Michael Moore booed as he slams Iraq war at Oscars
Mon Mar 24, 2:13 AM ET


HOLLYWOOD (AFP) - Famed US documentary maker Michael Moore (news) used his win of an Oscar to launch a violent attack on US President George W. Bush (news - web sites) and war in Iraq (news - web sites) amid loud boos from the audience.


AFP Photo



"We live in fictitious times," he said when picking up the award for best documentary for his anti-gun film "Bowling for Columbine."


"We live in a time with fictitious election results that elect fictitious presidents. We live in a time when we have a man sending us to war for fictitious reasons.


"We are against this war Mr Bush. Shame on you. Shame on you!," he said to loud boos from an audience of 3,500 including most of Hollywood's top stars.


When he went backstage at Hollywood's Kodak Theatre to face reporters, Moore was unapologetic for his outburst.


"I'm an American, and you don't leave your citizenship when you enter the doors of the Kodak Theater. What's great about this country is that you can speak your mind," he said.


He said that, far from being appalled, many people in the audience stood up to applaud him.


"I say tonight I put America in a good light," he said praising the decision to push ahead with the Oscars (news - web sites) despite the war raging in the Middle East.


"I showed how vital it is to have free speech in our country

And the only reason that idiot has freedom of speech is because of the country he lives in. The "freedom" he has is because of the many who gave their lives in the past for unappreciative, slobs like him.

OK Mr. Moore - move over to countries like Iraq and lets see how long you live by speaking your mind against that country's leader.

Shame on you Mr. Moore, shame on you.
What a jacka$$.

Mr. Maduro

"OK Mr. Moore - move over to countries like Iraq and lets see how long you live by speaking your mind against that country's leader."

what does that mean? he shouldn't be speaking his mind? he should move to iraq? what is the point of your quote?

Rick - Don't you know, since we're at war we're not allowed to disagree with our President. Didn't you get the memo??

Mr. Maduro - Freedom is just that, and that's why our brave troops are providing and protecting it. You're free to say what you like as well, even if you sound like a moron doing so...

I fully believe in freedom of speech. However if Mr. Moore was to speak against Saddam Hussein while living in Iraq, he wouldn't last very long. It just hurts me to see / hear people bashing this county or its leaders when it is this very country and its leaders (past & present) that have helped to keep our rights such as freedom of speech. They are bashing those who have helped to give them the right to bash.

Sorry, I'm not a politician and the words don't come out too well but I know what I feel in my heart.

Point of fact, I also thought Moore's comments were of poor taste, and poor timing. But he still can say them and sound like a moron if he likes, I was just surprised and happy the celebs booed him.

Well Mr. cwilhelmi,

It's obvious you have no idea what real freedom is and it's true meaning until every ounce of it has been stripped away from you. Let's just say I've been there. So you can post as many pretty pictures as you like but until you walk in another man's shoes and know what he has been through, you are welcome to your own opinion.

Actually, I have a very good idea of what real freedom is, and the price we've paid over the years, and the price we will have to pay to maintain it in the future. But if we're free then we're free, no conditionals on voicing dissent against our president or policies so long as they're not threatening. I don't honestly believe we are free, but we're a hell of a lot closer than any other nation.

And yes I posted some “pretty pictures”, pictures of our troops in action, our troops who I whole-heartedly support. I just hope we don’t lose any more in this war, but realistically it’s inevitable that we will.

It’s a fine line between hating what someone says and whether or not they should be able to say it, whether or not Moore likes this war or our president is his opinion, and he has every right as an American to voice it, just as you have the right to condemn him. But saying he shouldn’t be able to stay in the US is contrary to those freedoms, and Un-American.

Also, I apologize for the moron jab, bad taste on my part, but I'm very protective of our freedoms...

Free speech is not a God-given right. It was earned through the blood, sweat and tears of our military. Michael Moore has every right to say what he's said, but just because you have a right, doesn't mean you should use it. It's called tact, my friend --show some class. Shame on YOU, Michael Moore.

Mr. cwilhelmi,

I accept your apology and I also apologize for any ill feelings that I may have presented. I did not mean that Mr. Moore should leave the US. I meant that it is this great country and its freedoms that allows its countrymen to be able to voice their opinions. I just find it hard to listen to and accept the fact that there are those who will make off the cuff statement (such as the Dixie Chicks singer). Again, I agree with freedom of speech no matter what or who it is against. But it the freedom itself that I hold dear to my heart, not necessarily what the speech is about. And to go with my last post, if Mr. Moore had a better idea of what freedom TRULY is, as you and I do, and if he could have a taste of life with that freedom being stripped away from him, I feel he would have a better understanding of not just the word freedom, but the true significance of the rights we have fought for and those brothers who have lost their lives to protect it.

hegemonic

sorry, but free speech is an inalianable right, sorry to quote the constitution, like life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and it has been "protected" by blood, sweat and tears.

what the "founding fathers" meant by inalianable, was given by god, not transferable, can't be taken away.

Tact and free speech--now that's an oxymoron. I usually don't post on this stuff, but what a life-long debate people can have on tact and free speech and the appropriatness of both when considered in conjunction.

Yes, as Rick said, free speech is an inalienable right; tact on the other hand, is something learned or acquired. Unfortunately, so very, very few possess it.

Godspeed to our men/women in arms and in harms way.

Mr Maduro, Heg, and Rick - agreed...

Jd1 - Well said!!

I support our Troops and therefore, I think that Fat Micheal Moore should learn a little more about when to exercise his freedoms.

I think he should exercise his Freedom to move to another country and sgtay there!

Charlie

Oh ... I've got it figured out now ...

... Mr. Maduro is really Magnifide. He just changed his username, that's all ...

Hmmmmmmmmmmm,could be?

Whats that supposed to mean slim? Explain our similarities, just curious.

Mag

Rick and Hegemonic,

I’m sorry, but you’re BOTH wrong, according to xaigoxx, our freedom comes neither as an inalienable right, or as a God given right, but rather straight from our government, as proof of this theasis, I attach the following from a previous thread.

Author: xaigoxx Date: 02/22/2003 09:24 PM Reply
True freedom is anarchy robby. We live in a gov't controlled country. Can you go murder and rape someone? NO.. because you dont have the freedom to. We have freedom yes, but its the freedom our gov't gives us. BTW, the right to bear arms was not modified officially, but through laws it was modified. This style of modification as been used for several admenments in our Constitution.

Makes a nice new target for my dart board! Bullseye would be right between the eyes!

Charlie

If you looked up A$$Hole in the dictionary, that would be the picture you would see.