Ray Bradbury versus Michael Moore

Whats the fuss about Fahrenheit really about...?

Whatever happened to Ray Bradbury? Once upon a time he wrote a number of brilliant stories. But that's half a century ago by now. Apparently he is still alive, because recently he reappeared to dismiss Michael Moores new film "Fahrenheit 9/11". But why all that fuss about a title? Here's a clue:

Bradbury about Michael Moore

Bradbury: "Michael Moore is a screwed asshole, that is what I think about that case. He stole my title and changed the numbers without ever asking me for permission. He is a horrible human being. Horrible human!"

When asked if he dissagree with Moores opinions, Bradbury denies:
"That has nothing to do with it. He copied my title, that is what happened. That has nothing to do with my political opinions."

So, according to Bradbury the fuss is all about the films title, not the content. I am not sure how he'll be able to defend that position: after all, he has borrowed titles himself, from Whitman (I sing the body electric), Shakespeare (Something wicked this way comes), Yeats (Golden apples of the sun) and a dozen more. Bradbury may borrow, but Moore must not...?

What is Bradburys opinion about the films content? He doesn't mention that, even insists it is not the point, so I was left wondering. Until some weeks later, when I stumbled upon an interview in Salon.com (august 2001):

Bradbury about Bush

Salon: "What do you think of President Bush?"

Bradbury: "He's wonderful. We needed him. Clinton is a shithead and we're glad to be rid of him. And I'm not talking about his sexual exploits. I think we have a chance to do something about education, very important. We should have done it years ago. It doesn't matter who does it - Democrats or Republicans - but it's long overdue. Our education system is a monstrosity. We need to go back and rebuild kindergarten and first grade and teach reading and writing to everybody, all colors, and then the whole structure of our education will change because people will know how to read and write."

Bush is wonderful?
Because education is important...?

Well, what has Bush to say about education? 
Here's some recent quotes:

Bush about education

Quite frankly, teachers are the only profession that teach our children.

I don't think there is any correlation at all between pay of teachers and quality of education... there might even be a negative connotation.

We're going to have the best educated American people in the world.

We want results in every single classroom so that one single child is left behind. (Little Rock, Arkansas, Nov. 10, 2003)

In 1994, there were 67 schools in Texas that were rated "exemplorary"
according to our own tests.

I loved history, and pursued a diversified course of study. I like to think of it as the academic road less traveled. For example, I took a class that studied Japanese Haiku. Haiku, for the uninitiated, is a 15th century form of poetry, each poem having 17 syllables. Haiku is fully understood only by the Zen masters. As I recall, one of my academic advisers was worried about my selection of such a specialized course. He said I should focus on English. I still hear that quite often. But my critics don't realize I don't make verbal gaffes. I'm speaking in the perfect forms and rhythms of ancient Haiku.
(Yale University, May 21, 2001)

I glance at the headlines just to kind of get a flavor for what's moving. I rarely read the stories, and get briefed by people who are ... probably read the news themselves. (Interview with Brit Hume on Fox News Channel, Washington DC. Sept 21, 2003.)

Sure, education is a good thing. And Bush is a prime candidate...

Mads Dam, June 2004



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