Michael Moore: “See the Movie, Start the Revolution”

2007-07-27

Richard Moore

Original source URL:
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/message/

MichaelMoore.com
Mike's Letter

Thursday, July 26th, 2007
See the Movie, Start the Revolution ...a letter from Michael Moore

Friends,

I am overwhelmed by the response to "Sicko." And I'm not just talking about all 
the wonderful, heart-felt letters you've sent me and the stories you've shared 
with me about the abuse you've suffered from our health care system.

No, I'm talking about how thousands of you are taking matters into your own 
hands and using the movie to do something. From Seattle to New England, each day
I learn of numerous groups holding meetings or dinners after the movie to 
discuss it and to plot a course for action. A church in Plano, TX took its 
weekly bible study group to see "SiCKO." 70 people crammed into a Wisconsin 
coffee shop's back room. Groups are plotting over pancakes in Illinois and 
microbrew in Missouri. E-mail addresses are being exchanged in theater lobbies. 
A Connecticut group is inviting legislators to see "Sicko" and keeping a tally 
on their website. Local groups have been buying out theaters to have special 
screenings for their members. Information tables are set up, literature is 
distributed, action groups are formed.

It's all an amazing sight. I can't tell you how thrilled I am to see the impact 
a movie can have. For all of you who have written me to ask, "What can I do," 
well, read more about what others have done, and then try these simple steps:

1. Call or write you member of Congress right now (I'll wait) and tell him or 
her that you insist they become a co-sponsor of H.R. 676 -- "The United States 
National Health Insurance Act." It's sponsored currently by Rep. John Conyers 
and 76 other members of Congress. Insist that your congressperson be one of 
those co-sponsors. I want to see 100 co-sponsors by Thanksgiving. Will you help 
make that happen?

2. Call and write to each of the candidates running for President. Tell them you
expect them to back H.R. 676, and to take the Senator Brown pledge. Sen. Sherrod
Brown of Ohio refuses to accept his free, government-run health insurance until 
EVERY American is covered.

3. Organize your own local HealthCare-Now! coalition. You can do it in your own 
neighborhood. It has to start somewhere. Everyday people have to make this 
happen. Don't wait for someone else to do this. Ask yourself, "if not me, who?"

4. Call your local media and tell them about your health care horror story. Many
papers and TV stations have been running these since "Sicko" arrived in 
theaters. They like the local angle. Tell them you saw the movie and that 
there's a "Sicko" story happening right here in (fill in the blank). Tell them 
you are passing it on to me.

Well, that's a start. Here's what I'm going to do. Because last weekend's "Win a
Trip to a Universal Healthcare Country" was so successful (the winner will be 
announced next week), this weekend we're going to try something different: it's 
"Take a Republican to 'Sicko!'" C'mon, we all have a conservative in the family!
They mean well. It's just that they believe what they've been told about that 
scary "socialized medicine." Treat them to the movie this weekend and tell them 
to send me their ticket stub and entry form. I will hold a drawing and the lucky
winner will get to have me come to their home and do their laundry -- just like 
in France! Now, what would make a Republican happier than to see me working away
in their laundry room?!

I truly believe that the health care issue is one where we can find some common 
ground with those who may hold different opinions than us. After all, they're 
getting the shaft by the same insurance and pharmaceutical companies we are. And
sooner or later, they're not going to take it any more, either.

Yours,
Michael Moore
•••@••.•••
MichaelMoore.com

P.S. I will be on Jay Leno (The Tonight Show on NBC) tonight (Thursday) at 
11:35pm ET/PT. I will be making a special announcement on the show.

http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/message/index.php
Generated on: Thursday 26th of July 2007 08:59:55 PM
-- 

--------------------------------------------------------
Posting archives: http://cyberjournal.org/show_archives/?lists=newslog
Escaping the Matrix website: http://escapingthematrix.org/
cyberjournal website: http://cyberjournal.org

Community Democracy Framework: 
http://cyberjournal.org/DemocracyFramework.html

Moderator: •••@••.•••  (comments welcome)