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April 21, 2005
Another Michael Moore Tantrum
Michael Moore press release
Oscar-winning filmmaker and best-selling author Michael Moore announced today the establishment of “The Michael Moore Freedom of Speech Scholarship at Cal State San Marcos.” The $2,500 scholarships will be awarded annually, for a minimum of four years, to the two individual students who have done the most to fight for issues of student rights by standing up to the administration of Cal State San Marcos (CSUSM).
I’m really glad to see that with all his money, Michael Moore has finally begun to start to help the little people that he supposedly stands for instead of abusing them because their employer isn't paying him enough. Let’s see, now Michael Moore has millions of dollars that he’s made by lying and manipulating people, how much are these scholarships going to be? Ahh yes, $2,500 for four years for two students. Let’s just see how much it costs for an full time in-state undergraduate to attend CSUSM….looks like $15,946 a year including fees, books, room and board, and other miscellaneous charges. Way to watch out for the little guys, Michael. I’m sure that will be a big help to the two students you choose.
Moore pledged to establish the scholarship after the Cal State San Marcos student-body came out to protest the school administration and CSUSM President Karen Haynes’s decision to cancel a speaking engagement Mr. Moore had at the school on the grounds that the speaker was too “political.”
So he’s not actually doing this to help anyone, but to throw a little tantrum.
Martinez said Moore's $25,000 speaking fee and $12,000 security and travel accommodations would have come from a combination of funds, from the university, from student-paid campus fees and $6,500 that student government leaders voted 12-3 to spend.
The school canceled the speaking engagement in response to complaints from some students that there were no conservative speakers. How terrible that the students would protest that the school is spending thirty-seven thousand of their dollars on a liberal speaker without any balancing views. What’s even more terrible, is that the school would listen to them.
According to an e-mail she sent to some faculty and students, the president didn't want Moore speaking on campus before the election because she felt the university would be unable to get a conservative whose stature ranks with Moore's. Haynes was unavailable for comment yesterday and her office referred all calls to a campus spokesman."Universities are about the exchange of ideas," Haynes said in her brief e-mail. "Some ideas are uncomfortable, but being exposed to them is how we become confident of our own beliefs and values. That said, however, it is important that discussions be balanced."
Back to the press release…
“I hope this scholarship will encourage students to show courage and stand up for what they believe in”, Moore stated. “It’s not easy to take on the establishment, but when students do so for the right reasons, they should be rewarded.”
Is asking that the money that you pay to the school be used to actually bring a few speakers that don’t stand for everything you stand against a “right reason?” Something tells me not. Obviously Mr. Moore has the right to give his paltry scholarship to whomever he wishes, but the gall of calling it the “Freedom of Speech” scholarship is just ridiculous.
“At a time when the media and politicians have shown a lack of courage, we should look to America’s universities and America’s young people to show us how patriotic dissent is. The University should not be a place for fear, but a place for bravery, free thought, and a little bit of rebellion.”
I’m sure the liberal students at CSUSM live in constant fear that the school might not use everyone’s money to pay for their idol to come speak.
Posted by illuminaria at April 21, 2005 02:09 PM