I've done a post about Bowling For Columbine and our nation's violence previously, but this one is about some of the quotes featured in the movie. Some of them are astounding.
"You don't need gun control. You know what you need? We need some bullet control. I think all bullets should cost $5,000 dollars. You know why? Because if bullets cost $5,000, then there won't be any more innocent bystanders." ~Chris Rock
-Now of course Chris Rock isn't a reputable source, but his basic ideas are so valid. If bullets were that expensive, people would really think about killing somebody if it was going to cost that much.
"When the shooting was over, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold had killed 12 students and 1 teacher. Dozens of others were wounded by the over 900 rounds of ammo that were fired...."
-900 rounds of ammo? How do 2 teenage boys acquire that many bullets? It's believed that got them all at their local KMart. Now what is the point of a store like KMart carrying bullets? They don't even do background checks or anything. It's scary that a teen can go buy that much ammo with no questions asked.
"Something is wrong in this country when a child can grab a gun so easily...something is wrong, but the time has come to understand that a Tec-9, semi-automatic thirty bullet weapon like that, that killed my son is not used to kill deer. It has no useful purpose." ~ Father of a Columbine victim
-Really, what's the point of anyone having that type of gun. It's not for hunting, and it's not just for self defense.
"The President was shooting bombs overseas, yet I'm a bad guy because I sing some rock 'n' roll songs. And who's a bigger influence: the President of Marilyn Manson?" ~Marilyn Manson
-So many people blamed him for the shootings, yet the morning of the shooting, the president sent bombs overseas. No, that doesn't add to our nation's violence. Not at all. All of the violence is due to controversial musicians such as Marilyn Manson, Eminem, you name it.
"Bowiling For Columbine" is a movie?
Yes it is a movie by Michael Moore (you should have heard his name by now). http://www.bowlingforcolumbine.com/
I highly recommend this one.
This is my favorite of Moore's films. While at times incredibly controversial I think Michael Moore really hit the nail on the head with this one. He explains how American's love for guns has grown out of our fear of everything, even each other. Fear that is imposed upon us by the media, our government, and disillusionment. When you turn on the news -- we see crime, murder, violence, massive car wrecks, etc. When we listen to popular music, rap in particular -- we hear of killings and gangsta living. When we listen to our government -- we realize that they manufacture this fear through selling small arms to poor nations to battle it out (sometimes illegally) and instigating wars that should have been diplomatically resolved. I think his point is even MORE valid today with the "war on terrorism." The government (and the media) want us to think that at any moment, on any given day, a terrorist will kill thousands of innocent civilians in order to serve their god. Well, while these attacks have definately occured, and have the possibility of occuring again, it is not nearly as much of a threat to our wellbeing as say AIDS or cancer. So to solve the problem we irritate these insane people even more by forcing democracy on others with guns! That seems in complete opposition to our moral standards and democracy as an institution. In fact, didn't we once fight the communists for doing just this -- forcing their government upon others with guns?
Michael Moore is an overweight idiot in a baseball cap. Regarding Bowling for Columbine; in Moore's manipulative and dishonest style, he took quotes out of context and reassembled them to give the impression that people made speeches they did not make. But yet, many folks, mostly the young and naive, 'buy into' this type of deceitful propaganda. Sad.
I can understand your point of view -- Moore is far skewed to the left -- but to deny that his claims (I only speak for Bowling for Columbine at this point) are unfounded equates to ignoring a REAL problem we have in the US. A problem that we face every day. We live in a society where the govt promotes fear in order to control us and the media promotes fear because they profit off it. It creates an environment where we are afraid of everything from the kid who dresses in baggy pants down the block to terrorists. While some fears are legitimate, others are far from the reality of our situation.
"Regarding Bowling for Columbine; in Moore's manipulative and dishonest style, he took quotes out of context and reassembled them to give the impression that people made speeches they did not make."
--I would like you to provide a news organization, govt official, or documentary that DOESN'T take quotes out of context or reassemble information to support their own claims. I doubt that you will find one (at least not one that many people are aware of). Everyone has their bias. But because you have a bias doesn't negate your point.
I really wish I had the website address, but my teacher showed our class the website that tried to say that Michael Moore was taking everything out of context. But he responded to every single argument they made. The only thing that was out of context was when Heston said "Out of my cold dead hands...". He just said that at every gun rally. But Moore really did buy a gun at the bank. Moore can be controversial, but this was a very good, informative film.