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A mistake
Dear Republic:
The choice to print the particular picture and caption that accompanied Kim Petersen's article on the West Bank wall (Bound by morality) was a mistake.
Not only was this picture/caption inappropriate to the content of the article, but also it was irresponsibly evocative of anti-Semitic cartoons and sentiment not only of the past, but also of recent history.
It is not necessary to draw upon the pre-existing anti-Jewish feelings in our culture when criticizing the policies of the Israeli government.
As for the article itself, the author needed to give the readers some historical context, particularly of Jewish oppression, the development of Zionism, the state of Israel and its role in the Middle East, the oppression of Palestinians and the role of US imperialism in order to provide some insight to the present day decision by many governments to ignore the International Court of Justice.
For me, lack of morality is not enough of an explanation for incorrect decisions that hurt people.
- Leila Day
An apology
The Republic wishes to apologize to anyone who was offended by the picture caption accompanying the article "Bound by morality" in issue 93. We were mortified when it was pointed out that referring to a "long, crooked nose" next to a story about Israel implied a connection with abhorrent racist depictions of Jews. Such a subtext was not deliberate and we are appropriately embarrassed and shamed for making even an unintended reference to this horrible racial caricature.
More Moore
Dear Republic:
I am an American, and if you were trying to piss someone off, you have done just that with your Michael Moore piece with your opinion.
On the one hand, one could argue that Moore's film is enough for now; after all, “there is scarcely any dissent in America still, and Americans need to have news of the utter destruction of their nation broken to them slowly.”
Excuse me as I sit here safe in my home with my family in America!!! For such a smart man—your true colors have shown.
Never, never come to America! As you will not be welcomed here. Stay away from our country and pray the terrorists don't find you and your home.
Do not speak so of the leader of my country, unless you'd say it directly to the president himself.
Michael Moore is a wretch of a human being. As a Mother of a Columbine survivor, I can tell you all about his twisted and wretched “documentaries.”
I've read a lot of really nasty things said by some really nasty people, but your editorial by far is to the extreme.
The United States of America was attacked by terrorists, Islamic terrorists who planned the attack for what, years? Hello! Years!
I was watching the morning news and bam! One plane hit, then right before the entire world's eyes, bam, plane two came in, plane three at the Pentagon—boom!—in the field came plane four.
The media left nothing out!!! For days and weeks after, the entire world saw those same images! Blame the terrorists and the countries that created the wicked human beings that perpetrated their wicked deeds upon innocent civilians in my country.
You will not win readership from someone like me. You have made an enemy consumer out of me. I am a person with a whole lot of common sense, that knows many just like me. They'll all hear from me and any posting board I can find to debunk you and your thought process with your on-line editorial pages.
I am lodging a formal complaint against you and your propaganda regarding your editorial.
- Pamela Elledge
Dear Republic:
You don't get it, do you? Michael Moore is doing more than just about anybody to ensure that the bunch of scoundrels in Washington gets booted out in November. The big story is that his new movie, which presents that bunch in such an unfavorable light (admittedly not hard to do) is drawing such large numbers of "middle Americans" into theatres to watch it, and will undoubtedly influence more than a few voters at election time, which is his avowed aim. I applaud someone who does all in his considerable power to end this reckless and dangerous regime.
You, on the other hand, choose to spend your time calling him names and attacking him. You criticize him for not making the movie you wanted to see, but the movie you envision, whatever its merits, would never pack the theatres the way Fahrenheit 9/11 does. Appallingly, you go on to advocate capital punishment, giving us a glimpse of what your ideal society would look like.
Perhaps one reason Michael Moore is so popular is that he has something you sorely lack, compassion.
- Dennis Nella
Dear Republic:
I read your review and the question is, Yes I agree with you, but so what?
Since when is Michael Moore meant to bear the burden of the entire country?
Do I smell professional jealously here?
If MM hadn't done it would you have done it? Could you have done it?
Give the man credit, not only is he willing to stand against the right wing smears (and more than a few from what passes as the left in the USA) but he's educating the American masses in a way you can't.
Like a lot of Moore's critics you sound very churlish and it's unfortunate because you're probably a nice person.
Take a good look at yourself.
- David S
Dear Republic:
So, I saw Fahrenheit 9/11. Potvin's review helped me to focus on Moore's apologetic stance regarding US notions of patriotism. It also prepared me to listen to people who go to war and then beat their breasts when their sons die in that war. But what took my breath away was that even a good American like Michael Moore can be corrupted by US arrogance and power. When he depicted the Coalition of the Willing, instead of focusing on the goons and thugs in charge of those countries, he showed snake charmers in souks , people in grass skirts, and people grinding corn on stone slabs—images, I guess, to conjure up quaint, backward people. Not big, aggressive monsters dressed and equipped to kill, shock and awe. And the people in the theatre laughed at that joke.
Even our friend Michael has not got the point that these poor, backward people are not obese, they do not drive monstrous vehicles and are not greedy energy and resources hogging pigs. And the US-ians still don't understand why they are hated in this world?
- Safder Alladina, Vancouver, B.C.
Dear Republic:
Thank you for writing your piece about Fahrenheit 9/11. I had not seen anything like it anywhere before. I recommend it to all my friends and I am considering translating it into my language, Dutch, and send it in to weekly papers and TV stations here. I also thought of sending it to DemocracyNow.org and ask them to invite you for an hour-long interview.
However, I would not do this without your permission!
Thank you once again!
- Peter Cozijn, Amsterdam
Dear Republic:
Thank you for your recent piece on Michael Moore's film!
I too felt he did not go far enough with the documentary. I felt let down that the film did not cover all the topics it should have covered.
The feelings I had as I left the theatre after watching the film were that of sadness, shame and anger. I was sad that my country has done all of the things shown in the movie. I am ashamed of being an American. Our behavior is horrible.
I was angry with Michael Moore at the end because of his use of humor to convey some of his messages. I sat in the theatre listening to people laugh as they watched this very serious and disturbing information. I thought the movie was supposed to be a documentary.
I think we needed a film like this, but we need many more to cover the topics you mention in your piece. God knows we won't see any of this information in the media. Thanks again,
- Ed Brown, Gainesville, Florida
Dear Republic:
I just want to congratulate you on your excellent article "Moore film is not enough." I look forward to reading your future articles.
- Robert Burns
Dear Republic:
Upon reading your essay in the Republic I find that I couldn't agree more. I'm a 47 year old white male born and raised in the United States. I have been witness to a long, agonizing, withering campaign of self-righteous ignorance and arrogance that has been taking place my whole life but that went into high gear under the Reagan administration. The whole fetid, stinking, rotten mess comes from one central core: religious fundamentalism. Every nuance and permutation can be traced to that one dismal fact. There does not need to be any rational, ethical, or moral justification for anything. "The bible said it, I believe it. That settles it." is the argument used to answer any criticism. "My country, right or wrong" is also thrown in as though it were some noble patriotic slogan instead of the cowardly, immoral, childish statement that it is.
I have written only so that you understand that there are people here in this country that do recognize fully what is going on. We have been conquered by the vile, reprehensible thugologians who are responsible for the unspeakable tragedy this nation has unleashed on the world. We are sick to the pit of our souls and Michael Moore's film does help some in that it addresses a few of the nightmares that are currently being endured but, as you point out so well, it is critically lacking in breadth and depth. America is adrift and teetering on the cusp of utter annihilation—armageddon, if you will. Those of us who recognize what this nation has become are despairing to say the least and desperate for any glimmer of hope.
Farenheit/9-11 is a very small drop in a very large bucket but it's something and for so long there has been nothing. All the truth is available if one digs deep enough but it is all suppressed and it is actually somewhat of a miracle that Moore's film has been allowed to be shown. In America today one is only free to do what one is told.
Thank you for your insightful and honest critique.
- Richard M James
Dear Republic:
I read your article on and can't agree with you more about Moore. He totally whitewashed the 9-11 thing and I commend you. I wrote a similar article that was actually published, beyond my belief, in the San Francisco Chronicle.
Unfortunately, as was pointed out by Peter Meyer from www.serendipty.li , the author of the 9/11 report to congress was Professor Abolhassan Astaneh-Asl, not Professsor Seeks as I claimed. Oh well the facts remain the same.
- Jim Fox
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