Fahrenheit 11/9

9/28

A conversation with Michael Moore

Went to see Michael Moore's new movie, Fahrenheit 11/9....and who should appear but Michael Moore himself...

This movie is important. Michael seeks to understand what happened, why it happened, where we are now and what we might do.

As far as what, beyond the Russians and other attempts to subvert democracy, Moore chronicles well the responsibility of the Democrats for their own defeat. Including their own subversion of democracy in the nomination process and essentially ignoring serious class issues. Taking too much for granted.

Trump is seen not as a cause but a symptom of a system that is already far gone with rot and decay. The situation of Flint, Michigan, for example, happened long before Trump. The issues around its water are nothing short of criminal. And President Obama, whose arrival was viewed as their salvation, instead took photo op sips of the water essentially dismissing danger. And those who gave up and decided not to vote were enough to cost the Democrats Michigan. The subsequent use  of Flint as a staging ground for military training exercises....including bombing!...was almost surreal beyond belief.

We are also reminded that President Obama deported more immigrants than any previous administration, use drones to take people out and continued the decline of democracy.

The comparisons of the rise of fascism in late Weimar Germany and Trump era USA are chilling. Most chilling is the juxtaposition of the burning of the Reichstag and 9/11. While Moore is not arguing ( I think) that 9/11 was as the conspiracy folks call an "inside job," it was nevertheless exploited to expand unchecked government power (the Patriot Act) and start a new war in Iraq for no valid reason. That is seriously frightening.

We see the rise of openly racist armed angry  people and it's almost enough to cause one to give up. Thankfully there are signs of hope...
* The student activists from Parkland, Florida
* The campaign of Alexandria  Ocasio- Cortez  and other women.
* The campaign of military veteran and former Trump supporter Richard Ojeda in blue collar West Virginia.

It feels overwhelming right now. But, as Sharon Welch says, Cynicism is the prerogative of privilege. We cannot allow ourselves to fall into it.
Neither can we wait for a great man or any one on a white horse.  We need to remember the slogan of those now fighting for democracy in Nicaragua.....solo el pueblo salva el pueblo...only the people can save the people. And the time is now,

                                                ****

Michael stayed after for questions and answers. And we reminisced briefly about his visit to West Park during the Occupy Wall Street days. The struggle continues....