Bowling for Columbine

I saw Bowling for Columbine last night. This was a much-reviled movie among right wing bloggers when it came out, supposedly chock-full of factual errors and anti-gun left-wing bias. What I saw surprised me.

I can't comment on factual errors, but this was not an anti-gun movie at all. There was an anti-NRA element, but that's far from the same thing as anti-gun. In fact, there was a lengthy segment discussing the fact that guns are as common (perhaps more common) in Canada, yet the murder rate is far lower.

What Michael Moore is doing with this movie is asking the question, "What is it about America which makes us so violent?" One by one, he dismisses the standard answers: Demographically, we're not much different from many other Western countries. We watch the same movies and TV shows, and play the same video games. Other countries as just as gun-crazy as we are, but not as violent. Our history is no more violent than that of Europe.

Moore's answer: In the United States we have a culture of fear. We are constantly being bombarded by things to be afraid of, because that gets people's attention. If it bleeds it leads. The media, politicians, political groups use fear to motivate us, because fear works very well.

Watch out for the serial killer/deadly snakes/killer bees/shark attacks. Buy our magazine or watch our news show for more information.

Someone is trying to take your guns/take away your abortion rights/remove God from your school/lock you in jail without a lawyer. Send us money and we'll keep it from happening.

If elected, my opponent will release murderers and rapists/let evildoers hijack airplanes/turn this country into a fascist dictatorship. Vote for me, and I'll keep you safe.

Moore's thesis is that this constant bombardment keeps us ever on edge. Someone who is afraid is more likely to react violently, even if the source of the fear and the target of the violence aren't directly connected. When you feel powerless and afraid, one way to feel powerful again is to hurt someone else.

I didn't agree with everything Moore put forward. For example, even though I think universal health coverage is something we should have in the United States, I don't think the lack of it contributes much to violence and fear. In addition, Moore exaggerates the differences in the crime rates between the U.S. and other countries by presenting raw rather than per-capita murder rates.

Still, this is a movie which I encourage everyone--of all political stripes--to watch. You don't have to agree with it, but it will at least make you think.

P.S. Am I the only one who thinks Michael Moore's documentary style is just aching for a satire? Something like Michael Moore Sells Girl Scout Cookies ("Please, sir, all I'm asking is that you buy one box of thin mints. Is that asking too much? What about the camping opportunities? Sir? Sir?" SLAM)