06/27/2004: "Michael Moore: font of wisdom"

Via David Brooks of the New York Times comes the following pearls of wisdom from America's newest philosopher-king, Michael Moore:

To the British newspaper The Mirror:

"They are possibly the dumbest people on the planet...in thrall to conniving, thieving smug [pieces of the human anatomy]. We Americans suffer from an enforced ignorance. We don't know about anything that's happening outside our country. Our stupidity is embarrassing."

To a crowd of admirers in Munich:

"That's why we're smiling all the time. You can see us coming down the street. You know, 'Hey! Hi! How's it going?' We've got that big [expletive] grin on our face all the time because our brains aren't loaded down."

At Cambridge:

"You're stuck with being connected to this country of mine, which is known for bringing sadness and misery to places around the globe."

At Liverpool:

"It's all part of the same ball of wax, right? The oil companies, Israel, Halliburton." (He apparently hasn't heard the old joke about God giving the Jews the only place in the Middle East the only place without any oil.)

In the German newspaper Die Zeit:

"Should such an ignorant people lead the world?...Don't go the American way when it comes to economics, jobs and services for the poor and immigrants. It is the wrong way."

To a Japanese newspaper:

"The Iraqis who have risen up against the occupation are not `insurgents' or `terrorists' or `The Enemy.' They are the REVOLUTION, the Minutemen, and their numbers will grow�and they will win."

Michael Moore: proof that one doesn't have to appreciate America's virtues (or people) in order to take advantage of them.

Replies: 3 Comments

on Sunday, June 27th, Phillipa said

If Americans are the dumbest people on the planet, I suppose that would include Michael Moore. Maybe I shouldn't comment because I haven't seen the film, but I have the impression that it is in the same category as Oliver Stone's movie, JFK. I also have the impression that Moore is a self-promoter making his fortune on the "stupid Americans" who were the victims of 9/11.

on Monday, June 28th, Joey W said

Mr. Moore is amazing in his ability to condemn the nation where he lives while declining to leave it. And if Americans are as awful as he suggests, his making a movie like F911 was a waste of time, since no one would be smart (?) enough to go and see it.

What would be nice is if Mr. Moore could be sent to a country which espouses his values. Unfortunately, the Soviet Union is now closed down, and even China is showing signs of modernization. How about Cuba? (with the proviso that Castro must still be in charge)

on Monday, June 28th, Baillie said

The really big question is this: is Michael Moore the Duke or is he the Dauphin?