From Look, No Hands by reporter Sena Christian in the Benicia Herald.

It’s that time again: time to roast documentary filmmaker Michael Moore, and nit-pick and debunk the most minute details in his latest film “Sicko,” burning him all the way to hell.

“Sicko” came out about two weeks ago. I saw it on the Fourth of July, doing my patriotic duty. I don’t know the last time I cried so much during a movie.

The film takes on the health care system in the United States, criticizing the nation for being the only industrialized country in the Western world without universal health care.

I should fall in line with the mainstream media and riot talk about our broken health care system or commend the film for bringing the subject of socialized health cate to the forefront of public discourse.

This column should absolutely not be about the nearly 50 million Americans — nine million of those children — uninsured.

I don’t want to talk about employers who fail to provide health benefits. I am one of the lucky ones. I signed up for Kaiser’s worst plan, (high co-pay and deductible), paying
the lowest monthly rate for the least coverage with the sole purpose of not going bankrupt in case of a medical emergency.

No, I won’t talk about that stuff. Instead, I should probably talk about how Moore is not a likable human. He’s disheveled-looking, a bit overweight and kind of rude. I don’t like the eyeglasses he wears and he interrupts CNN interviewers too much. All of this is of the
utmost importance.

You know, Moore blatantly misled the American public with “Sicko.” He told us that Cuba’s health spending per capita is $251. According to CNN, this number is actually
$229 per person.

When Dr. Sanjay Gupta, senior medical correspondent for CNN, broke this news, I was shocked. I no longer see Moore’s films as a journalistic look at the human condition and as passion-driven, personalized attempts to create a better world.

OK, so, I’m being sarcastic. I like Moore and wish we were friends. I agree, he is incredibly antagonistic, but so what? The best hell-raisers often are. I don’t understand
why we have become a society that values personality and looks over ideas and compassion.

When Al Gore was running for president, we said he was too stiff. But look what this boring politician who couldn’t tell a joke to save his life has done for raising awareness about the climate crisis, and for educating us about sustainability and clean technology.

There were those who said Gee Dubya had charm and look where that got us.

Moore’s abrasive nature came out full force this week on CNN’s “Situation Room,” during which he tore into the network for its failure to tell the American public the truth. He showed his contempt for corporate media: “I don’t talk in sound bites,” he said.

Host Wolf Blitzer was sent from the powers that be to drill Moore about inaccuracies
in “Sicko.” But one of the first things Blitzer said is reporting is a “business.” According to the Idealistic and Pure Journalism textbooks they gave me in journalism
school, this is not true. Journalism is supposed to be a profession, not a business.

Blitzer questioned Moore about rumors that the federal government plans on investigating him for breaking the law by taking three U.S. citizens — 9/11 relief workers
– to Cuba for medical care, leaving it up to Moore to point out that Americans are allowed to visit the country for journalistic purposes.

And in lovely irony, the next day CNN aired the second part of the interview, at the beginning of which Blitzer said the first part was filmed the day before. Actually, Moore clarified, the second segment was being filmed that same day.

For the sake of accuracy.

I honestly don’t know which parts of Moore’s film are inaccurate or inconsistent. Maybe he did only show the positive side of other countries’ health care systems as many contend (he said to contrast and highlight our own inadequacies) and not the whole picture.

When Moore put Canada’s system up on a pedestal, people slithered out of the woodwork to complain about the long waits to see a doctor there and talked about’the Canada Health Act, which makes it illegal to obtain or supply private health care thus proving the discontent Canadians have for their health care system.

As one native Canadian now living in the U.S. commented on an alternative news site, the American health care system is far better than that of his homeland With one minor exception: “If you’re uneducated and unemployed then you’d be better off in Canada,” he wrote.

Well OK then.

As long as Mr. and Mrs. Ivy League, with their five bedroom house, three television
sets and Lexus are alright with their health care, then everything in the Land of the Free is great!

I try to be a good journalist. I understand the importance of accuracy in reporting,
but I can’t help but wonder why we get so up in arms whenever Moore comes out with a new film, and accuse him of cherry-picking statistics and when that doesn’t work, go off about his unpleasant demeanor.

Maybe it’s because Moore threatens the status quo. He breaks into our comfort zone, and forces politicians and business leaders to answer tough questions.

Moore didn’t make “Sicko” for himself. He’s rich. I’m guessing he has pretty reliable health insurance. Maybe he made the film for another reason.

Maybe he believes the sentiment expressed in “Sicko” that when it comes to health care, access to education, affordable childcare or anything else, we should widen our visino and not look out just for ourselves, but for on another.

Sena Christian is a reporter for the Benicia Herald