Critical Response #2: Michael Moore: "Join My High School Newspaper"

Michael Moore is the master of persuasive argument.  He's revolutionized the word "documentary" into something we now associate with entertainment, and he's shone light deep into the darkest corners of the American ethos.  He's an icon of American culture, and he's branded himself as a voice of dissent that matters.  And indeed he does matter.

Moore has also been criticized for earning a lot of money while kicking up his constant storm.  He's burned bridges with interns (who apparently had a little more to do with writing some of his books than he did), and he's fudged the odd statistic to make his arguments more effective.  He's also been accused of walking the walk less than talking the talk, and some see his films as mere manipulations of American pathos - choosing the right interviewee to provide the the right emotional response to his carefully selected questions.  For all these things (real or imagined), I think we can easily forgive him.  He's done more for America than certain presidents.

Read the following article, "Join My Highschool Newspaper", from his website, MichaelMoore.com, and pick out some things you'd like to respond to.  Is he playing things up? Does his idea to provide a "high school newspaper" that doesn't censor a good one, and is it necessary? Is it a school's responsibility to allow freedom of speech in a school newspaper? Is school supposed to be a stage for political dissent, or in this day and age is it something that can and should be left for after school?  To encourage the best possible learning environment for all, is it okay to water things down and omit certain things from being written in a school newspaper?          

Obviously, this is written primarily for America's youth who are under different circumstances.  As Koreans, I'm interested to hear what you have to say.  I think KMLA grants you quite a bit of freedom to develop and discuss your opinions, so I'm interested in your views both within and outside the school environment.  How politically aware or motivated is the average Korean teenager?

Here are some interesting excerpts from Moore's diatribe:

"We are, right now, living in an amazing moment of history. And this moment has happened because the youth around the world have decided they've had enough. Young people are in revolt -- and it's about time."

Yes, Egypt has revolted.  But was it pretty?  Are we living in an "amazing moment of history"?

"And for some beautiful, unknown reason, you've refused to listen. Maybe it's because you've figured out that we adults are about to hand you a very empty and increasingly miserable world, with its melting polar ice caps, its low-paying jobs, its incessant war machine, and its plan to put you in permanent debt at age 18 with the racket known as college loans." 

I agree with some of this, but I take the pessimistic view that these aren't things implemented by a particular generation or age of being.  These are simply natural occurrences that are dictated by our system.  Every generation, every community, and every random sampling of humankind will include a cunning minority who seize the reins and profit off the backs of those who are born into the "normalcy" of the "miserable world."  It's always been "miserable" and always will be, if, in fact, we can even use this word.  In my opinion it isn't miserable. It's just normal.  It's the status quo that the Big Bang created.  The polar ice caps are supposed to melt.  We can rise up all we want, but there will always be new "adults" to replace the old "adults" and many of them will hand out loans to keep us all in a natural state of debt.  Maybe I'm wrong.           

So, please respond to Moore's article and evaluate your interest/need in his vision of a "high school newspaper."   What's your opinion and personal experience as a teenager expressing your views?  Maybe you'll even want to submit writing to his site - and I encourage it.

As usual, please identify three debate motions (they can be remotely related).  There's lots in here, so it shouldn't be too difficult.

Note:  Moore uses the metaphor "brick in the wall," to describe what schools train youth to be.  Here's where that popular phrase comes from - one of the most viewed videos of all time: