"Fahrenheit 9/11' Boosts Interest in Iraq

[CShine]

Michael Moore's record-breaking documentary "Fahrenheit 9/11" is a pop culture phenomenon that is raising public interest in the Iraq war just as the United States is attempting a crucial handoff of power to Iraqis. The movie, an indictment of President Bush's leadership and his decision to go to war in Iraq after the 2001 terrorist attacks, took in $23.9 million to become the first documentary to debut as Hollywood's top weekend film. Theater owners in cities large and small reported sellout crowds. The heightened public interest generated by the film and the controversy surrounding it is likely to increase the reaction to what happens in Iraq — good and bad, analysts say.

"We haven't seen anything like this before," said political scientist Thad Beyle of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. "I can't recall anything this large" coming out during an election year.

Political analysts are watching to see whether the movie attracts undecided or politically inattentive voters, but say it's too soon to say how it will influence the presidential campaign.

"What will matter most is what's happening on the ground in Iraq," said Robert Shapiro, a Columbia University political science professor who specializes in public opinion.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=493&ncid=762&e=1&u=/ap/20040629/ap_en_mo/fahrenheit_9_11_effect

[Cocoa]

1. people will see Iraq through a new lens

they'll watch the news in a different way. They'll see the administration officials as dishonest and corrupt, and they'll see the news people as ridiculous.

Most of all, they'll wonder what they're NOT being shown.

Thanks Michael! :toast:

[Corgigal]

2. then it's about flipping time

and you high school kids you better switch off the MTV for a bit and see what is swiming under you.

[rocktivity]

3. a "pop culture phenomenon?"

The LAMBADA is a pop culture phenomenon. How DARE anyone try to trivialize this as the equivalent of a pet rock or next Stars Wars prequel!

:headbang:
rocknation

[rman]

16. popular culture, as in 'quite popular with the populus'

nothing wrong with that.

"pop" isn't just pop-music.

[phattyt]

4. They're scared

I was flipping through the channels and the 700 Club was on this morning. Most people know them to be these religious, right-wing nuts and they proved it once again this morning. Pat Roberson, the host, called "Fahrenheit 9/11" a movie filled will lies and then went on to compare Moore's brain to hhis "slovenly body". Seriously, when right-wing nuts have no argument that have to go and belittle others for totally unrelated things. He should be ashamed of himself and I hope a Kerry presidency will be Moore's retribution.

[yellowcanine]

7. "slovenly body"? Pat is not exactly svelte, not to mention fat Jerry

Falwell, Pat's "Religion as a Way to Get Rich" colleague.

[jpak]

8. RW local talk radio here in Pensacola was a-buzz over F9/11 yesterday

The callers and hosts kept saying "I don't want talk about Michael Moore anymore..."

But that's all they could talk about.

They REALLY want Spiderman 2 to bury it at the box office this weekend.

F9/11 - some kind of phenomenon...

[Tarheel_Dem]

5. Great Story.........

thanks. DU'ers please rate the story.

[asjr]

6. Someone made a not very nice remark to me about

F-911 and I told them it is helping the economy. Look at the happy theater owners and the popcorn vendors inside. They are doing record business.

[checks-n-balances]

9. He's right Michael Moore is using multimedia to educate the electoate!

An educated electorate: key ingredient to the success of democracy

Without it, you get what we'll become if we continue this fascist course we're on.

[riverwalker]

10. Someday there will be a film by an Iraqi

about the 10,000 victims killed in this war that have been essentially invisible to Americans. Since the media no longer functions as journalists in this country, the truth has to bubble up through documentaries, the internet and books.

[Karenina]

11. 10,000?

You Americans decided early on that Iraqi victims were not even worth counting. Does this figure make you feel safe? (No jibe at you, Riverwalker, I'm just in "rant mode." Multiply that number by 10 in your mind if you want an accurate view of the ATROCITY committed in the name of the American citizen. I am NOT being hyperbolic in my "unprovable" assertion).

[TiredTexan]

12. I'm sorry.............

That means nothing, but all I can do is fight against these parasites, give every penny I can to support opposition, march against the war, write letters, read, and try to educate anyone I can.

I've never been ashamed to be American. I am now.

[GaryL]

13. I'm tired too.

I had to blink back tears when the audience applauded at the closing credits of 9/11. Where we differ is I'm proud to sit next to people, which is most of the people I work with, and hear them clap as loudly as I did. An I'm proud that, given the unending propaganda onslaught we receive from the media daily, there exists people like yourself that continue to fight on, even in this neocon bastion called Tejas. Keep fighting the good fight. You're not alone.

[Karenina]

15. Hallo, TiredTexan

:hug: I'm tired too. :hug:

[freeforall]

14. There was a trailer before F9/11 about an Al-Jazeera film

that will be coming out. Not sure of the name. Control Room?

Anyway, it is about the news coverage of the Iraq war. In the trailer one reporter asked another if there was any honest reporting by the Americans about this war.

The movie sounds like it could be a good backup to F9/11. Gives the other side of the story. Maybe that is where we will see more footage about US treatment of the Iraqis and consequences of the invasion.