This letter is in response to Sean Conlen's letter to the editor concerning Michael Moore's documentaries ("Moore raises issues, distorts findings," SN 6/17). As Conlen stated, Moore excused inconsistencies and blatantly lied "in order to drive home an ideology," and furthermore that this was a "frightening trend" for political discourse.

Indeed, this would be a "frightening trend" to politics. However, it is not truly a trend because it has been present since the U.S. Supreme Court appointed George W. Bush president. Bush excused inconsistencies about Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq. He blatantly lied about an al-Qaida and Iraqi terrorist link and about Iraqi officials purchasing enriched uranium from Niger, which he used as evidence of the Iraqi threat to the United States in his 2003 State of the Union Address. All this was to drive an ideology of pre-emptive war; an ideology derived from the neo-conservative think tanks, such as the Heritage Foundation and the American Enterprise Institute. As a society, we should be more concerned with these inconsistencies and blatant lies, rather than those of an individual filmmaker who presents controversial arguments.

Perhaps I am "inclined" to admire Moore's passion and willingness to expose harsh evidence. Moore's actions and statements will not lead to foreign or domestic policy changes, but Bush's actions can. One may admire Bush's views if one is so inclined, but one can never excuse his methods.

Andrew Zillgitt
First year medical student