Re: ripening contradictions?

[MIKEY@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

friends,

it seems hard to believe that micxhael moore can be called a hypocrite.  in what
sense?  he certainly puts his money where his mouth is, by, for example, giving
time and money to the workers at borders to help their union drives, as well as
allowing his new film to be used for similar purposes.  he's given away a lot of
his royalties too.  i heard him speak to borders' workers in nyc a few months
ago. great stuff and he really connected with the workers.

of course, it is easy enough to argue with his nation articles, especially if we
take him literally, just as it is esy to be put off by alex cockburn's style
sometimes.  for example, moore tells us to go to bowling alleys and bowl and
meet some real people.  well, i was once a good bowler and i spent hundreds of
hours in bowling alleys (and pool halls and basketball courts and sleazy bars,
etc.)  and i've been teaching real people for years.  trouble is, real people,
like professors and the like on the left, are a mixed bag.  a guy in a bowling
alley was once going to knock me senseless for suggesting that michael jordan
was a better player than larry bird, and i cannot tell you how many fights i've
nearly gotten into over racial issues in bars and on b-ball courts.  so if you
elite snob leftists decide to take moore's advice, be careful or be a ggod
fighter!  i do draw the line at car racing, however.  i'd rather suport mumia
and the sandinistas.  of course, there is no reason why we cannot be attuned to
the lives and needs of working people (including all of the ones in academe) and
at the same time support every good radical cause in the world.

it is sad to think that two good leftists like moore and cockburn would waste
time fighting. they should bowl a couple of lines, have some beers, and have a
good time.

michael yates