Where art thou Fahrenheit?

Posted: Thursday, Jul 08, 2004 - 03:45:54 pm PDT
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It was disappointing to learn Michael Moore's movie "Fahrenheit 911" will not be shown in any Basin-area theater.

While it is true these theaters are private businesses, and therefore owners have every right to show films of their own choosing, the reasoning behind nixing "Fahrenheit 911" is worthy of debate.

Nothing keeps a democracy healthier than a well-informed populace. Having all the facts allows citizens to make well informed decisions. Keeping the movie away from theaters for political reasons forces us to have an opinion based on views of pundits, transforming us into bearers of second-hand points of view.

It is not right to keep the movie away because it may be controversial or divisive. Not too long ago, a Mel Gibson movie was deemed controversial and divisive as well. Still, "The Passion of The Christ," was indeed shown in several Basin theaters.

Some of those who went to see the Gibson movie did not agree entirely with what they saw or heard. But they went anyway, and now they knew for sure what to think of it.

Why not do the same thing with "Fahrenheit 9/11?"

Surely, no conservative is going to go in hoping to be dissuaded or to agree with Moore. They are going to go to have a more educated opinion of the film, which is likely to be similar to the one they had beforehand. But it will be their own opinion. Not Bill O'Reilly's.

Moses Lake is a city that for years has preached the gospel of growth. One way of ensuring the city's growth is getting its citizens away from the tube and into the streets and participating.

Not having the movie in Moses Lake -- or any community -- because its message is not to the liking of the theater owners not only underestimates the intelligence of the residents, it forces them to seek elsewhere, watch elsewhere and spend those dollars elsewhere.

Then not only do we have an uninformed population, but one that is contemptuous of what its city has to offer.

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