Book Review by Andy Leuterio
Michael Moore is on a mission. He's out to unseat George W. Bush and bring his country back to a semblance of
normalcy, common sense, and justice for everyman. Michael Moore is, of course, the wildly successful documentary
director of our generation, setting new standards for filmmaking, humor, and sociopolitical relevance.
In Bowling for Columbine, he took the viewer into the heart of America's gun culture as he sought to find out why
America has the highest number of gun-related murders in the world and its relation to the infamous Columbine
massacre.
His Fahrenheit 9/11 asks what's changed in his country after 9-11. He says that all Bush's "war on terror" has
accomplished is create a culture of fear and paranoia, and that oil interests are what's really at the heart of the matter.
Dude, Where's My Country? is mostly based on that message, and it's a fabulous piece of free speech, common
sense, and exhaustive research based on government archives and investigative articles by other journalists.
Moore, of course, isn't accusing Saudi Arabia of waging a sneak attack on his country. But he does bring to the
spotlight documented evidence that's there for all to see once they get past the White House's continuing spin on
the "war on terror." Like the Bush family's business connections with the House of Saud. And, more uncomfortably,
the extent of their business investments with the influential Bin Laden family, the same family, that contrary to Bush
pundits, hadn't actually cut ties to Osama and continued to fund (along with other Saudis) the Al Qaeda network. In other
words, there's more to Osama than meets the eye of a not-so-precise guided munition.
Although Moore's done his own research, much of what he presents is due to the efforts of other investigative
journalists, and the book is chock-full of footnotes and references if you doubt the truth of what he's talking about.
What he does manage to do impressively is put all the pieces together and communicate the sentiments of a patriot
angry at what's being done to his freedom, to his name, and to his children who have to fight the wars being waged by
the people in power.
Moore pulls no punches here. He takes apart the demonization of Osama bin Laden, Saddam Hussein, and even the
French, all part of the Bush Administration's attempts to gloss over its failings, legitimize a questionable proclamation
(remember the Florida recount?), an unjust war, and major changes in taxation and funding priorities.
As a political satire and eye-opener into the dynamics of another country's troubles, Dude, Where's my Country? is
engaging, witty, and acerbic reading. There are so many hilarious moments until you realize that the truths Moore
speaks about are actually depressing. From the adventurism of America to the cynical business practices of top
executives, Moore speaks for the common American with the wiped-out 401(k) and the embarrassment of being in
a country that much of the world disapproves of when it comes to arrogant foreign policy. Some of his values may
not jibe with the conservative Catholic majority who will read his book in this country, and some of his ideas seem
whimsical, but on the whole it's an elucidating read full of courageous opinion and sobering facts once you get past his
uncompromising humor.
