Michael Moore (Bowling for Columbine) just gave an inspiring, hopeful,
and very funny talk, few moments worth more for me since skating the
Niagara Marathon or attending Burning Man. First, he brought his Oscar…
and then, cringing a bit, passed it around the entire auditorium!

Moore spoke of the events that ignited his career. Growing up in Flint
MI, his teachers had selected him to represent the high-school that
year, 1970, for Sons & Daughters, a model government held in Lansing,
the state capital. He went, but instead, ducked away in his dorm, with
his headphones, and ate munchies. With sessions only half over, but
potato chips all gone, he went to the vending machines at the end of the
hall. Finding the then new Pringles with Ridges, he also notice a poster
for an essay contest sponsored by the Elks Club about Abraham Lincoln
and "what freedom means to you." In fine print, it added, "Caucasians
only." Then (and now) private civic organizations could exclude members
on any basis, including race.
He entered and ridiculed the Elks' hypocrisy. The judges,
composed of English teachers, selected his essay. He won— and then had
to read it before the entire assembly, a thousand other students and
teachers.
An hour after returning to his dorm, he received a call from CBS
News asking him to appear for that evening's news. He declined, in fear:
"not enough Clearasil in America" for him to be on TV. Walter Cronkite
read the story anyway. In six month, political pressure grew so great
nationwide and among Congress, it forced the Elks and many other civic
organizations to amend their by-laws and desegregate.

Upon turning 18, notions of voting came, and then notions of running,
for school board. At the county clerk's office, he asked how to
register. He had thought he would need petitions with thousands of
signatures, and felt discouraged. They informed him, he needed 20. With
the promise to oust the principal if elected, he got 20 friends and
dopies to sign. The thought of having an 18 year-old, long-haired
slacker on the board shocked six other conservatives to run in
opposition. They split their like-minded votes among themselves, leaving
the plurality. He won— and nine months later, he convinced the balance
of the board the school needed to change. They asked the principal and
vice-principal to resign. Ousted!

After questions, Arianna Huffington appeared impromptu, also to
encourage people to become involved: http://PigsAtTheTrough.com.

Anyway, he inspired a large contingent, many U/R and Eastman School
students, to join the anti-war rally this Friday 4p at the Liberty Pole.
Though far from being liberal activists, Rick and I plan to skate Friday
afternoon and finish at the rally, for what ought be the nicest day in
the forecast, 65 degrees and sunny.

John


PS. No need to quote my entire message in reply, thanks.