It blew my mind after Mike's Film Festival Surprise when a girl asked Michael how he keeps from feeling like a hypocrite, especially after watching an hour of Mike doing a monologue on stage in London during which he continuously challenged the audience to think critically. The crowd at Lars Hockstead Auditorium in Traverse City inadvertently defended Michael as movie-goers thanked him for everything he's done locally and nationally. Michael, however, answered the girl's question in his reliably humble manner. He said that yes, they have a nice house and send their daughter to a good school, because they are able to, but they also continue to do what they can with what they have. In another after-movie Q&A, Michael and other filmmakers discussed the notion of guilt, and they basically encouraged people not to feel guilty for being one of the "haves" in a world of "have-nots". In fact, the "haves" are the lucky ones, not just because we have wealth or health care or material goods, but because we are able to do something to make the world a better place. (Please keep in mind that Michael also sent a check to the government in the amount of his Bush tax cut that profited the wealthy and left us little guys behind. He is doing what he can to avoid any level of hypocrisy.)
Michael also pointed out the fact that his successes have been lucky-- whether or not he profited off of his books/movies/etc., he would have done what needed to be done. In one of Mike's books, he talks about how he is actually quite introverted and gets really nervous about confrontation. But he does it, time and time again, because he feels so passionately about opening up our eyes to this harsh reality in which we live. We live in a society afraid to talk about difficult things-- politics, government, inequalities. And until we can start opening up about these things, we need people like Michael Moore, who are willing to take on the task. It's almost like we live in a dreamworld of preferred ignorance because then we don't have to give a damn.
1 comment:
Americans in general are a selfish lot thinking only of themselves and only the things that concern them personally. Just like the Iraq War - if there was a draft there would be a lot more people against this senseless war but as long as someone in their family doesn't have to go they don't give a rip! Your last sentence explains it exactly! What Michael Moore does is great - we need more like him!
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