Michael Moore “modestly” proposed last Friday that for every person that dies in Iraq, the oil company Halliburton should have to “slay” one mid-level executive. “Seeing as how Halliburton is the only beneficiary of this war, they also should have to sacrifice,” he said.
Despite his hour-and-a-half late arrival, the writer and film director was greeted with a standing ovation in a half-full Gaston Hall. Known for his uninhibited criticisms of conservative America, Moore directed the Oscar-winning documentary Bowling for Columbine. His Georgetown speech was part of a 25-city book tour promoting his new book Dude, Where’s My Country?
Moore took the stage proudly wearing a Red Sox hat. “I only wore it ‘cause I’m a loser today,” he joked.
Before starting his speech, he conversed easily with members of the audience. “Who’s going to get in trouble for being here?” he asked. He awarded a book to a girl who said she was skipping a midterm.
Another girl asked Moore to call her friend who could not attend the speech. He obliged and, to the great amusement of the audience, left a somewhat crude message, chastising the student for choosing to study over coming to the speech.
Noting Georgetown’s Catholic identity, he asked about the women painted on the walls. “Who are these people up there? Bunch of women? This is a Catholic Church, man. Women are second-class citizens,” he said.
He easily segued into serious issues, however, saying that he considers his own Catholicism earnestly. “I wonder about this country that is run by alleged Christians who seem very committed to the idea that the few will benefit and the many will go without,” he said.
He continued to attack the economic, social and military policies of the Bush administration. Alternating between sarcasm and frank criticism, he accused the administration of “un-American” behavior, particularly in the war in Iraq. “What makes this war so despicable is that we take the good faith of these [American soldiers] so that oil companies and Halliburton and Bush can enrich themselves,” he said.
Moore was no more forgiving to his fellow Democrats. “The Democratic Party is the most miserable, pathetic excuse for a party you could ever come up with,” he said.
He accused Democrats of pandering to focus groups. “At least [Republicans] have the courage of their convictions,” he said.
He argued that most Americans are fed up with the policies of the administration. In response to a question about his popularity with foreigners, he said, “they want to believe that we haven’t all gone insane. And I’m here representing the sane majority.”
The crowd responded positively to most of Moore’s controversial comments. “I feel like we kind of have a cult following, which is a strength for the anti-war movement,” said Joe Sciarillo (SFS ‘06), a member of Peace Action. “But we should remain independent in thought.”
“He struck me as a nice guy, he struck me as a concerned gentleman, he struck me as a lot more sincere than most political pundits,” Patrick Schmitt (SFS ‘06) said.
He acknowledged, however, that Moore’s speech was not perfect. “He oversimplified things,” he said.
