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Michael Moore's Good Friday - Passover - Easter, 2002
MichaelMoore.com - via Jeff Rense (I won't give that gasbag Moore any webhits) ^ | April 1, 2002 | Michael Moore

Posted on 04/01/2002 10:05:53 AM PST by Notforprophet

Good Friday/Passover/Easter, 2002

Dear friends,

I've never quite figured out why they call it "Good Friday." I mean, for Christ's sake, a guy got nailed to death on a cross! Actually it was THREE guys on that hill in Jerusalem -- the other two being petty thieves who apparently had run afoul of Rome's three-strikes-and-you're-out policy. Maybe someone came up with the term "Good Friday" to try and put a positive spin on things, realizing it's hard to attract converts to your religion with such a downer image of its leader being executed. I've often wondered why the Catholic Church doesn't use Jesus rolling back the stone and rising from the dead as its chief icon, something we'd all like to be able to do someday. Instead, we get his corpse hammered into wood and hung above every altar. It's like the Democrats deciding to replace the donkey as their symbol with JFK's brains being blown out the back of his head. Who'd vote for the candidate with that image next to his or her name on the ballot?

I am being evicted today, Good Friday, from my office. I had just one week left to edit my film, but the landlord -- heartless bastard! -- is having me tossed out for non-payment of rent. Back in October, my publisher, HarperCollins, was supposed to pay me for the work I did in writing "Stupid White Men." Citing "the tragic events of 9-11" (a mantra that seems to have been repeated by every business in America as they've shamelessly used the dead of that day to justify their obscene layoffs and cutbacks) the publisher claimed they did not have to pay me until the book was "published." I said, "What do you call 50,000 copies of this very book that have already been printed and are now sitting in your warehouse?" They said, "We call that printing 50,000 copies of a book that's now sitting in a warehouse, but not yet 'published.'"

Well, once you head down the road trying to fight that kind of logic, you are lost in a vortex from which you may never return. So, the book didn't really "exist" (and it sat in "nonexistence" in that warehouse for another 4 months). Meanwhile, I had no paycheck. Now, I don't want to bore you with my financial situation, and I certainly don't want you feeling sorry for me. I have done better than I have ever dreamed of with my high school education, and I'm sure most of you could fill both my ears with what it takes for YOU just to make it through the week. My current problems were compounded by the fact that I had decided to spend the bulk of 2001 making the documentary film that I am now finishing. I got my last paycheck for this film 12 months ago, so I was counting on the fee for the book to get me through the rest of 2001.

When that didn't happen (as most of you know, the publisher wanted me to "tone down" the stuff about Bush in the book, and I wouldn't, so there was a standoff until they finally backed down), things began to fall apart. After I had already gone a few months without being able to pay the office rent where our edit room was located, the landlord went to court and got an order -- to have the sheriff toss me out on the curb! Suddenly, visions of Deputy Fred from "Roger & Me" were dancing in my head! Well, I negotiated with the landlord to give me a little more time, and the angels from Salter Street Films in Canada (who have backed this documentary from the start) agreed to pay some of the rent. But the landlord would only accept the money on the condition that we leave the premises on Easter weekend.

And, thus, here I am, using the last computer still hooked up to electricity, writing you this letter. I can't get past either the irony or the yin/yang of this moment: I've got the number one bestselling book in the country -- and the landlord has just cut my off my electricity in the middle of this sentence! I don't even know if the computer has backed-up this letter! Agggghhh!!...

Okay, I've returned from my encounter with the landlord in the hallway and the lights are back on. How surreal is this? Now comes a message from the publisher that the book goes on sale in the U.K. and Ireland this week, and they've also just sold the rights for the book in China, Japan, Korea, France, Germany, and... THE LINE JUST WENT DEAD! The phone company has disconnected our phone lines. AARRRGGHH!!...

Okay, the phones are back up. And, lucky for me, just in time, because the guy who does our taxes is calling to tell me that our tax returns are all filled out... "But there's just one little problem -- you have no money in the bank to pay your taxes!" he says.

"You know that home improvement loan you got to fix up your apartment? We'll have to borrow that money from the bank instead to pay your taxes!" Waahhhggggghhh!!!

What is next? Please, Supreme Being in Charge Up There -- I GET IT!: "You wanna sell 400,000 books? A pound-and-a-half of flesh, sonny boy!"

The credit card company has now called because they have cut off our card. But, wait, we paid THAT bill! People in our building have heard we are moving and are stopping by to see if they can pick over our furniture and equipment at fire sale prices. I see my desk being hauled away one minute... then I see someone trying to walk off with our Ficus tree that we ran for Congress in 2000... and now some stranger is swiping the third reel of our film! SOMEBODY STOP HIM!

The phones, though, are still working. I know this to be a fact because on the phone is the lawyer helping us avoid yet another court appearance. The British TV network, Channel Four (the people who produced the first season of "The Awful Truth"), have not paid one of their bills here in New York, and it is now way overdue. The guy wants to be paid -- he should be! -- but he hasn't sued Channel Four for the money. He has come after us! And why not? Why go 4,000 miles across an ocean to try and collect when the Channel Four employee whose name is on the bill -- mine! -- is just down the street from you?! So, just days short of completing my documentary, I have now had to sell off half our edit equipment to pay off the creditor whom Channel Four failed to pay. MOMMMYYYY!!!

Does it get worse? Of course it does! And this time, the news is tragic. My wife and I have had four deaths in our extended family in the past four months -- and now word comes today, Good Friday, that an in-law has had a horrible accident in Michigan and is in critical condition. He was in Michigan to attend his mother's funeral, just four days ago... she was a wonderful woman whose simple presence brought happiness to all around her. I can still remember Maryann decorating the church for us the night before our wedding, an inner-city church that had seen its day and not many weddings of late. She had transformed it into a beautiful place for my wife and I. Now her son lays unconscious in a hospital fighting for his life.

The TV is on, blaring in the background... suicide bombers strike again in all their horror and a former butcher-now-prime minister appears ready to slaughter as many people as he can, their blood on their doorsteps will not protect them, no angel will pass over to spare them... and my wife is on the phone with her sister who is telling her this bad news about the accident and it all just becomes too much to handle... my petty problems are reduced to the significance they deserve, and I quietly go into the other room and start to cry. After a few moments, I suck it in and get back to work boxing up my belongings, listening to a producer tell me why "10 minutes HAS to come out of the film" (it won't), and talking to my daughter who, out of the blue, just wanted to thank me for working so hard so she can go to college.

And that made it all worthwhile.

Yours from Inside His Own Private Golgotha,

Michael Moore

Author

Filmmaker

Dad


TOPICS: Activism/Chapters; Culture/Society; Editorial; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: easter; gasbag; michaelmoore
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To: Notforprophet
Is his book really the #1 bestseller? If so, that's depressing.
21 posted on 04/01/2002 10:38:35 AM PST by GodBlessRonaldReagan
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To: Notforprophet
According to this article, Michael Moore is far from poor.

More lies from a pathological liar.....

Michael says he isn’t rich: 

"I'm not rich. I mean, on the rungs of the ladder in Hollywood — you know me, I'm making documentary films — I'm on the lowest rung."

Michael says he is rich

"I'm a millionaire, I'm a multi-millionaire. I'm filthy rich. You know why I'm a multi-millionaire? 'Cause multi-millions like what I do. That's pretty good, isn't it? There's millions that believe in what I do. Pretty cool, huh?"

22 posted on 04/01/2002 10:41:01 AM PST by SW6906
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To: doug from upland
Better yet, load him up with that and let the IDF kick him out the back of a plane onto the PA headquarters. Instant napalm bomb.
23 posted on 04/01/2002 10:42:05 AM PST by RichInOC
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To: Notforprophet
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
24 posted on 04/01/2002 10:42:22 AM PST by AppyPappy
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Comment #25 Removed by Moderator

To: Notforprophet
This is amazing. He is traveling around the country and appearing on tv, telling everyone his book is at the top of the best seller list, yet - he can't pay rent on his office? Maybe he should move beyond his high school education and find the time to take an accounting course.
26 posted on 04/01/2002 10:52:38 AM PST by summer
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To: lexcorp
In this, at least, he has a point.

No, he doesn't. The purpose of the crucifix is to serve as a reminder of the price Jesus paid for our salvation. It's not supposed to be pretty.

27 posted on 04/01/2002 10:56:19 AM PST by Steve0113
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To: SW6906
You're third link, form the "Arcata Eye" is a classic. We all should do our best to pass it around.

The small town reporter is pretty witty in tearing down Moore the icon.

28 posted on 04/01/2002 10:56:21 AM PST by Shermy
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To: Notforprophet
This guys life is falling apart and then he mocks the one person who can turn it around for him. Is this guy intelligent or what?
29 posted on 04/01/2002 10:59:13 AM PST by Russell Scott
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To: lexcorp
It was Christ's suffering that freed us, not his resurection.
30 posted on 04/01/2002 11:05:39 AM PST by AdA$tra
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To: Steve0113
Is it me, or did he compare himself to Jesus with that reference to his "own private Golgotha"?

Yep, Mr. Moore, your problems with your credit card and Jesus' crucifixion--there's a great analogy.

31 posted on 04/01/2002 11:06:50 AM PST by apollo11
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To: Husker8877
Imagine the degree of LOSER one has to be, to have made as much money as this fat puke no doubt has, and still be stiffing every one around him on their rightfully-owed bills?

I have a mental image of Moore as a sleazy televangelist begging old ladies to send in the Social Security checks to keep his show on the air while living in personal luxury.

32 posted on 04/01/2002 11:07:38 AM PST by steve-b
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To: Notforprophet
"It's like the Democrats deciding to replace the donkey as their symbol with JFK's brains being blown out the back of his head. Who'd vote for the candidate with that image next to his or her name on the ballot?"

And having a jackass as the symbol of your political party is a plus??

"Now, I don't want to bore you with my financial situation, and I certainly don't want you feeling sorry for me."

Good, now I don't have to feel guilty for not giving a damn about your whining-ass life!

"...my petty problems are reduced to the significance they deserve, and I quietly go into the other room and start to cry."

The first half of this statement speaks volumes about his life, and the second half gives us insight to the true character of this pathetic individual. Thank you Roger for cheering me up...

33 posted on 04/01/2002 11:08:48 AM PST by Exeter
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To: Notforprophet
...but the landlord -- heartless bastard! -- is having me tossed out for non-payment of rent. Back in October, my publisher, HarperCollins, was supposed to pay me for the work I did in writing "Stupid White Men."

You know, if this jerk could clean up his act a write a decent book that didn't slam every conservative from here to kingdom come, he probably would've sold a few hundred thousand copies. Instead, he thinks the public really wants to buy the crap that oozes out of his mouth.

34 posted on 04/01/2002 11:11:33 AM PST by Slyfox
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To: My Favorite Headache
EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWwww.. Blessed mother of macrame...
DID YOU HAVE TO PAINT THAT PICTURE!

You also forgot the BARRRRRFFFFFF ALERT

35 posted on 04/01/2002 11:15:40 AM PST by Johnny Gage
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Comment #36 Removed by Moderator

To: Notforprophet
Me Me Me Me Me Me Me
37 posted on 04/01/2002 11:28:40 AM PST by opinionator
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To: Notforprophet
The most disgusting thing about Moore is his narcissism. Just about everything he writes references his previous works (why does he have to write about "Roger and Me" in every one of his columns?), focuses on his opinion on the Middle East and its connection with his feelings over the death of some distant relative, his problems with taxes (Mr. 39% tax bracket is in a hell of his own making there-maybe Ralph Nader will make things more fair for him).

I have to admit that I am drawn to his columns...it's some kind of ugly curiousity. Even Woody Allen isn't this self-referential. He is truly like nobody else.

38 posted on 04/01/2002 11:36:50 AM PST by Cu Roi
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To: Notforprophet
Amazing that this guy hates Capitalism SO much, yet he actually wants to be PAID for the work he's done?

A principled socialist would insist on doing his best work and receive the same pay as the guy sitting on his front porch waiting for a welfare check.

39 posted on 04/01/2002 11:37:19 AM PST by MrB
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To: AdA$tra
It was Christ's suffering that freed us, not his resurection.

If Christ merely died, than Christianity would be "just another religion." His resurrection and ascension make all the difference. He suffered in our place.

40 posted on 04/01/2002 11:40:03 AM PST by vrwinger
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