Journal Journal: Letter to Michael Moore
I sent an e-mail to Michael moore about his movie. Here is the e-mail.
Hi, I recently purchased the DVD and I found it to be entertaining and informative. Its a really good movie.
Personally, I live in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. And when I saw the segment you had there, it prompted some questions on the validity of the movie. Is what you say in the movie all true facts or just facts chosen to prove a point?
I don't know too many people who do not lock their doors. However, most of my friends are predominantly Asian decent. So we are kind of accustomed to locking our doors. I myself do lock my own doors, but I do feel safe enough that if I do forget to lock my doors and I am a certain distance from the door, I do not worry too much. I'm not too paranoid about these things since I live in a condo which has better security. I think would be paranoid if I lived in a house though.
The slums that you showed sound valid, I don't recall seeing slummy areas too much. However, I would suggest you film the homeless people in the city core underneath the expressway and get their views.
News television wise, if you look at our primetime news (around 6pm to 7pm) we are also innundated with black this, teen that, asian whatever killing each other. Check Pulse24 its is pretty much the same. Listen on our news radio station 680AM around the top of the hour and we get innundated with murders and other bad news too. And I think getting worse and worse at times. Heck, we have racial profiling allegations in our police, though they deny it. Although, I would say otherwise, because it would be easier for the police and government to use statistics the involve race, gender and age to help find where to put the most resources in reducing crime.
Is there anything wrong with using all the tools you have available in order to reduce crime? Yes and no, the US government has gone out and put some seriously stupid laws recently that make regular citizens "Guilty until proven Innocent", in which case this is the wrong approach. Using statistics is not bad as long as it is kept on the management level of the police, not the enforcement level. If it is on the management level, it can help us plan where we would need more police presence to help reduce the crime rate in the area, but not to automatically charge people because they are black, white, young, etc.
I am surprised at the low gun fatality rate in Canada, and really surprised at the relation of it to the US. I know your documentary was about guns, but if you show the fatality rate in relation to homicide rates it will prove to be a stronger argument. I think in Canada we had 542 murders a few years ago (http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/011031/d011031b.htm), I wonder what it is on other countries.
I really liked the idea of bullet control as Chris pointed out. I think if I were to run for office I would put on something like that although $5k a bullet is a tad bit pricey. I will still increase the cost of it and remove the sale of non-hunting guns which would include all semi-automatic or fully automatic weapons. I would also ban the sales of hand guns, BB pellet guns though painful and can still cause major injury should still be sold for people who like to do target practice (virtual gun games are still not up to the task, though I play with them more often as I don't like playing with real guns). Armor piercing bullets will also not be sold, there is no real purpose for them except to kill people anyway.
We have our own version of Corporate Cops here in Canada called Silverman Helps, though its Toronto specific, its also on Pulse 24. Though its not as entertaining as yours, it is still good to see that the small guys can win. Its too bad he is just one person, I do wish there were more of him.
Can't wait for Bowling for Columbine 2
Archie (www.trajano.net)