On the Fourth of July, Moore Holds Forth

How ironic: Michael Moore decries the inability of Americans to ask hard questions in our political process (Opinion, July 4). And he turns around and profits from this very same lack of critical thinking among people. He makes films out of carefully edited television program shots, which some Americans buy at face value. I picture him laughing all the way to the bank. “Fahrenheit 9/11” is not going to spark debate as to how we can come up with feasible solutions to our country’s challenges. Rather the film is dividing our country even more.

Moore’s commentary reflects his disdain of the president and his foreign policies. But what Moore conveniently fails to acknowledge is the fact that it will not matter who wins in November. Sen. John Kerry will continue with the majority of these same policies. In other words, our troops will still be stationed in Iraq for a very long time. Voting out President Bush in November will not suffice; we need structural changes in our political system.

Salvador Sanchez

Los Angeles

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I just read Moore’s July 4 essay, and wow, how good it has made me feel on this day of national celebration. People who call Moore an “American hater” just don’t have a clue about him or any of the others of us who feel that Bush and his war are all wrong, and all a pack of lies. What they don’t know is that we love America every bit as much as they do, if not more so. Moore expresses this with abundant clarity in his essay. He is on a roll, and I thank God that someone has found the “people’s voice.”

Bruce Albertine

Santa Barbara

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I haven’t seen the movie, but you’ve got to love Moore. Only in the stifling, harassing, booing, muzzling America he abhors could a person like himself get rich making movies and writing articles about anything he wants, and get millions in free publicity across the nation and around the world. God bless Mr. Moore. God bless America.

Bill Fallon

Newport Beach

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I left my paper midway through Moore’s column to tape outside my door a tiny flag I was given to wave during a state visit by Nelson Mandela to the White House 10 years ago. Moore is correct: It is time for everyone to understand that the flag belongs to all of us, even those of us against the war.

I decided after Sept. 11 that I would not put up a flag if we went to war. How wrong I was. We have rights as Americans to speak out against the government, and nothing is more American than flying the red, white and blue.

Carolyn Yashari Becher

Los Angeles

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I read Jonah Goldberg’s piece (Opinion, July 4). I loved the line “We conservatives believe in, well, conserving.” One question: With American jobs flowing down the outsourcing drain, the federal deficit reaching for the stars and our natural parks and open spaces being sold to the highest bidder, just what, pray tell, is being conserved? Or perhaps that’s one of those questions that he’d prefer we not ask on Independence Day.

Dwain Wilson

Los Angeles