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Simon Phipps's personal commentary

Moore Profile

Today's Guardian has an excellent interview with Michael Moore ("The Capped Crusader") that is well worth reading in full. He comes across well - passionate and human.

For a start, he listens. Even though he is the one being interviewed, he is very ready to engage in a dialogue. Even though the opinions in his book are forthright, they are not finished. He is still thinking. And so - and this is rare among male opinion-formers of his age - he does not consider being challenged an act of insolence.

His passion can sometimes take him too far in what he says, but he's such rarity that it's forgiveable.

As an activist, polemicist and journalist, Moore occupies a unique space in the US media and politics. He does so not because he is dissident - America has many dissenting voices, even if most are rarely heard - but because of the combination of what he says, and the way he says it, on television, film and in books. He is a choir of one with little in the way of back-up vocals.

Turns out he's America's best-selling author right now (even if America's bookstores hide his books once the rush is over), so his views can hardly be the ranting of one lunatic. His critics may try to treat him that way, but I don't think it will stick. His politics are pretty obvious, as is his affection for Britain, but his criticism of Tony Blair is unrestrained:

"I hold Blair more responsible than Bush for this war. Because Bush doesn't know better, Blair does. Bush couldn't have gotten away with this without Blair. It is my challenge to the British public to get up off the couch and find another way."

I'm not sure I agree - I believe the war would have started a year sooner and been much worse for the world without the moderating influence of Blair on Bush. But my admiration for him remains. The Guardian also has some extracts from his new book, "Dude, Where's My Country" [US | UK | CA] (and I still think 'Bowling for Columbine' [UK | US | CA] is a classic, as is 'Stupid White Men', [US | UK | CA]). I just hope he can continue to harness his millions and provide the voice the 'decent majority' have been lacking in the US.

posted at 4:50 AM (UK) | |