Unheeded

There was a little boy who loved walking down the river at night. His parents both told him it was horribly dangerous for him to do that because the river’s current was so strong and swift, but the boy always snuck out at night and did it anyways.

One night, the boy saw a shimmering by the side of the river from his window and decided to go and investigate. When he got to the riverside, he saw the shape of a beautiful woman form above the water of the river, about ten feet from the side. The woman beckoned him with a hand, her face so peaceful that the boy had no doubt that the water would hold his weight if he walked to the woman. As he stepped out over the water, his eyes were locked onto the shining face of this angelic being, so awe-stricken by her beauty and serene he was. Their hands met and the world seemed to melt away as the boy was overcome with a feeling of peace.

The parents of the boy and a large group of their friends managed to find the boy’s body a few days later, one hundred yards downstream and stuck under a fallen log, the flesh already peeling away from his body. He had drowned and the police did not suspect any foul play.

Michael Moore is an asshole

First off, Michael Moore is an asshole. That being said, he IS an adept storyteller. Unfortunately, he uses his abilities as a narrative creator to sensationalize what might otherwise be a worthy topic for acclaim and to further his own aims. I don’t necessarily have a problem with uses one’s own abilities to accomplish something, but if you’re going to do such a thing, try to do it with some professionalism or at least some class.

The film “Fahrenheit 9/11” is a prime example of the power of Michael Moore’s narrative art, delving into the more personal aspects of President George W. Bush’s “War on Terror” and the damage that the Patriot Act and similar measures to the human resources of the American military. The crux of his argument is that the elite of the country’s political system have persisting in colluding to abuse their power by creating a system that takes advantage of the poor and uneducated. He alleges that the American government abuses its power and profits from the blood and tears of the underprivileged. No shit, Mr. Moore.

How does Michael Moore exploit the fear of the American people to convince them that his, and only his, views on the state of our democracy are the correct opinions? More importantly, how does he utilize ambush tactics to produce the reactions and thoughts that improve his argument? He has a very keen knowledge of psychology and fear and how precisely to take advantage of the natural inclination of humanity to react poorly to surprise and fear.