While being my normal lazy self lying around the apartment andchannel surfing the other night, I came across the one thing allcable news networks have been covering nonstop all week: theRepublican National Convention. It just so happened that I cameacross a speech Sen. John McCain was giving Monday night. Smack dabin the middle of his speech, a chant of "Four more years" came fromthe thousands of Republicans in attendance. The chant came at astrange point in the speech, I thought, and the picture on thescreen told me why.
Filmmaker Michael Moore was the image projected on my 20-inchtelevision. It all seemed to come together in my head. McCain hadjust made the remark, "Not our critics abroad. Not our politicalopponents. And certainly not a disingenuous filmmaker who wouldhave us believe that Saddam's Iraq was an oasis of peace when infact it was a place of indescribable cruelty, torture chambers,mass graves and prisons that destroyed the lives of the smallchildren held inside their walls." Once the crowd's chanting hadsubsided, McCain did one of the more humorous things I have seen atthe convention (second only to the Bush daughter's horrible publicspeaking while introducing their father Tuesday night). He repeatedhis comment.
To say the least I was surprised to see Moore in attendance atthe RNC, since he is one of the most outspoken critics againstBush. His film, "Fahrenheit 9/11," which fell into the documentarycategory (not being a true feature), is the highest grossing"documentary" in history. His movie, made to sway undecided votersto vote Democrat on November 2, has been the topic of muchpolitical commentary since its release. I found he was attendingthe convention as a columnist for USA Today.
The attendance of Moore and the remarks made by McCain show howmuch of an effect Hollywood has on politics today. Many people noteven remotely interested or informed about the election went to seeMoore's movie. Even the least involved person knows what"Fahrenheit 9/11" is about. The pull Hollywood has today is veryinteresting. It is a wonder to see the entertainers use theirpopularity to push young people to go out and vote.
Another thing I found interesting came while watching MTV'sVideo Music Awards Sunday night. It was a wonder to witness howmany people, most of whom were accepting awards, include somethingabout getting out and voting. Hip-hop group Outkast, who took homethe night's most prestigious award for best video of the year,included voting every time they were on stage, and Shawn "P. Diddy"Combs was seen many times with his signature "Vote or die!!!!"t-shirt.
With so much politics going on, it is easy for college studentsto lose their voice by not participating. Many people within theyoungest voting demographic either don't register or don't exercisetheir duty by opting out of voting. This system was set up by thefounders of the country so that we do have a voice, so that we asAmericans would never have the tyranny of a dictatorship, so wewould have the rights that all humans should be given. It is awonder to see entertainers take time out of the promotions of theirrecent endeavors, and to take time while accepting an award topromote the importance of voting, also to see movies intended tomake people vote, for either side. The power is in your hands comeNovember, make sure you use it.
Write to Steve at
smbristow@bsu.edu
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