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Cheers And Jeers Greet Moore Oscar Speech
POSTED: 8:54 p.m. PST March 23, 2003
LOS ANGELES -- A standing ovation and a handful of jeers from Hollywood's elite greeted filmmaker Michael Moore when he criticized President Bush and the U.S.-led war in Iraq during his acceptance speech Sunday after winning the documentary feature Oscar for "Bowling for Columbine."
"We live in fictitious times. We live in the time where we have fictitious election results that elect a fictitious president. We live in a time where we have a man who's sending us to war for fictitious reasons, whether it's the fiction of duct tape or the fiction of orange alerts," Moore said.
Applause gave way to some boos, as the orchestra began to play the filmmaker off the stage.
"We are against this war, Mr. Bush. Shame on you, Mr. Bush. Shame on you," Moore shouted, surrounded onstage by his fellow nominees in a show of solidarity.
"It was so sweet backstage, the teamsters are helping Michael Moore into the trunk of his limo," host Steve Martin joked later.
"Bowling for Columbine" was Moore's satirical exploration of violence in America. The title refers to the fact that gunmen Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold went bowling before they opened fire at Columbine High School in Colorado, killing 12 students and a teacher before turning the guns on themselves.
Asked backstage why he made the remarks, Moore answered: "I'm an American."
"Is that all?" a reporter asked.
"Oh, that's a lot," Moore responded.
He said the Iraqi conflict sends a negative image to the nation's youth.
"What was the lesson that we taught children of Columbine this week? ... That violence is an acceptable means to resolve a conflict," Moore said backstage.
Moore dismissed the jeers, telling reporters: "Don't report that there was split decision in the hall because five loud people booed."
The rotund, scruffy-bearded activist from Flint, Mich., also directed the 1989 documentary "Roger & Me," in which he pursued former General Motors Corp. boss Roger Smith to confront him about the collapse of the auto industry in Moore's hometown.
Moore also is the author of the best-selling book "Stupid White Men ... And Other Sorry Excuses for the State of the Nation," which criticizes American politicians for favoring corporate wealth over public well-being.
Scattered appeals for peace and grim reports from the U.S.-led war in Iraq added a sober contrast to Hollywood's traditional night of glitzy self-glorification at Sunday's Academy Awards.
"In light of all the troubles in this world, I wish us all peace," said Chris Cooper, ending his acceptance speech after winning the supporting actor award for "Adaptation."
Cooper was among several nominees, including Meryl Streep and Martin Scorsese, who wore dove peace pins on their formal wear as a silent statement about the war.
