Email from Michael Moore

[Chinaski]

I got this from the Michael Moore subscription thingy I signed up for... Thought it was interesting for a variety of reasons, including Michael Moore's personal beliefs and the possible contradiction with his progressive stance, as well as the actual implications of religiosity in the economic sector.

For Those of You on Your Way to Church This Morning ...a note from Michael Moore

Sunday, October 4th, 2009

Friends,

I'd like to have a word with those of you who call yourselves Christians (Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Bill Maherists, etc. can read along, too, as much of what I have to say, I'm sure, can be applied to your own spiritual/ethical values).

In my new film I speak for the first time in one of my movies about my own spiritual beliefs. I have always believed that one's religious leanings are deeply personal and should be kept private. After all, we've heard enough yammerin' in the past three decades about how one should "behave," and I have to say I'm pretty burned out on pieties and platitudes considering we are a violent nation who invades other countries and punishes our own for having the audacity to fall on hard times.

I'm also against any proselytizing; I certainly don't want you to join anything I belong to. Also, as a Catholic, I have much to say about the Church as an institution, but I'll leave that for another day (or movie).

Amidst all the Wall Street bad guys and corrupt members of Congress exposed in "Capitalism: A Love Story," I pose a simple question in the movie: "Is capitalism a sin?" I go on to ask, "Would Jesus be a capitalist?" Would he belong to a hedge fund? Would he sell short? Would he approve of a system that has allowed the richest 1% to have more financial wealth than the 95% under them combined?

I have come to believe that there is no getting around the fact that capitalism is opposite everything that Jesus (and Moses and Mohammed and Buddha) taught. All the great religions are clear about one thing: It is evil to take the majority of the pie and leave what's left for everyone to fight over. Jesus said that the rich man would have a very hard time getting into heaven. He told us that we had to be our brother's and sister's keepers and that the riches that did exist were to be divided fairly. He said that if you failed to house the homeless and feed the hungry, you'd have a hard time finding the pin code to the pearly gates.

I guess that's bad news for us Americans. Here's how we define "Blessed Are the Poor": We now have the highest unemployment rate since 1983. There's a foreclosure filing once every 7.5 seconds. 14,000 people every day lose their health insurance.

At the same time, Wall Street bankers ("Blessed Are the Wealthy"?) are amassing more and more loot -- and they do their best to pay little or no income tax (last year Goldman Sachs' tax rate was a mere 1%!). Would Jesus approve of this? If not, why do we let such an evil system continue? It doesn't seem you can call yourself a Capitalist AND a Christian -- because you cannot love your money AND love your neighbor when you are denying your neighbor the ability to see a doctor just so you can have a better bottom line. That's called "immoral" -- and you are committing a sin when you benefit at the expense of others.

When you are in church this morning, please think about this. I am asking you to allow your "better angels" to come forward. And if you are among the millions of Americans who are struggling to make it from week to week, please know that I promise to do what I can to stop this evil -- and I hope you'll join me in not giving up until everyone has a seat at the table.

Thanks for listening. I'm off to Mass in a few hours. I'll be sure to ask the priest if he thinks J.C. deals in derivatives or credit default swaps. I mean, after all, he must've been good at math. How else did he divide up two loaves of bread and five pieces of fish equally amongst 5,000 people? Either he was the first socialist or his disciples were really bad at packing lunch. Or both.

[charlou]

Sounds like he's describing libertarian capitalism.

Interesting and provocative, indeed ...

[tattuchu]

Is he taking the piss?

[FBM]

I'm sure he's made a killing in the gold market, but not sure it's enough to make up for the crashes on frankincense and myrrh.

[Drewish]

I'm sure he's made a killing in the gold market, but not sure it's enough to make up for the crashes on frankincense and myrrh.

But seriously. Moore has absolutely no idea what Capitalism even is. He's come out numerous times in support of socialism as a moral imperative. As an Objectivist myself (We're what the libertarians would be if they were hard care ) I am very much opposed to institutionalize collectivism, and am almost positive that Moore's film will be nothing more than a straw man argument where he points out all the ways that companies can cheat us using the government, and then calls for more government control as the solution It's kind of sad really. Our too political parties have always represented different forms of oppression, the right taking away your civil rights based on religious morality, the left taking away your property based on state imposed collectivism. It seems now that the newest movement is theocratic socialism, or faith inspired collectivism. If people like Moore do get their way, we can kiss our freedoms goodbye.

[Twoflower]

I am torn with Moore. On one hand I dont like his movies, and think hes horrible at documentary movies. On the other hand he has revived my towns economy and has done a lot for downtown.

[charlou]

If the government is truly representative of the people, of the best interests of the people, it will collect and use taxes to strive to ensure all people live with a socially prescribed minimum level of access to clean water, food, shelter, health, transport, communication and education. A people's government which takes care of the entire population is not in control of but in service to the entire population.

[Hermit]

Like all theists, Moore's belief is not so much based on what is written in their respective holy texts, but by judiciously picking the cherries that suit their opinions. Compare Moore's choice of bible references with one he does not quote; the contrast is breathtaking.

I have come to believe that there is no getting around the fact that capitalism is opposite everything that Jesus (and Moses and Mohammed and Buddha) taught. All the great religions are clear about one thing: It is evil to take the majority of the pie and leave what's left for everyone to fight over. Jesus said that the rich man would have a very hard time getting into heaven. He told us that we had to be our brother's and sister's keepers and that the riches that did exist were to be divided fairly. He said that if you failed to house the homeless and feed the hungry, you'd have a hard time finding the pin code to the pearly gates.

11 And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. 12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. 13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. 14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. 15 And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. 16 Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. 17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. 18 And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. 19 And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities. 20 And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: 21 For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow. 22 And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: 23 Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury? 24 And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. 25 (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.) 26 For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him. 27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.

28 And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem.

[Luke 19:11-28]

There are many other bible verses that capitalists in general, and libertarians in particular, use to justify capitalism without compassion, and Moore ignores the lot just like laissez faire capitalists ignore the bits Moore does mention. And all that from the same tome!

Having admired Moore's works, particularly Bowling for Columbine and Fahrenheit 9/11, I am at a loss trying to express just how profoundly I am disappointed to hear that his critiques are based on a carefully selected collection of excerpts of writings by a bunch of religious acolytes who, among other things, also believed in talking snakes, immaculate conception and stoning people who worked on a sabbath to death.

[Chinaski]

Mein werter Herr Seraph, why don't you write back to Herr Moore? He provides an address in his email:

mmflint@aol.com

[Hermit]

Mein werter Herr Seraph, why don't you write back to Herr Moore? He provides an address in his email:

mmflint@aol.com

Vielen Dank für den Hinweiss, sehr geehrter Herr Kalte Symphonie, but I don't wish to distract Herr Moore from his valuable endeavours.

[Chinaski]

Mein werter Herr Seraph, why don't you write back to Herr Moore? He provides an address in his email:

mmflint@aol.com

Vielen Dank für den Hinweiss, sehr geehrter Herr Kalte Symphonie, but I don't wish to distract Herr Moore from his valuable endeavours.

...Such as? In that case, would you mind if I appropriated elements from your previous post to formulate my own email to Mr. Moore?

[Sisifo]

You should go through the "apostolic poverty" debate of the XIII and XIV centuries, that divided and created monastic orders. Anyhow, this is the official entries and position:

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12324a.htm

[Hermit]

Mein werter Herr Seraph, why don't you write back to Herr Moore? He provides an address in his email:

mmflint@aol.com

Vielen Dank für den Hinweiss, sehr geehrter Herr Kalte Symphonie, but I don't wish to distract Herr Moore from his valuable endeavours.

...Such as? In that case, would you mind if I appropriated elements from your previous post to formulate my own email to Mr. Moore?

I mentioned a couple of his endeavours that impressed me.

You are welcome to use as much or as little of my previous post as you like, and best of luck with it.

[Chinaski]

Bowling For Columbine and Fahrenheit 9/11 were brilliant, but at the moment he's not endeavouring anything

[Twoflower]

I could just go wander over to his house next time Im home and give him that post.