Customer Reviews

This Divided State

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

In 2004, the Student Body Council at Utah Valley State College (UVSC) decided to invite Michael Moore to their campus to speak. It was, after all, an election year, and in view of the recently released film "Fahrenheit 9/11" Moore seemed to be an appropriate and timely choice. Moore's $40,000 speaker's fee would be easily offset by ticket sales. Simple, right? ... Well, think again. Moore's invitation to speak at UVSC sparked an incredibly ugly chain of events chronicled by the perceptive eye of first time filmmaker, Steven Greenstreet.

Greenstreet recorded events as the situation at UVSC became ugly. Student petitions circulated, demonstrations took place, and local Mormon, Kay Anderson, pulled out all the stops to achieve his goal of canceling Moore's engagement. Anderson felt that Moore did not represent the values of his community, and he was right about that. In a state where the population is 75% Mormon, and Republicans outnumber Democrats at the rate of 12:1, Moore's opinions don't exactly mesh with the majority. Few people, however will go quite as far as Anderson--offering a $25,000 cheque to cancel Moore and eventually sinking to suing the Student Body.

Conservative talk show host Sean Hannity is invited to UVSC in an attempt to help 'balance' the situation. Hannity's engagement was supposedly 'free', but since he demanded a private jet, his speaking engagement (which was paid for by the college) cost several thousands more than Moore's--an irony that seems to escape those who protested the money spent on Michael Moore.

"The Divided State" is a microcosm for politics in America--and while it's not quite this ugly in most towns, America is politically--a divided nation. In Orem, Utah with the imminent visit from Moore, the moral divide of politics became extreme. First Amendment rights were severely threatened when self-appointed Dodge City Marshals of Morality tried to block Moore's visit just because they didn't like what he had to say. The documentary captures the emotionally charged atmosphere on campus as sides clash. Those who fight for Moore's presence see it as a battle for First Amendment rights--while those who are opposed to Moore argue that his presence brings "hatred and filth." As emotions are unleashed and tempers flare, courageous professors try to speak while the crowd heckles and boos, and radio host Sean Hannity humiliates a young man who had the courage to admit he was a liberal--well so much for Free Speech. And throughout this entire, shameful mess Student Body President Jim Bassi and Vice President Joe Vogel (both former Mormon missionaries) valiantly attempt to maintain their equilibrium in the volatile situation on campus.

"This Divided State" is highly entertaining and yet also profoundly disturbing. Watching the events in Orem, Utah is a good reminder for everyone that we cannot allow others to make moral judgments about what we can see, hear, or read, and while a war rages in Iraq to supposedly create democracy in that nation, perhaps we should worry a bit more about what's taking place under our noses. The DVD offers extensive extras--interviews and deleted scenes, "The Resignation", Kay Anderson 'uncut', additional coverage of Michael Moore, a music video, and audio commentary--displacedhuman

In 1844, Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ and Latter Day Saints (LDS) was murdered by religious bigots. His followers moved to Utah, where 75% of the state's population today subscribes to this belief. They are mostly republican, outnumbering democrats or liberals by twelve to one.

The Divided State brings us to 2004 where two members of the student government at the Utah Valley State College decided to invite Michael Moore to speak on campus before the November presidential election. The fees for Moore's visit would be $40,000 for which advanced ticket sales have already insured a profit. When the invitation was made, the uproar began.

Students opposed to the political views of the controversial filmmaker started drawing petitions to have the invitation rescinded. They never claimed that it was about Moore's politics, but how the money was spent. They have the support of Kay Anderson, a local businessman in the Oram, Utah community. Anderson seems to delight being in the spotlight even as students challenge his opposition, and catch him repeatedly contradicting himself. (A trailer to this shows the students lampooning him mercilessly, which draws chuckles from the man who gives every appearance of being a self-righteous bigot and hypocritical throwback to the 1950's). Students counter Anderson's argument by asking why it is so important keeping someone out, which is the same reason the LDS sought refuge by immigrating to Utah.

Conservative students invite ultraconservative Sean Hannity to speak at the school, days ahead of Moore. He agrees to do it free, just so long as they pay his expenses and the cost of flying by private jet. Cost: $50,000.

Watching Hannity was perhaps the most difficult viewing of this story. His patronization of the crowd and condescension was nauseating. He humiliated a liberal in the audience, and on stage while carefully keeping the microphone from him. He summoned other liberals by calling them, as he would call for a house pet. Moore follows several days later, also to a sell-out crowd, extolling the courage of the student body president, Jim Bassi and Vice President Joe Vogel, who find themselves in a lawsuit filed for spite by fellow Mormon, Kay Anderson.

This was surprisingly entertaining and powerful. It was shocking, and disgusting to see Kay Anderson completely contradict his Christian principles and American ideals, saying the community could ignore the first amendment rights of other Americans by keeping them from speaking in his town or local college. Knowing Hannity's routine, I have gained a new level of contempt for this conceited prima donna. Yet, it was refreshing to see college students remain ever mindful of their civic obligation to protect the Constitutional rights of their fellow citizens.

This was a microcosm of division that has permeated across our land, hence the title, "This Divided State." Another lesson to be learned from this is that civil rights can always be taken away or challenged by rationalization by anyone in the majority, liberal or conservative, and that tyranny can appear in the form of self-righteousness, misdirection, and under the cloak of patriotism.

Unite in watching this.

The 5 stars I gave this movie were not based on any sort of great movie effects or high production costs; it was simply based on the real concept of the movie and the look at how real people act in controversial situations. The maker of this documentary dropped out of Brigham Young University to create this documentary. He was simply a University student aspiring to be a documentary film maker - I would say to him - well done.

This movie was shot in 2004 in the lead up to the US Presidential elections. Michael Moore, a documentary filmmaker and author was invited by the student body of a State University in Utah to speak. This created a lot of anger and controversy in the University. Many people believed that Moore was going to somehow corrupt the students in the University. Than, This Divided State gets into the concept of free speech and how we as Americans are lucky that we have it. However, there are many people who believe free speech should be curbed and limits should be placed on it. There are two main people who head the campaign to not bring Moore to their campus - one is a student who hands out petitions and debates passionately another one is some sort of a religious leader who lives nearby the campus. There is a serious discussion over whether Moore should be allowed to speak or not. The students against Moore disagree with his views and use the excuse that the State should not be paying him speaker fees - even though for any type of speaker, fees are common. It is decided to "balance" Moore's views; Sean Hannity will also come to the campus and speak the day before.

Sean Hannity has a show on Fox News called "Hannity and Colmes" he also has a radio program. Hannity comes and speaks about liberals the same way African Americans were spoken about in public 50+ years ago. He makes statements such as

"We would like liberals to live in our neighborhood - if they can afford it"

"He told a lie, typical liberal"

Hannity seemed like a very angry, hateful and one sided person. He also made some references toward Professors who asked valid questions -such as there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. The interesting thing is, any tax paying American citizen would want to know this information but for some reason, the auditorium full of people watching Sean Hannity tells the Professors to "shut up". Hannity states "maybe the Professors should go to Berkeley".

Michael Moore comes the following day. There is a huge protest outside. Moore's speech is very touching. The scene where he thanks American soldiers is enough to make anyone teary eyed.

The student body of the University, who invited Moore, gets numerous threats, even lawsuits. The leader against bringing Moore to the campus also receives hate mail. The worst part about this documentary is the ending. To make you get a feel for the ending ,think of the movie, Lord of War. In the movie Lord of War, Nicholas Cage says there is the quote "Evil Triumphs When Good People Do Nothing. That quote is not true, the truth is that Evil Always Triumphs".

This is a fascinating little bit of sociology. Not a "perfect" film, but worth 5 Stars for the subject matter and nature of the participants. It's not unlike what you see in snippets on the nightly news, except that taken as a whole you get a pretty complete tapestry. While one senses to "what side" the filmmakers might lean, there is certainly plenty of time in the film given to all sides. In fact, the "anti-Moore" side probably dominates. And yes, it's overall effect is to cause one to wonder just what are these people basically afraid of? The
Hannity-Moore speeches (assuming that's what they were) might dominate the last half, but the real people of the film, mainly students, are peppered throughout.Especially "creepy" is the deep pockets local resident who will go to any ends to stop Moore's appearance. But he has the merit of coming right out and saying he considers Moore to be "anti-american". Unlike the anti-Moore student petition drive, based on a phoney "misuse of campus funds" argument.

But perhaps the most perceptive remarks in the whole film come from the student, a conservative, who makes the point, briefly and eloquently, of the "irony" (hypocrisy) that the Mormon church sends out every year thousands of young people on missions to numerous foreign cultures. And all that these young people ask is that the residents be "tolerant" enough to listen to their message. Yet, it is in Orem, in the heart of Utah, that such tolerance is being refused to another American. (he says it better than I have here).

One often hears Bush is the "boy in the bubble" in Washington. This film demonstrates that there are a lot of people in Utah who want the state to be "in the bubble". But, as Moore himself says, Utah is a part of the nation. For better or for worse.

In short, this is a film well worth purchasing, viewing and passing around. It does get to the very core of what we need to fear as this country drifts into extreme polarization and the subsequent intolerance of other viewpoints. Perhaps not as extreme as in Utah, but when one hears Sean Hannity proclaiming himself an ideological Son of Utah, one wonders. The kind of film I'd love to see shown in high school classrooms everywhere. But I'm sure it wouldn't be allowed. Try your home instead.

This documentary is far more interesting than I had expected, and I hope that it becomes more widely known. It concerns the controversy when Utah Valley State College in Orem, Utah ("the most conservative county in the most conservative state," according to a local right-wing activist) invited Michael Moore to speak shortly before the 2004 election. All hell then breaks loose, as local right-wingers commence to: (1) attempt to bribe the college with tens of thousands of dollars to disinvite Moore, (2) initiate personal lawsuits against the student leaders, and (3) make personal threats against these leaders. Sean Hannity then puts in an appearance, offering to waive his speaker's fee, even though he insists on travel fees with his private jet that approximate Moore's fee.

In the process, we see the clash of students on campus, a fascinating and terrifying glimpse of the malevolent heart of red-state ideology. While parroting talk of "freedom," these people have no qualms about making threats and ruining people personally for attempting to exercise these rights. I think that most informed conservatives-- or at least those known to and accountable to the public-- would accord respect to our First Amendment rights. However, this film gives us a glimpse of the base on which conservative power rests, and the view is not pretty.

The footage of Hannity's appearance is instructive. Hannity apparently fancies himself some sort of strong-jawed ubermensch, strutting across the stage and demanding ideological conformity from his audience. One young liberal is called out and ridiculed, all in the name of good fun. UVSC professors put in appearances, raising valid points about the Iraq war, but are universally booed, shouted down, and even mooned by the volk in Hannity's audience. Hannity's only response to their concerns: "9/11 changed everything." As if, by repeating this uninformative mantra enough, they can will it into truth and achieve carte blanche power for the GOP. One begins to understand how the Nazis came to power.

Moore's speech is interesting insofar as how it compares to Hannity's. The passion of the persecuted Utah liberals really comes across, and the atmosphere is far more free and alive than the Hannity rally (even though two Naders supporters are shunted outside by security guards when they try to outshout Mike).

This film makes one see how absolutely essential our First Amendment freedoms are, but also raises a frightening specter: if the red sea grows, and the people no longer believe in the power of these rights, then they may become mere words on paper and cease to exist. Indeed, a UVSC student representative is forced to resign, and the school loses hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations as a result of the Moore appearance. Freedom of speech is not, in fact, free.

I don't normally write reviews, but I see many off-topic, unhelpful reviews on this Amazon page, so I thought I should add my two-cents.

First, you should understand that this is a movie about Utah, not America at large. Perhaps Utah is similar to other conservative communities in America, but I would not extrapolate from this movie a portrait of America. Utah is a unique place -- anyone who has lived there can tell you. I strongly recommend this movie to anyone interested at all in Utah. I found the movie gripping and overall well-done. The whole turn-of-events surrounding Michael Moore's visit to Utah in 2004 is fascinating. The extras are just as interesting as the movie itself. As soon as I saw this movie, I bought copies for all of my friends and relatives in Utah.

This Divided State is not without its flaws -- there are "soft" spots in the film where filler material distracts/detracts from the main storyline -- but nevertheless I highly recommend this movie to anyone from Utah or interested in Utah. I don't know of any other movie that captures Utah as well as this movie does.

*
I am terrified of what things lay in store for us just a little further down the road into the 21st century! The reason I'm so terrified is that after seeing for ourselves how rabid hate mongering, anti-intellectualism, scapegoating of segments of populations, suppression of free speech & free expression, and religious fanaticism have led to such horrors as German National Socialism (Nazism), Japanese Imperialism, so-called "Islamic Theocracies," and racial segregation/apartheid, that such huge portions of these United States of America would so readily ignore the lessons of the recent past and so willingly allow themselves to be stripped of the very freedoms & protections guaranteed by our nation's Constitution just so they can fulfill some primal animalistic desire to spew venom at anyone their collective "groupthink" mentality gives them permission to lash out against, regardless of the fact that oftentimes the very people they express their rabid vitriol towards have nothing but the most honorable of intentions for "the common good." It's this same type of fanaticism which is threatening to transform the "democratic republic" of the United States of America into a fascist police state on such a grand scale that would make Hitler, Stalin and Chairman Mao proud.

The evil mentality that is sweeping across this of all countries on planet Earth is encapsulated most effectively in the independent documentary, "THIS DIVIDED STATE." Watching the events that were recorded in the town of Orem, Utah after it was announced that the Utah Valley State College student government had invited filmmaker-- and outspoken G.W. Bush critic --Michael Moore to speak at their campus was like watching any number of the documented Hitler rallies we've all seen on PBS or the History Channel. The unthinking criticism of a critic (Moore) in an environment (college) that emphasizes 'critical thinking,' 'examination' and 'fact checking' as the basis for formulating & promoting an argument/opinion reeked of the 'Hitlerian' to such a degree that I was almost expecting to see fist fights spontaneously breaking out all across the campus at any time. (One student with one of his arms in a cast was indeed asked if he wanted to have his other arm broken also.)

The most telling part of the documentary is when local resident Kay Anderson's one-man crusade sought to literally "purchase" the suppression of "free speech," using the circular argument that since Orem, Utah was a strongly "Conservative" community, Michael Moore and his views were not welcome there -- an attitude which caused one of the college professors to counter (paraphrasing): 'When they say Moore and his views are not welcome here, what they are really saying is that those of you may share Michael Moore's views, it is "you" and "your views" that are not welcome.' The most persuasive arguments (or rather, what 'should have been' persuasive arguments) in favor of allowing Moore to speak on campus were those presented by fellow LDS Church members ("Mormons") who tried repeatedly to impress upon the minds of their more "Conservative" LDS brethren that their own religious history, as well as their global ministry, is tightly centered around the request for "tolerance" and "freeness of speech" -- especially when it involves the "expressing of opposing points of view."

Most sad and frightening, however, is the reaction of a stadium filled with mostly LDS-faithfuls (whose religion highlights "peacefulness" and "morality" as badges of honor) when, as a pre-visit counter to Michael Moore's arrival, Fox News staple Sean Hannity is invited to offer a little "balance" to the program (even though there were never any such outcries of needing "balance" when the college had invited numerous other "Conservative" speakers in the past, prior to the Michael Moore invite). Watching this scene was like watching a stadium full of people who had all taken a page right out of George Orwell's "1984" -- it was an extended version of the "Two Minutes Hate" being played out in the real world!

Contrasting Hannity's appearance with Moore's appearance a few days later, there were any number of glaring differences in style, substance and character worthy of note -- this one, in my opinion, was perhaps the most telling: When Sean Hannity fielded questions from self-described "Liberals," he would humiliate them, name-call, belittle them, accuse them, and would either directly whip up his audience to launch angry verbal attacks against them or he'd simply stand back looking smug whenever the audience took such hate-filled initiatives on their own without any prompting from him; Whereas when Michael Moore called for the military veterans-- especially those who had served in this latest war in Iraq --to 'stand up and be recognized,' as it were, rather then launching into a "How dare you support this illegal war!" or some other such screed as "Conservatives" have been brainwashed to expect from "America- & Military-Hating Liberals," Moore shouted out to them how much he and the rest of the audience "thanked" and "appreciated" them for their service to our country, but also that he & the audience felt a strong need to "apologize" to them for not having done more to keep the president from sending them into harm's way without just cause. (Makes one wonder, Who are the *REAL* "America-Haters" and haters of the "Military"?)

Although the documentary focuses its attention on the State of Utah in general (and Orem City in particular), "THIS DIVIDED STATE" is as much an unflattering snapshot of the United States of America as a whole. Never before, since the Civil War years, has the nation been so divided, so polarized, and so ready to war against itself. But with the suppression of the one-time "free and independent" press, the 'stacking' of the judiciary, the emasculating (if you will) of a once strong & effectual "opposition" political party, the (mostly baseless) wide-eyed warnings of impending foreign attacks just looming over the horizon, and our being in control of the most awesome military might on the planet, America is on the fast track to becoming a fascist dictatorship with very little to stop its progress. Even prominent "Conservatives" have now begun speaking out (much too late) about the dangerous road the country is headed down -- now that they find themselves having to live with the very monster they themselves so enthusiastically helped to create before it grew beyond their control. The only thing that *MIGHT* be able to undo some of the damage would be for the very people and organizations (that were directly responsible for conditioning the minds of the unthinking sheeplike masses into the "duckspeaking" zombies they've become) to do a complete "180," apologize to all the poor miserable souls who had become poisoned with & succumbed to their divisive & hurtful lies and propaganda, and to begin the process of retraining the people to start 'thinking on their own' again and to "Question Authority" about more than just the presence of a human stain on a blue dress.

Sadly, though, I have little hope for the future of this republic. So even in this age of "We have always been at war with Eurasia/Eastasia (Iraq/Iran)," "Goldstein (Michael Moore) hates Oceania (America)," and "Big Brother (PATRIOT Act) is watching you (domestic surveillance)" -- which Orwell missed by only two decades, the people themselves are not going to change, either out of fear or out of willful ignorance. But there is still some time left to commit the reality of the times to memory before it's all chucked down the "memory hole," and "THIS DIVIDED STATE" is one of the best examples of where we are now as a country, and is a primer for what we need to be ready to face in the very near future.

[[*NOTES ON THE DOCUMENTARY & DVD: The editing on this documentary was very impressive. The doucumentary itself did not (intentionally) come across as "one-sided," but looked at the issue in a fair and 'all-inclusive' light. The images & video presentation are superb. My only gripe is that there is a large gap in the "commentary track" feature, then when it picks back up it plays out of sync with a lapse of about two minutes -- I have no way of knowing whether this is the case for all discs or if I simply got the bum pick out of the bin.]]

4 1/2 out of 5 stars!

This divided state is a docu about the division of a college, as well as a division of a nation. It's a great look at freedom of speech, political diversity and America.

I debated as to the star-count I would give this documentary, trivial though that might be. It's terrifying, but, please, can't it be seen as "biased?" Unfortunately, not really.

Many have summarized the film. Michael Moore was invited to speak at UVSC, to be given a $40,000 check, offset by ticket sales. Kay Anderson, a local Morman activist, started a ruckus, raising hell that Moore doesn't represent the "conservative" community. (He even sued, without the use of a lawyer, to prevent the speech!)

So what? My God, if we didn't have people challenging our "values" we'd be back in, say, 1860, just before....Hmmmmmm.....

One student whose name escapes me (I'm busy trying to forget him) was getting signatures on a petition to prevent Moore from speaking, and from recalling the student body president and vice president for even inviting Moore. Many of those he approached challenged him: it's NOT costing the students a fortune. The amount will be offset. Still, he says...and persists, knowing he's "right."

Eventually, the opposition got Sean Hannity to speak, apparently to counteract the evil effects of Moore's speech.

Now, that was interesting. First of all, no, Sean didn't take any fee. But he insisted on a private jet to Utah! His arrival cost then $50,000! Even more, Hannnity showed off that he's no more than a divisive thug. Of course he divided the world into his disciples and "liberals," the "other." That was the entire theme of his side show. Still more, there were students and faculty who challenged his claims and he interrupted them, the Hannitites booed them so they couldn't be heard. "Rude" is a very polite word for what those reactionaries did--their assuming, I guess, that the other side has nothing of any value. Where did they learn that behavior, at National Socialist conventions?

Much of what happened you could have predicted if you saw Greenwald's DVD "Outfoxed."

Moore finally did get to speak. Sure, he was a cheerleader. That's what he does! He was an immeasurably superior speaker to Hannity. He asked all Gulf War veterans to stand. He acknowledged their contribution to "this great country" and apologized for their being put "in harm's way."

After his speech, there was a clash of pro- and anti-Moore demonstrators outside. (One student was challenging an older fellow who called the challenger something I would have called him too. Students who can defend a war they don't have the guts to fight can be so, so tough, huh?"

The reason I recommend the film is to remind the viewer how close we are to a veritable civil war in the US today. If it's any relief, I think the anti-Moore activists, Anderson, the blonde who called anyone challenging her beliefs as "babies," while perhaps making up a good deal of the Utah population, make up a much smaller portion of the US population. And approval ratings clearly demonstrate that!

Maybe, just maybe, if you see this, you'll get some ideas on how to communicate to those, for example, who claim Moore "hates the US." If you do, you're doing better than I.

I found the psychological aspect of this film fascinating. The way people's biases show and how people contradict themselves. Especially Mr. Anderson. Great doc. I was glued to the screen, mentally.