"Mike's Surprise"

Every year at the festival, Michael Moore has a program he calls, "Mike's Surprise."  In years past he has previewed his other films or brought programs from the past that were directed by him to the theater. 

This year he showed a film that has been around since 2006.  It was the revenge of the Mormon Establishment and Right Wing Conspiracy against the First Amendment in a film called, "The Divided State."

To make a long story short, Utah Valley State University is a public institution.  It has the OBLIGATION to open its doors to views that are not necessarily those of the average student body.  Michael Moore in his 'Slacker Uprising Tour' was the focus of hate and bias.

What occurred before the assembly that Michael was featured in, was a lot of demonstrations and strong arm tactics to stop the assembly.  The auditorium was packed with people of all ages and not just students.

The students were completely correct in having Michael speak.  They allowed Hannity to speak a few days before.  Besides showing the events surrounding these two events, the film also displays the 'different styles' of these political figures, both pundits to their own belief about what is best for the USA.

What was completely obvious from this film is the victimizing nature of the Right Wing Republican.  They are vindictive, controlling, regimented, closed minded, have 'understood' credos with anticipated outcomes and completely inhibit 'the emotional growth' of any student body.

Kay Anderson was the real 'lightning rod' in this film.  He tried to bribe the State University and its student body into cancelling Michael's appearance and when that didn't work he sought to sue the school for the event.  His hatred is so profound of any 'difference in thought' that he insisted on scapegoating the Vice President through pressures still undisclosed to the American people.  The lousy, power hungry, sob that Anderson is was 'satiated' when the Veep of the Student body resigned in order to protect his scholarships and funding for school. 

The film notes a loss to this PUBLIC school of $200,000 in donations after Michael's assembly was held.  Well, too bad.  Freedom of Speech has a price.  And if equity 'costs' then it costs and I don't feel sorry for anyone here with the exception of the Veep and his ridicule and scapegoating by a lousy Republican that wanted to 'save face' at the expense of a student.  It doesn't get much lower than that !