[Cerek the Barbaric]

Thanks for your comments, Chewbacca. One point where I didn't agree completely with Moore was the "demonization" of blacks and hispanics. He tried to blame the news and shows like "Cops" for always showing blacks and hispanics as criminals.

The TV show "Cops" probably is guilty (as the former producer reluctantly said) of showing crimes involving blacks more often, but I don't think the same is true with news. One of the biggest murder cases in the news for the past year has been the Laci Peterson case - and the primary suspect is her husband, Scott. I don't think the news is racially biased, I think they just show what happens. Moore ignored the fact that, according to ANY statistics you want to pull up, blacks DO commit more of the violent crimes in most urban areas. That is because of the poverty and gangland mentality you mentioned earlier.

It doesn't mean that blacks are inherently "meaner" or more evil than whites - it's just a reflection of the culture many of them are growing up in.

As for the show "Cops", I used to watch it quite a bit (before the kids came along). I'd have to agree that the vast majority of thier crimes involved blacks. Those that did involve whites were relatively few and far between by comparison.

Ignoring the accusation of racial bias, however, I think Moore DID have a good point about exactly what type of news our networks show as opposed to other countries. The fact that the news does tend to generate an atmosphere of fear is a valid point and one I hadn't really thought about before.

I used to keep two loaded pistols in my house, because my parents and I came close to having a man with a gun try to break into our house once. I finally UNloaded the guns because I realized the chance of one of my boys finding (and playing) with the guns was far more likely than a burglar coming into the house (I DO keep MY doors and windows locked ).

Overall, though, I have to reluctantly admit I'm glad I watched the film. It did help soften my view of Moore a little bit and it WAS a very interesting film despite the flaws that have been mentioned before.