Michael Moore Implements 'Affirmative Action' Measure to Help Area Vets

Source: Traverse City Record-Eagle

May 25th, 2008 12:40 pm

Area veterans get critical support

Moore implements 'affirmative action' measure to help area vets

By Bill O'Brien / Traverse City Record-Eagle

TRAVERSE CITY -- It's no secret that Michael Moore is among the country's most outspoken critics of the war in Iraq. What's far lesser-known is Moore's empathy for the troops who've fought there. Moore, founder of the Traverse City Film Festival that owns the State Theatre downtown, said the theater is implementing a new labor policy requiring all its contractors and vendors to attempt to hire veterans who served in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Moore described it as an "affirmative action" measure to help area veterans find employment opportunities when they return home -- opportunities that Moore said are severely lacking for many servicemen and women.

Moore's disdain for the war in Iraq is well-documented. He was booed on stage when he criticized the war and President George W. Bush while accepting his Academy Award in 2003. His opposition to the war remains as strong as ever. But Moore said he's just as upset about the treatment of the troops fighting the war, ranging from the lack of high-tech equipment to protect the soldiers to their medical treatment and the economic and employment uncertainty they face when returning home.

"For the past couple of years I've been receiving letters from a lot of Iraq War veterans," Moore said in an interview Saturday at the State Theatre. "They can't find work, they can't get the medical help they need ... some of them even had their homes foreclosed." Moore points to statistics to make his case. The federal labor department last month released unemployment rates for veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan that showed a 6.1 percent jobless rate for veterans who have served since September 2001. That compares to a national unemployment rate of around 5 percent in April. The jobless rate for veterans ages 18 to 24 was substantially higher, totaling 12 percent compared to 9.5 percent for non-veterans in the same age group.

The federal government also reported that 16,000 formal and informal complaints were filed from 2004 to 2006 by members of reserve forces who encountered problems getting re-hired when they returned from military service to their jobs. "Instead of receiving our veterans with open arms when they come back, they get 'Sorry chump, there's nothing for you,'" said Moore, who's hired military veterans for key editing and production positions for his documentaries, including "Fahrenheit 9/11" and "Sicko." "This isn't a political stance," he said. "We're a community-based organization and (veterans) need to know people in this community will do their best to help them find work." Moore said part of his motivation to help veterans stems from his father, who served in the Marines and fought in the South Pacific during World War II.

Read more: http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/mikeinthenews/index.php?id=11554

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From MichaelMoore.com: "It's not enough on Memorial Day to remember the sacrifices others have made. It's about what sacrifices we are going to make to make it better for those who've served their country." — Michael Moore

and makes so much sense.

I just watched Sicko, finally. I was very moved by the scenes of the 9/11 rescue workers and their health ailments vs. the lack of care and support they receive from out status quo health mafia system.

I wish we had so many more Michael Moores turning the lights on in this country.

I wonder about the chickenhawks with no family in Iraq who said there is no such thing as "opposing the war but supporting the troops".

I wonder how much thought they've given to the welfare of returning troops lately.

Way to go Michael.

I still can't believe that some people out there think he's unpatriotic and doesn't support our troops.

:sarcasm:

On another note, he does wear a baseball cap bearing the name of my alma mater, Rutgers. Way to go!!

eom

awful --- and they're trying to lie about it ---

These people with more money than God stand by and watch it happen. They dont want to be inconvenienced. Leeches.

With their medical problems vets cost too much to hire I suppose.

He walks his talk. Kudos for this latest effort to help returning vets!

No one that I've talked to that hates him has been able to give me even one half-way legitimate reason why they do. Just some wing-nut BS lie debunked too many times already and then a shot at his appearance. Delusional morans.

A true American patriot! :patriot:

no reason why these men and women cannot find jobs and have homes.

I thought they were supposed to be given their jobs back by law. Guess the pukes changed that too. I don't think the pukes should be pissing with the military as there just might be a few Rambos that might right the wrongs the hard way seeing as how our democratic leaders aren't standing up to them.

1. Soldiars who have made a career out of the military and got out because of injury or because they didn't want to get deployed again. This group has to find civilian jobs for the first time.

2. The second group are the Reserve soldiars who had jobs and can't get their jobs back.

3. Third the soldiars that owned their own companies that are coming back and they have to rebuild their businesses.

Every State should have a New Deal type program for all of these soldiars.

He does a lot of good for people.

You're absolutely right, we have to make sacrifices here back home for our troops who have served.

It's not enought to be against the war. You have to reach out and help those who fought that war.

My opinion of you has expanded greatly.

And am anxious for the next film. Keep our eyes open.:pals:

Bravo Mr. Moore. Bravo!

k&r

campaigns? - They served too and have been similarly impacted here at home under policies that reduced VA eligibilities for healthcare (while other types have become unaffordable), serial unemployment and/or re-training, and homelessness. Why should ANY vet slip between the cracks?

It's a grand gesture, but "battle lines being drawn" (to narrowly), IMHO.

Relentless in his caring and compassionate action

:nuke: :patriot: :nuke:

.... actually gives a damn about his fellow Americans.

Bravo, Mike!

That was a public service announcement during my childhood.

He's taking jobs away from the private sector.
:sarcasm: