Bowling for Columbine, a movie review

By: Art Jannicelli
www.WhatTheHellAmIDoingHere.com
Bowling for Columbine offers a shocking depiction of American culture. “How could those boys kill their classmates?” Was the question on every mind on April 20 th 1999 as the world learned of the tragedy at Columbine High. The Columbine tragedy was a product of the fear and militarism that make up our unique American culture.

Columbine is not America's only problem; America is home to the highest number of annual gun deaths in the world over 11,000 in 2000. The next closest country has less then 400. America does not have any more a violent past then other countries with an equivalent number of guns per capita, e.g. Germany and Japan. eMptyTv and Satellite television has spread American movies and music all over the world; however, it has not spread the American epidemic of gun violence. So there has to be more to the problem then violent media or history.

American is also a very militarized culture. We love our guns and take enormous pride in our military. “We are Columbine!” reads a proud banner in Lockheed Martin's missile factory located in Littleton Colorado. Lockheed Martin is the largest weapons manufacturer in the world. On April 20 th 1999, the U.S. military dropped more bombs on Kosovo then at any other time; although, this is minor in comparison to the untold number of covert CIA operations that have resulted in the deaths of thousands of civilians in the name of America.

American culture is also culture of fear. Murder rates have declined 20% in the last 10 years. At the same time, media coverage of murders has risen 600%. Our media moves from one terrifying to another ceaselessly, e.g. Killer Bees, and Y2K. The popular response to this phenomenon is to get a gun. Gun sales skyrocketed to their highest levels in history after 9/11.

Fear and Militarism make a deadly combination. They have contributed to a culture that finds its greatest comfort with a gun and considers force a very palatable for resolving problems. It is no wonder America has such a high occurrence of gun violence.

My opinion

This is a movie I would recommend every American see. It is was the funniest movie I saw in 2002. Using humor to disarm, Michael Moore succeeded in producing a shocking portrait of American culture that is riveting and eye opening. Despite its openly liberal perspective it does not present anything that is less then the verifiable truth. You will be entertained and educated more then you have ever been in two short hours.