Blog Entry – Extra Credit – Michael Moore = Take him or Leave Him?

When Michael Moore’s name is mentioned, people usually say: Oh, he’s a ______ (fill in the blank with any negative word or comment you can think of)!

But, why? Don’t get me wrong. I am one of those who feels he is a ______ and an _________.. But folks, controversy sells. Being the minority gets attention! And, he has made a great living at doing just that.

We love to hate Michael Moore. But, why?

Because he is saying what the liberals, democrats, himself, want to say!

So, is there some validity to his scripts/movies/rants? Yes. But, he’s so focused on the “scare tactics” and WOW moments, it isn’t presented in the way that we usually accept this type of information. And, he blatantly disrespected the President of our country on national TV and we, as a nation, told Michael Moore: “I’m sorry!”

But, why? I ask you. Why? Because he tells the truth? What truth? According to Who? According to Michael Moore!

And, we his faithful audience believes what he is saying simply because he puts some facts behind it.

So, let’s take a look at those facts:

1. Are they verifiable and valid facts? Are those facts used within the context that they were originally written for?

2. Do they prove for or go against Liberals/Democrats? Do they prove for or go against Conservatives/Republicans?

3. Where/How does Michael Moore obtain his information?

Based on those three questions alone, we can prove his motivation and his ulterior motive!

KEY POINTS:

Michael Moore has written 16 movies, directed 17 movies and produced 18 movies.

His most notorious movies are: Bowling for Columbine, Fahrenheit 911, Sicko and Capitalism: A Love Story.

Moore’s standpoint in the documentary of Bowling for Columbine was that of America’s fascination with gun violence.

Moore’s standpoint in the documentary of Fahrenheit: 911, was that President Bush utilized the events of 9/11 to push his desire to invade Afghanistan and Iraq.

Moore’s standpoint in the documentary of Sicko was the comparisons of the American Health Industry with that of other countries and HMO’s.

Moore’s standpoint in the documentary of Capitalism: A Love Story, was the social costs ofr Corporations receiving their profits at the demise of the public.

Most recently, Moore did a stand-up show, called Michael Moore in Trumpland. The entire focus of this film was to promote Hillary Clinton’s campaign in the center of a locale he calls “Trumpland.”

The only thing that I can see as a tie between all of these films is controversy. So, no matter what the topic is, it appears Michael Moore enjoys creating controversy and exploiting topics that can potentially divide Americans.

I suppose there is an audience for this type of hype and behavior. However, if you are going to get on the “Moore” bandwagon, please be sure to check his references and facts. Moore is kind of like the media, he’s become very good at editing the information to provide you with a piece of the information, not the whole truth!

Non-Fiction or Michael Moore Fiction???

That question remains to be answered!

Blog Entry #4 - The Educated Student or the UN-Educated Student?

OK, that didn’t sound right; I mean it’s a bit of a rhetorical question, right?

If we’re talking about students, they ARE educated, or aren’t they?!?

I suppose it’s what you consider a “student.” Technically, we are all students, right? Okay, I really didn’t want you to answer that because; of course the answer is a resounding YES! My dad is 91 years old and guess what? He’s still a student! I know, you’re yelling at my blog saying, “NO WAY!” YES WAY! From the moment of conception (ask me later about that!) until the day we graduate to a different life (no matter your belief about death, when we die we all graduate to a different life) we are constantly learning. 

So, the real question is: Are you pushing yourself daily to learn? If the answer is NO, then you should be!

Just last week, my dad was asking me how we could see my husband on my phone “live” when my husband was in Jordan and we were in Arizona. Simple answer, modern technology. It was hard for him to conceptualize that a phone could do that. But, at 91 years old, he learned something!

Now, I know what you’re saying, ‘Melinda, everyone knows that we learn that kind of stuff, but what are you really referring to?’ Well, I’m glad you asked (or was it me who asked? No, telepathically you asked me)!

Easy answer: Live and Learn. We’ve all heard that old adage. But, have you ever thought about what it really means? Well, you live through experiences and ultimately, you learn from those experiences. In that definition, experience is your teacher. But, are you willing to be the student and learn the lesson it taught you?

How about this Live and Learn moment…In a conversation among your family, your brother says: “If you want to figure out your total income for tax purposes, you will have to extrapolate the information.” And, you’re like: ‘What? Hold up! What was that extra-baloney word he just used?’ Okay, truth time! That really happened to me; of course I was too embarrassed at the time to ask what it meant. So, I did like any good listener does and nodded my head in understanding. The minute he wasn’t looking, you know I looked that word up!

WOW! Just having a regular family conversation, I learned something. And, you know what? I will never forget that word again. In fact, I try to use it when I’m attempting to impress people! Mind you, this word came from my double Master’s degree brother. But, because I chose to learn something, I sound intelligent too, well kinda'.

I guess my point is, we learn our whole lives. How much MORE we choose to learn is up to us. I don’t know about you, but I enjoy learning. When I’m pushed to learn, I do it kicking and screaming. In general though, I do enjoy learning something new.

Melinda's Final Thought….(crowd cheering in the background: Melinda! Melinda! Melinda!) 

No matter what, we are ALL students. We learn every moment that we are alive.

Are you going to choose to be an Educated Student or an UN-Educated Student?

I don’t know, Educated just sounds more scholarly, right?!? Happy Learning!

Blog Entry #3 – REALLY? According to WHO’s Viewpoint?

WARNING: Do NOT continue reading if you are easily offended by liberal reporting!

YES, this blog will be controversial. YES, this subject is risky! And, YES, I am going to provide an opinion about it!

However, I am not going to discuss my personal stance on politics or what I think about the current election. Surprised?!? Don’t be! I simply would like to discuss slanted reporting.

By definition, Slanted Reporting means:  

1.  (Verb) “…to distort (information) by rendering it unfaithfully or incompletely, especially in order to reflect a particular viewpoint:  He slanted the news story to discredit the Administration” (“slant”) 

2. (Verb)   “…to write, edit, or publish for the interest or amusement of a specific group of readers:  a story slanted toward young adults” (“slant”).

Here is a video that outright says it’s skewed, WATCH…Amazing!!!

And I quote from the video:

WOLF BLITZER (CO-HOST): You've got the results of our poll that was taken in the aftermath of this debate.

DAVID CHALIAN: I do, and we've done this before, so let me just give a few cautionary notes about the poll. It is a poll of debate watchers, and so in our sample, this is a more Clinton-friendly audience. Those that tuned in tonight was (sic) a more Clinton-friendly audience.

…[The poll sample] definitely skews Democratic, more Democratic than a normal poll. And it skews to a Hillary Clinton audience. So keep that in mind as we now will reveal to you who won the debate according to this audience. Overwhelmingly Hillary Clinton. Sixty-two percent of Americans, of those that watched the debate tonight in this audience (sic) said Hillary Clinton won compared to 27 percent who said Trump won. Again, this is of debate watchers and our sample definitely is more Democratic than a normal poll. But that is an overwhelming victory among these debate watchers we polled for Hillary Clinton.

WOW! Right?!? Or No!?! 

Not only is the poll not even factual, but they blatantly say the poll is skewed, YET people choose to believe what has been posted. Why? Why this immediate belief in something that has to have a “disclosure?” If something has a disclosure, for example when applying for a credit card they give you all those terms and conditions and show that you “accept” the terms and conditions. 

Why? Because it is a law. Any credit card company has to disclose their terms for you having their credit card. Such as the interests rates they are charging you, etc. So, disclosures are HUGE and very important information for us to be aware of. Like, “don’t forget to read the small print.”

So, knowing all of this and having slanted reporting with disclosures, why as a society is slanted reporting still allowed? For the very reason, that people watch it! Because we all have different opinions and different media venues appeal to different people. Same as different types of reading appeals to different readers.

Ask yourself, if you were to relax by reading, would you pick up…

A Magazine?                                   A Book?

Why?

And, that magazine or book, is it slanted for you? YES, of course! That magazine is slanted towards young women and that book is slanted towards people who enjoy easy reading romances or love stories. It’s the rhetoric or audience that they are attempting to appeal to.

Is it necessarily wrong? No! But, being informed and being aware that you are listening to slanted reporting from a certain bias, makes you an informed person. And, being informed is being prepared for life!

Reference

“slant”. Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 14 Nov. 2016. <Dictionary.com http://www.dictionary.com/browse/slant>.