Bowling For Columbine Dialectical Journal

Entry 1:

In “Bowling for Columbine”, Michael Moore seems to make a deliberate effort to include footage that portrays a variety of different cultures and backgrounds. From struggling, crime-prone neighborhoods to the secluded, Beverly Hills manor of Charlton Heston, all demographics are represented, though not all in such a positive light. The culture that I identify most with is that of the common, quiet little suburban neighborhood in Littleton, Colorado.

Littleton reminds me of my hometown because it is a typical suburban environment and it is just small enough to create a close-knit community but just large enough to still have a few unfamiliar faces. As those interviewed from Littleton at the time of the Columbine attacks stated, it is a relatively normal environment where nothing outrageous or catastrophic ever takes place. From an outsider, Littleton looks like the average, ideal middle-class neighborhood.

This is what strikes me as so shocking about the Columbine attacks because it so similar to where I am from. Such tragedies are entirely unpredictable and can happen any place at any time.
Though I have not personally had any close experiences with gun violence, I am very familiar with the attacks at Columbine because my cousin’s husband is the brother of a Columbine victim. His sister, Cassie Bernall, was among the casualties caused by Eric and Dylan in the library of Columbine High School. It is unfortunate that guns have to be handled as such a delicate issue in our society because I believe there was a time when there was no need for firearm regulation to make people feel safe in their own neighborhood. Still, when these weapons fall into the hands of irresponsible people, whether it be due to a mental impairment or not, they have the power to change hundreds of lives in an instant.

Entry 2:
It is evident that Michael Moore is a very opinionated individual. Though his methods may rub some viewers the wrong way and come off as obnoxious or insensitive, they certainly are effective in bringing awareness to the issue at hand. One of Moore’s key tactics is using cultural differences to support his claims. Moore thoroughly represents a wide variety of cultural and economic backgrounds throughout his film, but he does so in a way that manipulates the stereotype of each culture to favor his argument.
In the beginning scene of “Bowling for Columbine” the group of Michigan militiamen are shown in a series of footage exhibiting their shooting capabilities and their steadfast opinions on pro-gun rights. Moore then quickly changes the tone of the situation by bringing in the militiawomen calendar and questioning each militia member about their occupations, which all prove to be blue-collar careers at most. Thus, Moore uses this quick change in tone to portray the Michigan militia as a group that should be dismissed as provincial and irrelevant. This same method is applied when Moore interviews the two young men from the bar and also James Nichols. Moore could very well be using specific footage that makes the participants appear less intelligent than they really are and, furthermore, he continues to play on their small-town, agricultural lifestyle to make them seem uneducated and even slightly insane.
Still, Moore can also reverse his sympathies to support his argument. Using the more “likeable” characters Moore is able to support the theme of his film. The tragic impairments of the two Columbine survivors is exploited to create sympathy and understanding for Moore’s side of the argument. Likewise, Tamarla Owens’ and the Buell teacher’s situations are coupled with excerpts about the poverty in which the incidents took place to incite sympathy in the audience. Moore makes this approach even more effective by closely contrasting the seemingly kind-hearted nature of these victims and their traumatic stories with the tenacious agenda of Charlton Heston. Moore portrays Heston as a merciless pro-gun radical with no regard for morality or manners. Though this may not be the case in reality, Moore uses Heston’s success, including the pan-shot of his upscale residence, as a means to depict him as the wealthy, callous antagonist in the situation. Though this method is extremely biased and potentially inaccurate, it does work effectively to make Moore’s values and beliefs appear to be the more reasonable of the two spectrums.

Entry 3
As a police officer that deals with threats from gun violence daily, I fully understand the public’s concern and desire to maintain an environment that makes them feel secure. However, I do not think creating radical, highly restrictive gun laws is the road to this desired peace of mind.
Taking this sort of approach could potentially counteract the intended result by de-arming innocent citizens from felons who disregard the law to begin with. In other words, a law that restricts the ownership of guns will not keep guns out of the hands of those who do not abide by the law. Still, there are many other methods and routes that could be taken to immensely decrease the likelihood of such senseless tragedies and promote a safer livelihood without completely eliminating the right to bear arms.
In many cases, there are greater issues than simply just the firearm itself. One key way to create a safer environment is simply to implement more thorough background checks. It can often be far too easy for someone who should not own a firearm to find loopholes, especially with gun show events that easily skirt the law and let unlicensed dealers sell guns without performing a proper Brady law background check. Another means of gun safety would be to limit clip sizes. There is no reasonable explanation for a clip size that has a 250 round capacity; whether the ammunition is intended for sport or a precaution of self-defense, this sort of power is both impractical and dangerous.
In light of this, with gun violence becoming a rising issue in our society, I believe that it is more important right now than ever before that not only police officers, but all civil servants, stay on guard and be ready to assist the public in times of tragedy and crisis.

Entry 4:
By inserting himself into the film, Michael Moore not only made the film seem more authentic and personal, but also enhanced the effectiveness of the dialect simply because of the nature of Moore’s personality.

Moore is naturally a very opinionated individual and has no problem with expressing his beliefs regardless of whether he offends those around him; in fact, he seems to take some pleasure in directly challenging them. Though Moore is able to depict his strongly held views by narrating the film, viewers who do not agree with his concepts could be quickly and easily turned off to the film due to Moore’s blatant defamation of any ideas that contradict with his.

Moore’s derogatory satire throughout the film when depicting ideas that do not align with his own beliefs can easily be interpreted as offensive and irrational, though I believe this is the effect he is going for. Though Moore seems to causing disruption down to a science, he is equally skilled in editing his footage to support his claim in a more positive, less offensive

manner.
When Moore is not intensely interrogating someone with an obvious bias in opposition to his or her views, he is also extremely approachable and personable and seems to be able to connect with people on a personal level easily. There is no way to be sure how many Moore had to approach in Canada or on the busy urban streets of America to find people that would open up to him and participate in his documentary while also supporting his claim on the gun violence issue, but by taking advantage of his personable perona, Moore was able to obtain footage that directly supports his argument and contributes to the validity of the film. Moore is also able to draw attention to the hometown of Columbine High School, even if the ultimate goal is to provide more support for his argument. The town is able to be seen from a more personal perspective, through the eyes of those affected by the tragedy, and this makes the entire issue more relatable and, therefore, more important to viewers.

Entry 5:
It is nearly impossible to not be moved by at least a few of the heartbreaking stories in “Bowling for Columbine”. An abundance of tragedy is brought to surface in Michael Moore’s documentary but the character that stuck out the most to me was the young man victimized in the Columbine shootings who, in result, was confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life.
What seemed to strike me the most was that I saw no overt signs of anger or bitterness in the man’s demeanor. Contrarily, he seemed to behave very placidly and shy. Upon confronting the management of K-Mart, he seemed to be forgiving of the management team if not entirely sympathetic to the fact that they really did not directly have anything to do with the tragic event that deprived him of his mobility. Some of this impression which I gathered from his behavior may have simply been his taciturn nature, but it stood out to me because I imagine that if I were involved in such a horrific tragedy and ended up paralyzed, I would mostly likely bear some animosity with me throughout the rest of my life.
Overall, this strengthened my desire for a transformation in gun violence. It is already heartbreaking enough to see any innocent person affected directly or indirectly by gun violence, but it hits home even harder to see a genuinely good-hearted person have to pay the price for such foolish acts of violence.
Though I do believe there is a line that should not be crossed when it comes to gun control, due to self-defense and the rights promised to us in the second amendment, I am heartbroken and sick of seeing so much unnecessary suffering in our nation because of gun violence. I believe that the core of the issue lies within the mentality of American citizens and if we can find a way to make reparations to that then we will make more progress in the long run, but until then, there is a multitude of regulatory precautions and procedures that must be implemented more efficiently to put a stop to this era of senseless bloodshed.