Michael Moore Takes on Capitalism in His Latest Film
Fortune magazine online has published a most interesting article about Michael Moore’s latest film that is ironically called, “Capitalism: A Love Story.” The 55 year old film director reaches into his own lessons from the past, learned at the feet of the Catholic educational system. He seems to have concluded, in part, that Capitalism is “anti-Jesus.”
I hope you will read this article including explanations of the Ponzi schemes and select financial bailouts. Many people, I fear, have not been paying attention, which is not to say that the effects of what happened will not mean that they will be immune from paying with their own money. That appears to be how it is in this country. The rich stay rich and “understand” each other, and the poor struggle to even maintain the most meager of jobs.
In thinking about this topic today, I opened the Bible and turned to Matthew 25: 31-40.
Under subtitle of “The Son of Man Will Judge the Nations,” beginning with verse 31, Matthew quotes Jesus. On the Last Day, men will be separated like goats and sheep. The sheep will be welcomed into the Kingdom that was prepared for them from the “foundation of the world.”
The “Good Shepherd” will say to his “flock”: For when I was hungry, you gave me food. When I was thirsty, you gave me to drink. When I was in prison, you came to me. The righteous will answer, “When did we do this, Lord?” To that, He will reply, “Assuredly, I say this to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”
The image above, “El Buen Pastor” (”The Good Shepherd”) represents Christ and one of his flock. It is a painting by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (1617-1682) whose work I studied at a university in Spain in the early 1970s.
In America today, we seem to be overlooking and casting aside the least of our Brethren. After killing off the majority of Native Americans, for the convenience of taking over their lands for our own expansion, we now pick on a new set of people to denigrate: the day laborers who are here to do hard work.
They reap no benefits other than a meager paycheck, for work that Americans themselves are unwilling to do. It seems to be a protective measure to all who are here, to afford them the same health care insurance available to any of us, lest we come down with some preventable pandemic brought in from another country.
What remains to be seriously considered and dealt with is the health and welfare of our migrant brothers and sisters, legal or “illegal.” (Does God make “illegal” people?)
These individuals pick our crops and serve in other dangerous and nasty work such as asbestos removal, jobs that hardly anyone would even consider. In the name of Capitalism (legally making a buck), some individuals have forgotten the compassion that is at the very root of Christianity, a major religion in this country.
The question on the table remains: “Is Democracy political or economic?” You will have to answer that for yourself, but I think you will enjoy Michael Moore’s fresh perspective on this topic. I would add another question, “Are the terms Capitalism and Democracy synonyms? If so, why, or why not?” Comments welcome.
Finally, a link to an American folk song by Woody Guthrie, “Pastures of Plenty,” as sung by me.
Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications
