I wrote this essay after we read a passage from Stupid White Men by Michael Moore in school. Apparently it was a good example of persuasive writting.
Needless to say, I had to sort out a thing or two...
In his writings and popular “documentaries”, Michael Moore loves to paint a horrifying and yet comical image of Americans as dumb, illiterate and ignorant. In these texts he offers seemingly bombproof “evidence”, combined with his flair for the dramatic to convey an overall terrifying image of America. But, one closer inspection, we can see through this facade of propagandist smoke and mirrors and see the truth. From the education system to the controversial Florida Electoral Results in 2000, it’s all there; the facts simply do not support Michael Moore’s exaggerations.
Let’s start with education; in this extract, Moor claims that “there are forty-million Americans who cannot read or write above a fourth-grade level”. Scary, no? What if I were to tell you that this statistic includes those whose first language may not have been English [a significant portion in multi-cultural America] and those with significant disabilities such as blindness and other conditions? It’s true. The statistic Moore quotes came from a study commission in 1997 and concluded in 2002 by the U.S. Department of Education. In this study, 27,000 adults from all ethnic and social backgrounds were extensively interviewed. Based on these results, the Department of Education concluded that about forty million American cannot read or write above a 4th grade level including naturalized citizens of the United States and those with significant disabilities.
However, even deducting the disabled and those who don’t speak fluent English, education was and is currently a serious issue in the United States. That is why then-President George W. Bush passed the “No Child Left Behind Act” in early January, 2002 resulting in major reforms throughout the education system throughout the United States by making teachers accountable for the success of failure of students and not allow students to move to the next grade unless functionally literate for their age group [with obvious exceptions being made for disabled persons and those whose first language is not English].
The same applies other statistics Moore uses when comparing the hours Americans spend reading versus watching TV; there are many people in America who, having come from a different country, cannot speak, much less read, fluent English. Again, however, this does not account for the whole problem of the amount of time Americans spend reading versus watching TV. However, people spending more and more time in front of the TV than reading a book or newspaper is not a problem exclusive to the United States of America. There is not a nation in the developed world, to my knowledge, that does not have a similar problem when it comes to getting young people to read.
The demise of the newspaper is a worldwide issue as well. Just because newspaper circulation is in a steady decline does not mean Americans are not aware of the world around them; it just means that they are getting their news from different sources; the internet, the radio and cable news in particular. Now, I know what you’re thinking; “they’re moving away from the written print and moving towards the less engaging box”. On that count, you would be right and wrong;
Yes, people are moving away from the printed word and moving towards the TV. But, once at the TV, you will find that the likes of Sky, CNN and FOX News will have up to the minuet updates on top stories with around the clock analysis from expert journalists and contributors from relevant fields. Now, is that necessarily a bad thing? Watching the latest news, getting the facts fast and listening to two [or more] experts’ debate each other? It’s simply moving from one source, to another. The term “hyperbole” comes to mind.
Mr. Moore also mentioned that Americans could not locate Kosovo on a map. This is not surprising as Kosovo was not recognised as an independent nation until 2008; Moore’s book was published in 2002. Moore often cites a survey carried out by the National Geographic Society in 2002 on geographic literacy. While it did conclude that Americans had very little geographic awareness and while the report focused on geographic literacy in the United States, according to National Geographic, the rest of the worlds “are not exactly star students”. Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and Mexico all showed a serious lack of geographic understanding. In their final report, the National Geographic Society pointed the finger of blame squarely on the education system. While geographic illiteracy is a problem that needs to be fixed in the United States, it too is not a problem exclusive to the United States and will be helped by former President Bush’s No Child Left Behind initiative.
Same thing comes to mind when Moore speaks of Bush’s address to the Yale Graduating Class of 2001. He quotes Bush saying “And to the ‘C’ students, I say you, too, can become President of the United States” and how he brags about his ignorance. Having read the address in question, there a number of occasions where Bush makes a number of jokes at his expense. But this is consistent with his character. George Bush, even behind the scenes, enjoyed self-derogating jokes. This was part of his persona that people were able to identify with in stark contrast to the snobbish and condescending Al Gore who would often brag and boast his “achievements” [but that’s another story].
Moreover, despite the claims by Michael Moore and his followers, Yale University does not simply hand out degrees because you can write a check or say that your father was a former President. Same applies to Harvard, where George Bush earned a degree in business. A couple of C’s in High School is not something to get too worried about. Are we seriously going to judge someone based on his grades as a teenager who wasn’t all that interested in school? How about we turn the table; does the Junior Cert matter at all? No. Who cares how good or bad you did if you ultimately end up as a doctor or a lawyer?
Also, Moore states the George Bush almost nothing at all, including important briefs. This, again, is untrue. Being more than history buff, the ex-President loves to read. In the early days, when the then Governor Bush was considering the possibility of running for President, Karl Rove [Bush’s advisor], buried Bush in a heap of books about economics and foreign affairs which the Governor not only ready, by digested every argument and viewpoint in each book and developed his own theories and opinions. In early 2006, Rove told Bush that it was his New Years’ resolution to one book every week. Bush, who is always up for a bit of friendly competition, upped his reading rate, according the Wall Street Journal.
In his last paragraph, Moore explains to us why the United States of America begot herself a so called “Idiot-in-Chief” [just oozing with originality...]. More claims that, if you want to be President, you need “an ex-President father, a brother as a governor of a state with missing ballots and a Supreme Court full of your dad’s buddies.” Every word of that sentence is a lie. George W. Bush entered politics on his own accord and with little to no influence from his father before, during and after the campaign. In fact, even the ex-Presidents opponents in the Congress noted that Bush was, very much, his own man.
Mr. Moore’s attack on the Supreme Court of the United States is wholly uncalled for and without even the slightest sliver of even circumstantial evidence. The Supreme Court benching Bush v. Palm Beach County Canvassing Board and subsequent Bush v. Gore included Chief Justice William Rehnquist and Associate Justices John P. Stevens, Sandra Day O'Connor, Antonin Scalia, Anthony Kennedy, David Souter, Clarence Thomas, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer. Of which, only Souter was appointed by Bush Sr. Moreover, Souter has received criticism from the right for being far too left [particularly on issues such as abortion and homosexual marriage] and even he sided with Bush on this issue.
Mr. Moore seems to have forgotten the Supreme Court of the United States of America is the most objective and independent body ever formed. These justices are the cream of the judicial system’s crop. These men and women know the Constitution like the back of their hand; if they say it’s un-Constitutional, it’s because said action is un-Constitutional. And, on December 12th, 2000, they determined that the State of Florida and the Al Gore campaign were violating Federal Electoral Law and the Constitution of the United States; essentially gerrymandering.
However, one final glance at Michael Moore’s works, it suddenly becomes obvious why he would say such things; it’s because he’s right. Americans are stupid because they don’t agree with him. Bush is stupid because Moore didn’t vote for him. The election was rigged by ways of dubious means through political connections. The Supreme Court must be corrupt, otherwise, how could they have ruled in favour of Bush? The sad truth is there are many people who feel this way. Not so much that they dislike Bush, I don’t hold that against anybody, but those who feel that Bush-supporters are Bible-thumping, off the wall, inbred Red-necks are the true stupid white men....or women.....or any other ethnic background other than white for that matter.
