Michael Moore, an American documentary filmmaker and left-wing activist, has been quite vocal on myriad political issues throughout the year, but this is definitely the cherry on top.
For the Fourth of July, Moore released a statement titled “My Declaration.” Now, one would think the contents of this declaration celebrate the independence of U.S. citizens. It’s the Fourth of July — surely people can put away their differences for one evening and recognize the great sacrifice it cost to become a free nation. Wrong. His declaration is not one of American pride but is instead a weak laundry list of why America needs to do better and encouraging it to be more woke.
Since the reversal of Roe v. Wade, Moore has been “completely fed up with recent events that have upset my tranquility.” Since his peace has been disturbed, the public must now hear what he has to say — through a blog post declaration.
Since liberals believe women’s rights have been stripped from them, Moore feels like he should not have rights because women have “no rights to their own bodies and [are] conscripted to a life of Forced Birth.”
In his mind, these “forced births” will be a hindrance to women, so he “cannot in good conscience continue to receive the privileges of ‘full citizenship’ in this land.”
Whatever privileges he is giving up, freedom of speech is clearly not one of them. It seems like this vague statement of “giving up” certain privileges is merely virtue-signaling to get in with woke culture. He feels it is necessary to not only feel guilty for being a U.S. citizen but to guilt-trip others into thinking the same way until “true change” becomes possible.
“Until women’s rights have been fully reinstated, and their equal rights are enshrined in our Constitution,” Moore says, “I will not shut up about this. If you invite me to dinner that’s all I’m gonna talk about.”
Those that are saturated in woke culture cannot merely disagree with American policy — they must, in one way, shape, or form, make a dramatic statement making it clear whose side they are on as they throw their temper tantrum. This woke reaction, similar to that of the lead vocalist from the band Green Day, Billie Joe Armstrong, renouncing his citizenship, is not a surprising move for Moore.
After former President Donald Trump left office, Moore happily said, “I will go ahead [and] cancel the U-Haul.”
It has been clear where he stands ideologically. Even the content he produces reveals where his allegiance lies, and this declaration is no different.
“I insist we remove every single Republican from office in November,” Moore writes.
In his demand for women’s rights, Moore also touches on racial injustice. While discussing one hot controversial topic, why not hit them all? Who knows, maybe Moore will leave the country one day. For now, he is not leaving and will continue to fight for fundamental privileges while simultaneously giving up his own. How that works, I do not know.
Since Moore has expressed his disappointment in the U.S. government before, one can only assume that, over time, his passionate outrage will subside until the next groundbreaking event. Then, all woke-minded people will come out of the woodwork to spark a war of words via social media.
Esther Wickham is a summer 2022 Washington Examiner fellow.
