Disney's Craven
Behavior
- from Michael Moore -
(Posted here by Wes Penre for
Illuminati News, April 8, 2004)
Below
you will find today's New York Times Editorial. Please pass it around.
Thanks for all of your letters of support. No news to report today, hopefully
tomorrow.
Yours,
Michael Moore
www.michaelmoore.com
* * *
May 6, 2004 – Editorial, New York Times
Disney's Craven Behavior
Give the Walt Disney Company a gold medal for cowardice
for blocking its Miramax division from distributing a film that criticizes
President Bush and his family. A company that ought to be championing free
expression has instead chosen to censor a documentary that clearly falls within
the bounds of acceptable political commentary.
The documentary was prepared by Michael Moore, a
controversial filmmaker who likes to skewer the rich and powerful. As described
by Jim Rutenberg yesterday in The Times, the film, "Fahrenheit 9/11," links the
Bush family with prominent Saudis, including the family of Osama bin Laden. It
describes financial ties that go back three decades and explores the role of the
government in evacuating relatives of Mr. bin Laden from the United States
shortly after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The film was financed by Miramax
and was expected to be released this summer.
Mr. Moore's agent said that Michael Eisner, Disney's
chief executive, had expressed concern that the film might jeopardize tax breaks
granted to Disney for its theme park, hotels and other ventures in Florida,
where Jeb Bush is governor. If that is the reason for Disney's move, it would
underscore the dangers of allowing huge conglomerates to gobble up diverse media
companies.
On the other hand, a senior Disney executive says the
real reason is that Disney caters to families of all political stripes and that
many of them might be alienated by the film. Those families, of course, would
not have to watch the documentary.
It is hard to say which rationale for blocking
distribution is more depressing. But it is clear that Disney loves its bottom
line more than the freedom of political discourse.
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/06/opinion/06THU4.html?ex=1084420800&en=dd695e1433b69ff3&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE
Updated/Revised:
Saturday, May 08, 2004 09:36:35 -0700