BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE

 

 

Bowling For Columbine is a documentary by noted controversial "liberal" filmmaker Michael Moore. The film centers around the school shooting at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado back in 1999, which was regarded as one of the worst if not the worst school shooting in American history. As you might've already figured, Moore adds his own "liberal" take to the horrifically tragic shooting and its aftermath. But, whatever one personally feels about Moore and his "work" and/or whether or not they're a fan, he does make some interesting points and/or cites some interesting statistics in the film. For instance, when people--e.g. media pundits and his fellow "liberals"--blame the "availability" of guns in the U.S. for mass shootings such as Columbine, he cites how other counties such as Canada has pretty much the same "access" to guns as this country and yet, compared to this country, Canada's violent crime rate is almost nonexistent. Also, when people--e.g. media pundits and "conservatives"--cite things like "violent" video games and so-called popular culture (remember when these people actually "blamed" goth rocker Marilyn Manson--whom Moore interviews for the film--for somehow "causing" the Columbine school shooting when it turned out the two Columbine shooters weren't even "fans" of Marilyn Manson's music?)--as the true "cause" of gun violence in America, Moore again cites how the "entertainment" in Japan is just as violent--and often even more so--than the "entertainment" people generally view in the United States and yet, compared again to this country, Japan's violent crime rate is likewise nearly nonexistent. And, also, when people cite America's "violent" history as the reason for rampant gun violence and/or violence in general in this country, Moore once again notes how other countries have had similar "violent" histories as America such as Germany (and you know about THOSE guys, right?) and, there again, their crime rates are almost nonexistent compared to America's. While he doesn't give a definitive answer as to the true cause of violence in America (but then, who the hell can?), these--and other--points that Moore makes about American violence really does make you think regardless of your political leanings. This documentary, like every other Michael Moore documentary (and pretty much whatever else MM does or says), caused some controversy. The main point-of-contention was his interview with the late actor Charlton Heston at his home towards the end of the film who was, as you probably already know, a diehard (no pun intended!) gun enthusiast and was also a member/spokesperson for the NRA (and, again, you know about THOSE guys, right?). It probably goes without saying that many--or most--right-wing pundits accused Moore--whom, of course, they weren't a major "fan" of to begin with--of "ambushing" and/or "disrespecting" the aging actor (who--as you again probably already know--walked off the interview when Michael kept pressing him on the gun issue). Quite frankly, whatever "sympathy" I might have had for Chuck dissipated when I heard him years ago rant & rave on one of those early-morning Sunday political talk shows about how "blacks" only wanted a handout and/or how "gays" wanted to show their "lifestyle" down everyone's throat (again, no pun intended!). The main problem I personally had with the film was when Moore with a few of the Columbine survivors in tow--one of whom was confined to a wheelchair as a result of his wounds suffered in the shooting (can anyone say exploitation!)--confronted the higher-ups at K-Mart where the two Columbine shooters reportedly bought their ammunition. Even to Moore's obvious surprise, their pressure "persuaded" K-Mart to stop selling ammo in their stores. Now would-be school shooters will just have to buy their ammo at--gasp!--Wal-Mart where, of course, they can likely get it CHEAPER! Way to go, Michael! A sidenote: Also interviewed for the film was Matt Stone who is one of the co-creators of the South Park TV show and who, along with co-creator Trey Parker, hail from Colorado. Apparently Stone & Parker--who, as you know, I've lampooned more than once in this blog--were none too happy about the animated short in the film called "A Brief History Of The United States" that they felt was a little too much like their beloved South Park. As a result, Stone & Parker--that's right!--lampooned Micheal Moore in their puppet movie Team America: World Police. Apparently SOME people CAN'T take what they routinely dish out, now CAN they? As for what I personally feel about "stopping" gun violence and/or violence in general in America, I think it's far, far easier to advocate banning guns and/or "violent" video games and whatnot than it is to take a long hard look at OURSELVES, you know what I mean?