The concept that more guns equals more freedom is ludicrous. American homes have more guns now than ever- and less freedom.
I would hope that the American people will spend as much time attempting to regain their constitutional guarantees and rights that have now being taken away (right to a prompt and fair trial, right to a lawyer, right not to be held without charge, right not to be wiretapped without just cause and a warrant, etc) as many spend on maintaining the right to bear arms.
The idea that guns provide security is countered by the statistics. Most gun deaths are among people who know each other or in accidents (5 yr old accidentally shoots 3yr old etc)
A favourite line among NRA afficionatos is that Hitler would never have come to power if all Germans had been armed. This entirely glosses over the fact that he gained power through the manipulation of the democratic process- and only then passed decrees giving him emergency powers. His actions, justified by the Reichstag Fire and feuled by fear, were met with wild enthusiasm at home.
“Columbine” contradicts itself by claiming that Americans are somehow more violent than other societies- anyone been to a British soccar match recently? The fact is you must HAVE a weapon before you can USE it. Everyone understands this concept when it comes to Nuclear weapons- no one suggests that the world would be safer if every country had them.
The movie was an exaggeration, as are all successful spoofs, but served a purpose in countering the outrageous fear mongering used by the right wing. One can think back to the disgraceful tactics used by George Bush 1 in the 1988 election with the Willie Horton ads (Vote Democratic and you’ll be raped and murdered in your homes by blacks!)
I couldn’t agree more with you Charlie.
Guns are not dangerous - the muppets who have them are.
If the muppets can’t get ready acess to them then the world might be a little safer.
Anyone can throw around statisitics and make them work for their side of the argument.
‘Lies Damn Lies and Statisitics’
George Bernard Shaw
You can read Micheal Moore’s own defence of the film and many of the arguments brought up on this thread.
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/wackoattacko
I think the important thing the film does, and does very well, whether you agree with him or not is stimulate debate. So it appears to work quite well there.
Dave
I’ll have to respectfully disagree. The American Founders understood that, in the end, freedom and safety are not guaranteed through the democratic process. (As you pointed out - Hitler gained power through the democratic process, and then proceeded to tyrannically destroy freedom then.) Someone could always come along and pervert it.
I suppose it comes down to whether we trust our fellow human beings to secure our rights for us. Government does not give rights. Government secures the rights I have been given by God, if it operates as it should.
But if not, there must be another backstop against tyranny. That is a well-armed populace. And yes, if Jews, Gypsies, Christians and others trageted by the SS in Germany had been well-armed, Hitler would have had a much more difficult time making them all disappear.
Then, of course there are practical considerations. If someone breaks into my home and the police are 6-10 minutes away, I will doubtless appreciate a firearm over lamely waiting to be murdered or robbed.
And if my wife or sister had to walk home at night through a questionable neighborhood, I would feel more secure if I knew she had the means to defend herself.
So you listed many rights that are threatened in America, and I’d list the right of gun ownership as one of them. By the way, it was Al Gore who first brought Willie Horton to the attention of the American public during the 1988 Democratic Presidential Primary.
But in any case, this forum is really for other things so I’ll get back to them. God bless you and yours. Thanks for the site!
I agree with Charlie. I heard that business’s in America have protocols in case Moore comes knocking at their doors. He kind of looks like the typical coach potato. I was expecting someone a little more clean cut. I guess not. He is bold though. On the Conan Obrein show his first comment was that the so called temps which had been working at the studio for over 8 years should have healthcare ect… Well thats what temps are Mike. A fancy way of saying we dont give a crap about you in any way. They know the deal. Anyways I heard he is currently in the process of making a movie/documentary about the 9/11 attacks and showing links to the bin laden family and how they were the only ones who could fly on the 12/13th in the country.
-Dr.Sprint
I personally see absolutely no reason why any civillian needs to own a semiautomatic weapon.
Consider if I said this: “I personally see no reason why you should own a car. They kill hundreds of thousands of people per year, and public transportation is just as good.”
You might respond, correctly, that I had no right to tell you what you “need” or what anyone else needs. Guns are morally neutral. They are neither good nor bad. Human beings make them good or bad by putting them to use. If people are moral, they should be able to own as many guns as they like. If they are bad or criminal they should never be allowed near them.
A semiautomatic weapon is overkill. Lets say you need a weapon to defend yourself against intruders in your home. A handgun is more than enough force required to bring down a dangerous intruder. Why would anyone need a semiautomatic weapon unless you were planning to gun down a roomful of people?
Flame throwers arn’t dangerous either - only the people who use them irresponsibly are
Most people have some sort of intuition that tells them, when they look at how Moore behaves, how he moves, how he dresses, how he uses his eyes, in short how he comes across as a human being when he does not voice his opinions, that whatever his views are they are not deeply rooted. That they do not enter his own life, but rather stays “out there” as abstract entities.
If you try to remember someone you once knew, you probably will remember that person by what he did, and whatever views he held they will seem unimportant and more like a layer of clothing over his real soul-life.
Thor,
Im not sure what your trying to say here but Ill give my opinion on the subject of how humans remember you. Most people judge you on superficial things that are meaningless. They dont judge you by whats in your soul. Thats absurd. Take for instance homeless people. They are outcasted by society and looked down upon as inferior human beings… why because they smell, dont have money, dont have luck, and dont have anything going for them. It doesnt matter whats in the soul of the homeless guy on the corner. Hes not even a real human. It doesnt matter if that guy is sweetest person in the world. Or if he spent his whole life trying to help people. Our society will only see him for what he is now. A homeless bum. Thats just the sad truth. People are superficial… selfish creatures. God should have destroyed us all from the start.
-Dr.Sprint
But it would be different if this homeless bum where someone you knew, instead of someone you just know by description.
And anyway, most of the time we aren’t conscious of our deepest feelings, and if we where we would have a hard time getting anything done.