Alert

Campaign to censor Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11

You can read an article by Kurt Nimmo in Progressive News Republicans behind effort to censor Fahrenheit 9/11 that describes the clumsy effort by a PR firm that works for the Republican Party to organize a letter writing campaign to intimidate theaters and distributors planning to show or considering showing Michael Moore's expose on the links between the Bush family and Saudi Arabia. Although Nimmo suggests that people contact the PR firm to voice their disapproval, Dan Perkins (a.k.a.: Tom Tomorrow) has a better idea: use the web site that urges people to write to the distributors and theaters to voice our support of businesses that "do not buckle under right-wing pressure tactics."

Regardless of what you may think of Michael Moore, he has provided information and viewpoints absent from mainstream media. When Mel Gibson released his everything-but-the-rat-bites movie about the gruesome crucifixion of Jeshua ben David (a.k.a.: Jesus Christ) he answered critics by saying "Don't criticize it if you haven't seen it." Why should Moore and his movie not receive the same consideration?

Below I have provided the text of e-mail that I sent. You can find the e-mail addresses of the distributors and theaters that have decided and to promote and show the film as well as those considering showing the movie at the Stop Micheal Moore web site. Brief, polite and to the point e-mails should prove most effective.

Sample e-mails:

[To a theater in your city that is undecided]:

Subject: Please show Fahrenheit 9/11

I am writing to ask you to show Michael Moore's film "Fahrenheit 9/11." I realize that an organized campaign to intimidate theaters that plan to show this movie has already started and I hope that theaters and distributors will stand up to right-wing pressure tactics. I am an avid movie-goer and I often see movies in the AMC 1000 Van Ness and AMC Kabuki theaters in San Francisco. I am looking forward to seeing this movie and appreciate businesses that uphold and practice freedom of speech.

[To a theater or distributor that has started to promote the film]:

Subject: Fahrenheit 9/11 thank you!

Thank you for promoting Michael Moore's film "Fahrenheit 9/11" I am glad that theaters and distributors are standing up to right-wing pressure tactics. I am looking forward to seeing this movie and appreciate businesses that uphold and practice freedom of speech.