what his book would cost me in Canadian dollars.

But that reminds me:

[Razorback]

That would be funny if it didn't actually happen.

[Affleckie]

I know. The truth in it just makes it sad.

[marksiwel]

He was able to double the money he was given many times over, on his own. Just because my parents gave me 5 bucks and I turned it into 50, that doesnt mean I didnt earn my $50.

[JK]

Speaking as a veteran of the United States Navy, I can tell you there are always some poor stupid soldiers or sailors or airmen who are pissed off and don't want to be where they are, they don't want to be doing their jobs, and they're going to bitch. I say stupid because most of those guys (or gals) didn't sign up with a clear idea of what it is they're getting into. They're looking for college money or some way out of whatever shithole town it is they're living in. Even though it is illegal, there are still some jokers who get told they can go into the military or go to jail. But my point is, a lot of these people who piss and moan never even considered they'd be sent in to a combat zone. They're looking to do their time and get out and the war is getting in the way of that. Wouldn't you be pissed off too if you're trying to earn some cash for school or hiding out from Johnny Law Dog and some bastard is trying to kill you? When I was in the service, we all bitched and moaned, but we never, NEVER did it outside the house, and we never let it interfere with the mission and we certainly didn't write letters to some fat bastard that doesn't even know it means to put your life on the line for people you don't even know.

And, I'm sure all of these letters are authentic...'cause Michael Moore wouldn't dream of fabricating or distorting "facts".

[karmattack]

Wow, this rocks.

1. Nobody in their right mind is going to think they are getting a balanced opinion from Michael Moore. Yes, the book is absolutely biased. Yes, he's absolutely making money from the suffering [meaning soldiers suffering in a war they don't want to be in] of others. Yes, he's a prick and a businessman with an agenda. But if you're going to even suggest that he's made up, fabricated or edited these letters, you are absolutely as blind as the people you point fingers at. This book is going to be comprised of angry, confused, desperate letters from soldiers in Iraq that will motivate people against Bush and his agenda -- no question. Does that moot what they have to say? How could you possibly say so?

2. Because you disagree with Michael Moore, how does that make the letters and concerns of these soldiers somehow less relevant? Because you disagree with Michael Moore and you have some inconsequential idea of pariotism, how does that mean he spit on or in any way disrespected America when he made any of his movies? I will enjoy refuting anything and everything you have to offer to explain this.

3. Rico, I'm ignoring your comments because to say it boldly and like the cockhead I can be, they aren't worth the calories it would require for me to scoff and roll my eyes.

4. jk, I appreciate what you said and how you tried to say it. The problem with it is that what you've done is assume that people who believe and act differently than you are inherently unintelligent, wrong and unethical (I'm using my words, but that seems to be what you meant).


I love the fact that nobody has even mentioned the specific content of any of the letters yet. It's like you got a package in the mail from your grandma, but you refuse to open it because you caught the mailman fuckin' your cat. Genius.

Remind me never to get in an argument with you.

I think it was my fault.. cuz I said Bush was an a-hole in response to reading those letters, then it moved on from there. My bad.

What if your parents, and their friends, and a few other people gave you $50 every so often, and you still racked up credit card debt? Bush was born into money, but has no idea what it actually means. No politician I've seen really understands what it's like to live off of ramen noodles for a year, no cable tv, the threat of losing your phone or electricity, and living in some apartment that is at best a roof and walls surrounding the best furnitue people were throwing out.

That's the sort of situation that makes people wonder how somebody can wear a $3000 suit. That's a half-year's rent, more in some places. That's when you learn that every dollar is important. You think about the extra 40 cents to Super-Size and decide if you need to spend it because you're not going to finish it all. You see people laying off employees and getting into a private jet, and you know they aren't looking into your best interests.

The idea that wealthy people, I'm sorry, "successful" people, are the only ones who can lead is bad for the rest of us. They can afford the ads, so that's why we know about them. You could be the most brilliant social theorist, but without the money it does you know good. It's imbalanced, but the only politicians you'll see are the rich ones. Blaming one for it but not another is silly. None of them will understand money like we do, none of them will be truly in tune with the working class, and none of them care like we'd want to pretend they do.

They also smell nicer than anyone has a right to. Like lilacs.

[marksiwel]

Hey man I agree. If you look at Poltics these people are supposed to represent Americans. What you see is Old Rich White Guys, Few Women, Few Blacks, Hispanics, and a handfull of people who knows what it was like to be poor.

[marksiwel]

You rag on Rico, but Not Lizard_Town?
Rico atleast explained why he thinks Moore is an ass, LizardKing just went on about how Bush is an [censored].

Also I agree with Rico, If Moore wasnt making any money of these movies, he wouldnt be making them. Hell if he gave all the profits or even half the profits he made off of his movies to Chairty or a worthwhile cause I would actually PAY to see his movies. But his money goes into his pocket and makes him rich: The American Way, The very same way Bush or Cheny or Kerry made their money.

[Razorback]

Just goes to show you how democrats fight.

[karmattack]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
You rag on Rico, but Not Lizard_Town?
Rico atleast explained why he thinks Moore is an ass, LizardKing just went on about how Bush is an [censored].

[/ QUOTE ] Oh, dude. I don't stand by his comments. It's a good point. I, as well as anyone, should have asked where his comments were coming from.

And I don't disagree with what you're saying about Moore, but my point is: what does that have to do with these letters that he didn't write? Yeah, he's putting them into a book and bringing in the profits. So don't buy it, but maybe these letters excerpted from the book are worth reading.

And still no comments on topic.*


* Actually, RB did sort of.

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
No politician I've seen really understands what it's like to live off of ramen noodles for a year, no cable tv, the threat of losing your phone or electricity, and living in some apartment that is at best a roof and walls surrounding the best furnitue people were throwing out.

That's the sort of situation that makes people wonder how somebody can wear a $3000 suit. That's a half-year's rent, more in some places. That's when you learn that every dollar is important. You think about the extra 40 cents to Super-Size and decide if you need to spend it because you're not going to finish it all. You see people laying off employees and getting into a private jet, and you know they aren't looking into your best interests.

The idea that wealthy people, I'm sorry, "successful" people, are the only ones who can lead is bad for the rest of us. They can afford the ads, so that's why we know about them. You could be the most brilliant social theorist, but without the money it does you know good. It's imbalanced, but the only politicians you'll see are the rich ones. Blaming one for it but not another is silly. None of them will understand money like we do, none of them will be truly in tune with the working class, and none of them care like we'd want to pretend they do.

They also smell nicer than anyone has a right to. Like lilacs.

[/ QUOTE ]

Last night in the debate, Cheney talked about (after being prodded), how he had been laid off, had gone without health care, etc. You are making generalizations, which is never a good idea, and it turns out you are wrong. I have never heard a lot of the details behind George Bush's private life, but it is fallacy to assume because he was born into money, because he has never had to turn down the poor Mickey D's employee when he asked if Dubya wanted to "supersize it", that he cannot rule with the less fortunate in mind, on their behalf, for their good. That is totally flawed reasoning.

I'm not taking one side or another, but you're just throwing rhetoric out there, and it's wasted space.


...And in regard to karma's original post about Moore's new project, hey, it's sad, but so is child hunger, the AIDS epidemic, death, etc. etc.. Fact is, he's earning this money, so it's up to dumbheads (since we live in this wonderful democracy where no one is forced to listen to him) to stop listening, if they don't like him and the crap he makes... and that's all I have to say about that.