Richard Cohen, Abject Object of My Ire



Dear Richard,

I watched the film last Sunday with my family and we left the theatre in tears. Most of the other people I know who have seen the film also found it compelling, emotional, and posing important questions. Apparently military and 9/11 families have endorsed the film and have asked the president to respond to the issues raised.

[LINK]

Re-reading your column, I'm struck by how forcefully you criticize the film without responding to it. In fact, you don't say anything meaningful about the film at all; you simply reiterate how much you didn't like it, and then talk at length about anything else.

Assuming you did watch the film, perhaps I can remind you of its central themes: the potential conflict of interest between our heads of state and regimes that support terror; the erosion of our civil liberties under the Patriot Act; and the idea that while one class declares wars, another class fights them. I think these are the things Americans are concerned about, thanks to this film.

Thanks,

Ryan