Burnt Orange Report

August 27, 2003

Bowling for Michael Moore

By Jim Dallas

I finally got around to seeing Michael Moore's Academy-award-winning documentary Bowling for Columbine.

Even conservative critics acknowledged that the film is hilarious; but the NRA wasn't happy. They complained that use of video shot at a NRA convention in North Carolina was inappropriately presented as footage at the NRA meeting in Denver held shortly after the Columbine tragedy. This is (technically) a legitimate gripe, although it's not particularly uncommon for television news broadcasters to use stock footage and I don't think it seriously undermines Moore's point.

But most of the NRA's fire is reserved for a segment which ties the explosion of gun ownership in the 19th century to racism:

Another outrageous sequence in Moore`s supposedly "non-fiction motion picture," tries to associate NRA with the Ku Klux Klan and depicts an NRA member assisting in a Klan cross burning. The rationale? NRA was founded in 1871—the year the KKK was declared an illegal organization. The absurd connection is intentional. It`s Michael Moore`s idea of humor.
An honest documentary would record that NRA was founded by former Union Army officers who fought a war to bring an end to slavery. It would record that Civil War veteran Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside was the Association`s first president. It would record that the man who signed the act making the Klan an illegal organization later became NRA`s eighth president—Ulysses S. Grant.

A true documentary would note that NRA`s early history was written by figures who had not only fought to end slavery, but who would later oppose the persecution of freedmen. Such a man would assume command of the Fifth Military District, and he would then remove governors in Texas and Louisiana for failing to oppose the KKK. That man later became NRA`s ninth president—Gen. Philip H. Sheridan.

To be clear, the line connecting the NRA to the Ku Klux Klan might be gratuitous. But it probably isn't as far from the truth as the NRA wants to admit; lots of Union soldiers were racists (and let us not forget that the Klan was not just anti-black but more broadly neo-Confederate; one could be a racist but against the Klan simply by virtue of being a Damnyankee or "scalawag"). And just because the organization had presidents like Burnside, Sheridan, and Grant doesn't exactly prove that its members were squeaky-clean.

But in any case, the fact that the NRA seizes upon one flippant joke in one of the film's lighter scenes shows, I think, just how desperate they are. The larger point made by the "Brief History of the United States" cartoon is that white culture in the United States has been incredibly paranoid and fearful. And in general, this is spot on.

(One might also suppose that the NRA - of which Michael Moore is a lifetime member - might be grateful that the film explicitly points out that some of the first gun control laws were racist attempts to disarm the black community.)

It's also downright silly to deny that white racism is partly to blame for America's fascination with guns. Many gunowners (and particularly the worst ones, in my experience) are ones who think that owning a gun will protect them from the "criminal element" (Warning! Racially Loaded Term!) of society.

In order to check this idea, I did some back-of-the-envelope data analysis using GSSDirs, an incomparable research tool which allows University Web users to analyze data from NORC's General Social Survey. True to my expectations:

Gun- owners are more likely to support racial segregation than non-owners.
White gun-owners are considerably less likely to say that they are "close" to blacks. Indeed, according to my analysis, white gun owners are equally likely to espouse racist (49.5%) and non-racist (50.5%) attitudes toward blacks; only a third of non-gun owners admit to not liking black people.
Gun owners (and especially white gun owners) tend to say they feel safer in their community than non-gun owners (despite clear evidence that guns provide a false sense of security).

I don't mean, of course, to cast any aspersions on the majority of gun owners, who, I think we can be sure, are not closet racists. Indeed, most gunowners and many NRA members are genuine sportsmen.

Overall, I think, Bowling is a fair treatment of the issue which plays to neither gun-rughts or gun-control ideologues. I think it is one of the best pieces in recent years to show just how foolish the gun-control ninnies are - after all, Canada has lots of guns but very few murders. The problem is clearly cultural - but not the kind of "pop culture" red herrings conservatives and Joe Lieberman whine about. It calls the NRA and Charlton Heston for their clear insensitivity towards gun victims.

Incidentally, the NRA thinks that Bowling is "un-American" because, in short, it dares to argue that the reason everyday Americans keep killing each other with guns is... because there's something wrong with the way everyday Americans think and act.

So much for "Guns don't kill people, People kill People!"

Again - I happen to believe that the right to own a firearm is an important Constitutional right and that further gun control legislation is wrong. But, I also happen to think that private groups like the NRA (and more importantly, the government) are not doing enough to push gun safety, individual responsibility, and a strong community ethic.

Posted by Jim Dallas at August 27, 2003 06:25 PM | TrackBack

Comments

i finally saw it last week as well. i think the part that struck me most was the montage of all the old footage from countries who's leaders we've helped overthrow. ending with the wtc footage was powerful and brought me to tears.

Posted by: anna at August 28, 2003 12:38 PM

You should read Rachel Lucas' review of the film. Probably not what you would expect, if you've read any of her previous comments about her hatred of Michael Moore.

http://www.rachellucas.com/archives/000785.html#000785

Posted by: Courtney at August 28, 2003 05:34 PM

You said: "Gun- owners are more likely to support racial segregation than non-owners. "

Answer: Gun owners are much too large a group to castigate in this manner. Do you include black gun owners in this suggestive statement?

You said: "White gun-owners are considerably less likely to say that they are "close" to blacks"

Answer: Much of the black population is concentrated in areas where anti-gun laws make whites less likely to own guns. Ergo, non-gun owning whites are more likely to know blacks.

Conversely, areas where anti-gun laws are less prevalent have greater concentrations of whites that are more likely to own guns and less black population.

Ergo, your assertion, even if true, is meaningless.

You said: "Gun owners (and especially white gun owners) tend to say they feel safer in their community than non-gun owners (despite clear evidence that guns provide a false sense of security)."

That rather goes against the Moore's assertion that we American gun owners are so fearful now doesn't it. Your essay is self-contradictory.

I do believe however that most of the anti-gun crowd is much too irresponsible and hypocritical to possess firearms. Senator Diane Feinstein, who carries a handgun on her person, is a good example of this.

Posted by: Norman at September 12, 2003 04:29 PM

Whoever said Moore's depiction of the NRA arising from and acting in cahoots with the KKK as it burned crosses and murdered blacks was a joke? Did Moore ever say that? I don't think so.

What he DID say is that "Every fact in the film is true. Absolutely every fact in the film is true. And anybody who says otherwise is committing an act of libel."

I'll grant you this: the animated sequence is meant to be funny by radically over-simplifying U.S. history. After all, that's what makes it possible to tell the whole story in less than three minutes. But Moore's demonization of the NRA isn't an over-simplification as there's absolutely no truth to it at all. It's just a lie.

What IS funny, I'm afraid, is your extremely pathetic attempt to cover for this liar. OF COURSE there were racist Union soldiers just like there were racists throughout society. That's hardly a justification for Moore's deception.

In any event, this is just one example of many where Moore completely lies to his audience. No doubt about it.

Posted by: Jim Heller at October 7, 2003 09:47 PM

see Deacons for defense, the movie, it talks about bogalusa, Louisiana, and their use of the KKK

it still goes on today ... read below about the police and their malice use of force

RE: Senator Jerry Thomas / Bogalusa Police / Censorship / Malice use of force / Reverend Kenneth R. Bush

Dear sir / madam:

Please read my story below:

RE: Censorship / Cyber Stalking / Cyber Extortion; RS 14:40.3 ; RS 14:66
Here is an up date on my story:

This so called "reverend" of Superior Babtist church, Bogalusa, has hurt many people and when his church, and bible thinking, was challenged this is what he alleged, of course with the police whispering in his ear:

Rev J. T. Knight and his 'police-court church' people said:

Through an e-mail, phone, letter or visit in person, I was "trying to obtain" some value by extronic mail, and also alleged cyberstalking, alleged extortion; RS 14:40.3 ; RS 14:66, this is the Franklinton, Louisiana D.A. and Bogalusa Police, trying to state an alligation of a fact-legal effect, allegation, i.e., they expect to prove, charge, or claim.

Thus is really about censorship and protecting their own from a theological challenge according to the apostle Jude in the New Testament ( See the book of Jude, chapter 1: 1-25, New Testament ). The town of Bogalusa, Louisiana, does not want to defend the faith according the apostle Jude and the Bible. The stated above pastor is living in sin according to Romans chapter 1 vs. 26-32.

See below how the Bogalusa Police, and courts per Judges Green and or Black, allowed malice use of force by breaking into my home:

Bogalusa Police / Ken Bush / Malice Use of Force / Tort 131 [1] [11] [13] / slander / libel

RE: Bogalusa Police, et, al. Vs. Bush

Note: This story of malice abuse of powers and censorship happened to me in Bogalusa, Louisiana, USA, April 23, 2004, at 8:15 AM. I am not going to be censored by any Police or City Government. I find that my 1st amendment rights of free speech, freedom of religion, and freedom of press have been violated. Ms. Ford, Civil Rights Dept., New Orleans F.B.I., New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, was called, the Monday before the Police broke into my home on Friday, April 19, 2004, and photographs were sent to Ms. Ford regarding my family and I being followed and pressured by the Bogalusa Police in using malice use of force and power. Please read the story below, and this is the 21st century!

News source used:

Subj: news tips
Date: 6/16/2004 9:28:59 AM Central Daylight Time
From: SoulMateReader3
To: images@turner.com

[ Also see the article on the Movie regarding my home town, Bogalusa, Louisiana, USA, called, "deacons for defense" I live this KKK minded mentality even to this day; and, I am a white man. ]

Dear sir / madam:

Please this is news , please read below, I am a pastor that has been told I cannot practice my religion in the city of Bogausa, Louisiana, by the law enforcement of this city.

Please help and read this letter of my situation ( below )

per Rev Kenneth R Bush

Subj: legal letter
Date: 6/16/2004 8:42:05 AM Central Daylight Time
From: SoulMateReader3
To: SoulMateReader3

Subj: attorney help
Date: 6/16/2004 3:19:40 AM Central Daylight Time
From: SoulMateReader3
To: CMelodyLynne@aol.com

Dear Melody Lynne:

16 June 2004 page 1 of 1

RE: Cyber Extortion, Bush v. Bogalusa / Franklinton Sheriff / Police / City of Bogalusa, Louisiana

I was waiting for you to reply to my e-mails before I wrote you, I have E-mailed the courts regarding attorney help from a powerful man from Florida; and, I have used all the names and info you gave me according to our conversation.

Here is my story from Bogalusa, Louisiana, USA.

On 3-28-2003, I was issued a vendor's license from the city of Bogalusa, Louisiana. I was approved by the Bogalusa City attorney; and, Ms. Paula parker, City of Bogalusa staff member, in charge of occupational license of retail sales or services. My approved license, legally, was called a "Dating Service License".

Note: The license number is 13716, and the vender # SO200

Dr. Jerry Thomas, Louisiana senator, rented me an office at 407 Austin Street, Bogalusa, Louisiana 70427 in the week of March 28, 2003, for the amount of $275.00 per month.

My business was called soul mate and family educational center, where I performed my soul mate matching for 1 person getting paid $5.00, I spoke with 2 others about my work and research.

On April 8, 2003, in the afternoon, I was called by Ms. Paula Parker from city hall where she asked me if I was doing palm reading. I had a sign out by the road that talked of soul mate readings of $5.00. I told her I was not doing palm readings. She said an ordinance officer would come by to talk with me. About 20 minutes later an ordinance officer from Bogalusa city hall came and said I was in violation of article 77 ( Article 77: " No palm reading, divination, or character readings to be performed in the City of Bogalusa. The penalty is 90 days in jail or a $100.00 fine or both" ).

I called Dr. Jerry Thomas, and he was surprised but said, "he count not go to bat for me, his plate was too full". So I moved out and had all the utilities turned off at this business. I signed a 3 year contract for 2 phones the day before, and tried to cancel.

Bell South, tried to bill me for $3,100.00 to pay the total 36 months at once. I was contacted by a New York lawyer by mail and I called him and told him the situation, how I had no form of income and my hands were legally tied. He no longer called me or wrote any legal letters after that conversation in April of 2004.

As you know Mr. Jerry Thomas was caught in Florida ( Or New Orleans depending on the story told ) in Sarasota, having sexual contact with another man in a theater while watching a homosexual movie. He was fined and refused to pay that fine. The other men with him paid their fines, it seemed Jerry was not going to pay as a matter of principle. I know Jerry Thomas' nephew who gave me more background to this story.

[ Please see the story on Senator Jerry Thomas Below ]

I continued to do my soul mate reading in my home on my computer by using AOL. On Aug of 2003 , I started performing paid readings with Keen.com as a soulmatereader and made $90.00 in about 45 days. I would join Kasamba.com as soul mate reader and make between $150.00 to $600.00 in one month, from lateSeptember 2003 to April 2004.

On April 23, 2004, the Bogalusa police came to my home with a "so called search warrant and arrest warrant" to take my computer and digital camera. They ( Bogalusa Police ) broke both doors in, and damaged my fence. The Bogalusa Police did also electrocute my 25 pound dog 2 times and almost killed her, she (dog) lay on the ground twitching and urinating on the floor.

I was handcuffed, as well as my wife, Bonnie Bush, and forced to the floor face down. I was led from the home in shorts alone, not being allowed to dress and to wear socks and shoes. For 6 hours at the Bogalusa police station they tried to charge me with running from the police on April 18, 2004, to the state of Mississippi. Seven charges were applied, I did not talk as I asked for a public defender, nor did I sign my name to the 7 charges. The Bogalusa police said I was not giving basic info and said they added another charge of obstructing the investigation, so 8 charges were applied. I signed nothing and said nothing. Later those 8 charges would not be mentioned or given to me at court or applied as a fine.

I was told at the Bogalusa police sub. station that I was now charged with cyber extortion or on-line extortion, a felony in the State of Louisiana, supposedly a new law. I signed nothing and was transfered to the Franklinton Sheriff jail in Franklinton, Louisiana. I spent 5 days there in jail where I was to sleep on the floor and given no tooth brush or basic hygiene supplies. I was not given a mattress or uniform as well.

On April 27, 2004, I was bailed out for the amount of $1,200.00 court fees and bail bondsmen fees. I was asked to pay $1,100.00 out of Bogalusa jail for the 8 prior offenses, this was dropped. I was also asked to post a $25,000.00 property bond, this was changed to $10,000.00 cash and when my brother, Mr. Thomas Bush, from Olympia, WA, tried to pay the cash bond he was denied and asked to pay a non refundable fee totaling $1,200.00. The city clerk claimed that no bank in town could do a cash advance. We saw this as a ploy to get our money. I was told there was a hold on me getting released from jail, and that was mysteriously removed with no explanation.

I have an arraignment on June 21, 2004, at 8:30 AM ( now changed to August 13, 2004, Friday the 13th mind you ) at the court house in Franklinton, Louisiana, whereI wish for an attorney to represent me, I plan on presenting a mute plea so the court can enter a 'not guilty plea'. I want a trial by jury.

I have since been followed while riding my bike, with my wife as a legal witness, by the Bogalusa police, they are still harassing me in front of the Walmart, Win Dixie, and Piggley Wiggly stores. I am being tracked all the time. I would like to see if there is a wire tap on my phone according to the Freedom of Information Act.

I would like also to charge 2 law enforcement officers in Bogalusa with a tort 131 [1] [11] [13] for criminally slandering and libelous pro quo upon myself, family, and my religion as I am a reverend. I would also like to charge the Police for using malice use of force and illegally asking judges Green and Judges Black to support an unjust arrest warrant and search warrant, per cyber extortion.

I will seek a deposition into information in connection with a church in Bogalusa ( names to follow, et. al. ) who has commited several crimes against my family, my religion, and my self.

I am open to any questions, please contact me at:

e-mail soulmatereader3@aol.com

Note: The town of Bogalusa, Louisiana, passed an article 77 regarding no use of divination, palm readings, or character readings ( an area of psychology, personology, the study of personality ) which all counselors, psychologists, and Psychiatrist use in their practice ).

It looks like the ordinance officer of Bogalusa needs to visit all business that violate this loose article 77, see also the Piggly Wiggly, Walmart, Video Plus, and Block Buster, which all have books, magazine and or video / DVDs that talk of psychic powers and intuitive talents, astrology, numerology, and or personality profiling.

To top this off: The Bogalusa Police are guilty of profiling and yes, racial profiling per African Americans.

See my vision below, this is what the Bogalusa City Hall, Police, Town Fathers, and or Non-seperation of church and state, light blue eyed, white, right handed class of people, are trying to censor me from doing.

Please read below:

Psychic Information.

Portal to the Soul

"Beauty is momentary in the mind--
The fitful tracing of a portal;
But in the flesh it is immortal.
The body dies; the body's beauty lives."
Wallace Stevens 1879-1955

Welcome to the Psychic Education Center.

At the heart of the Psychic Education Center is a sincere desire to share knowledge with you. My goal isto teach and inform you about auras, channeling, developing your own psychic abilities; and to teach you how to practice psychic protection. Learn psychometry and how to contact your spirit guides.

What is "Psychometry"?

Have you ever touched someone or something and gotten some kind of message — such as ideas, pictures, or words? ... You are experiencing Psychometry.

Psychometry is the ability to read and tune into an object so that you can give details.

Soul Mate Reader Info:

What is Soul Mate reading?

Soul mate reading is matching and using patterns and data to match two people together using birth date, birth order, handedness, height, musical instruments played, sports played, intuitive talents, empathic gifts, and eye color.

The Patterns and Math of Soul Mate Matching:

I have performed over 2,000 soul mate readings and matching and have seen these patterns and traits:

1. Birth dates - Zodiac: The man is born 6-7 months older then the women, or in cases of same gender relationships: The conservative partner is older then the non-conservative lover.

More detail can be given here in Zodiac Sun Sign Soul Mate Matches:

Aries to Libra; Taurus to Scorpio; Gemini to Sagittarius; Cancer to Capricorn; Leo to Aquarius; and Virgo to Pisces is best in a long-term romance.

Note: Use the birth city to off set the birth date matching by 2,000 miles per month closer to the soul mate's birth date, i.e. a female birth date of 9-3-59 matches a male born Feb to March of 1959 in the same city. Now take the same info but, they are born 2,000 miles away, so there is a one month closer connection: 9-3-59 matches march to April born now. One needs to use the mother's background andor the birth city of the soul mate to calculate this information.

2. Eye Color- Opposites attract in eye color where there is that family genetics, light eyes to darker eyes match ... light blue to green eyes match the best in long term love .. shy eyes match best with outgoing eyes (also in ethnic backgrounds where eye color is brown only: Light brown to dark brown eyes match best in soul mate love)

3. Height- 5'3'' does best with 5'11'' tall .. 5'2'' with 5'10'' tall ... the man, or the conservative partner in same gender relationships will be taller( closer to 6'4'' for the man and 5'11'' for the women will increase "first sight" and "first love" attraction, but divorce raises in the long term) .

4. Handedness- left handed or ambidextrial people do best with right handed ... or right creative brain people do best with left logical brained soul mates.

Note: In gay males this is not always true as the brain tends to be more alike then in gay females .... Gay males don't stay together as long as gay females due to not enough opposites in brain hemisphere, handedness, height, and vocational choices in the gay male romances.

5. Birth order-

1st born does best with baby of the family.

I separate the birth order in odd to even with 1st, 3rd, 5th born matching better to 2nd, 4th, and 6th born ... odd attract even birth orders in soul mate attraction ( only born children are highest for divorce and control ).

6. Musical instruments- the violin, guitar, piano, drums, and or the flute all fit the birth orders of 2nd, 4th, and 6th born and will match 1st, 3rd, and 5th born soul mates .. ( musical people match non-musical people in long term love)

Please this is an on going web page and I welcome ideas to change or cause evolution of this growing information.

Contact me today, please.

I also take your pregnancy questions regarding miscarriages and happy & healthy births. Please contact me for a natal reading.

-----------------------------------

This is what the Town Fathers of Franklinton have done to a great man, Jerry Thomas .... see his name in my letter above and below

http://www.hypocrites.com/article9574.html

Of course,this is the controlling churches telling the police, sheriff, school board, town hall, judges to make a dull maliced judgement against Senator Jerry Thomas ..... for god sakes, people get a life .... Look for me to file in an out of state venue, a law suit.

LA Repub state senator arrested on adult video store raid; lewd behavior (marrie
Friday, 13 December 2002 @ 13:57:06 EST

Direct link to story /more...

Guilty, lookat his picture (just kidding, kinda)

Alleged Homosexual Agenda Alert: According to the municipal code, lewd conduct is the exposure of genitals, intercourse, masturbation, urination or defecation in a public place or where the act is likely to be seen by another person.

--snip--
A police source said Thomas was engaged in sexual activity with another man at the store.

========================================
From St. Tammany bureau/The Times-Picayune
--snip--
Covington attorney Marion Farmer, who entered the plea for Thomas in Orleans Parish Municipal Court, said Thomas is "embarrassed" by the arrest but will continue to serve the final year of his term and then consider his options.

"He knows he shouldn't have been there under any circumstances," Farmer said. "He knows he made a mistake. But he has a long career as a public servant, as a coroner, as astate representative and as a state senator. He's done a lot of good."

Thomas, 49, whose district includes a portion of St. Tammany Parish, was arrested Tuesday afternoon after police allegedly saw him committing a violation of the municipal lewd conduct statute during a raid at A&N Kola Video Inc., an adult book and video store on Chef Menteur Highway.

--snip--
He is married, has four children and is a member of First Baptist Church in Franklinton. He also belongs to several civic and professional organizations.

Posted by: Ken Bush at September 3, 2004 09:34 PM

>>>I don't mean, of course to cast any aspersions on the majority of gun owners who I think we can be sure are not closet racists>>>

Despite your comment that you don't want to "cast aspersions on the majority of gun owners", that is EXACTLY what you do in your article when you frame it the way you have!

You comments are just as bad as some goon saying "I don't want to cast aspersions on the majority of blacks by saying they are all criminals..."!

If you don't want to cast aspersions, then DO BETTER RESEARCH and quit trying to frame things within the context of your political slant.

Posted by: Dan Drennan at September 7, 2004 11:05 PM