Stupid White Men
Encyclopedia
Stupid White Men ...and Other Sorry Excuses for the State of the Nation! is a book by Michael Moore
published in 2001. Although the publishers were convinced it would be rejected by the American reading public after the September 11, 2001 attacks
, it spent 50 consecutive weeks on the New York Times bestseller list (eight weeks at #1) for hardcover nonfiction and is in its 43rd printing. It is generally known by its short title, Stupid White Men.
The book is highly critical of recent U.S. government policies in general, and the policies of the Bush administration
in particular. Moore's A Prayer to Afflict the Comfortable was originally published in this book.
. His publisher, HarperCollins
, initially refused to release the book, fearing bad publicity in the wake of the attacks (despite an advance printing of over 50,000 copies).
HarperCollins wanted Moore to rewrite half of the book. They asked him to tone down criticism of the president. They also wanted to change the title to Michael Moore: The American, delete three chapters: "Kill Whitey!", "Dear George", "A Very American Coup" and insisted that Moore himself would have to pay the cost of printing the revised book, which was $100,000. If he didn't comply, they would simply abandon the project and pulp the books already printed. In the book, Moore suggests that Rupert Murdoch
, owner of News Corporation
and HarperCollins
, "passed down" this decision.
On December 1, Moore made a presentation in New Brunswick, New Jersey
. He told the audience about the struggle to get his book published and that the only copies in existence were about to be recycled and probably would come back as Rush Limbaugh
or Bill O'Reilly
books. Moore read the first chapters of his book to the group. In the audience that day was Ann Sparanese, a librarian
from Englewood, New Jersey
. Sparanese sent word to various email lists including the Social Responsibilities Round Table (SRRT) and Library Juice, explaining Moore's predicament. She expressed that "this battle wasn't just one man's struggle with a publishing house, but was a battle to preserve free speech and to stop censorship
". Moore was unaware of this until he received an angry phone call from HarperCollins two days after the reading.
Despite HarperCollins' predictions - and, according to Moore, their deliberately limited promotion of the book - the book became enormously popular, becoming the largest-selling nonfiction book for 2002 at such major outlets as Barnes & Noble
and Amazon.com
, and occupying the #1 spot in the U.S., the UK
(including being the number one seller on Amazon.co.uk before a British printing was even proposed), Germany
, Ireland
, and elsewhere.
The book was subsequently criticized in another book, Michael Moore Is a Big Fat Stupid White Man
, which HarperCollins published.
prayer
written by Moore and published in chapter 11 ("The People's Prayer") of the book.
The text of the prayer asks God
to create circumstances in which (mostly unnamed) powerful figures in the American establishment are given problems or situations which affect "ordinary" Americans, including requests that:
Moore's message in the prayer is that if all political figures experienced the same level of injustice and misfortune as average American citizens, the former would be more empathetic towards the latter and make better leaders. His tongue-in-cheek conclusion is that the effect of God answering the prayer, in terms of the benefits it would bring to the majority of people, would outweigh the damage to the smaller number of afflicted members of "the Comfortable".
Moore cites in support of his argument, examples of notable figures who have become more sympathetic towards particular problems or situations when they have become personally affected themselves, including:
Michael Moore
Michael Francis Moore is an American filmmaker, author, social critic and activist. He is the director and producer of Fahrenheit 9/11, which is the highest-grossing documentary of all time. His films Bowling for Columbine and Sicko also place in the top ten highest-grossing documentaries...
published in 2001. Although the publishers were convinced it would be rejected by the American reading public after the September 11, 2001 attacks
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
, it spent 50 consecutive weeks on the New York Times bestseller list (eight weeks at #1) for hardcover nonfiction and is in its 43rd printing. It is generally known by its short title, Stupid White Men.
The book is highly critical of recent U.S. government policies in general, and the policies of the Bush administration
George W. Bush administration
The presidency of George W. Bush began on January 20, 2001, when he was inaugurated as the 43rd President of the United States of America. The oldest son of former president George H. W. Bush, George W...
in particular. Moore's A Prayer to Afflict the Comfortable was originally published in this book.
Publication issues
Moore completed Stupid White Men shortly before the September 11, 2001 attacksSeptember 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
. His publisher, HarperCollins
HarperCollins
HarperCollins is a publishing company owned by News Corporation. It is the combination of the publishers William Collins, Sons and Co Ltd, a British company, and Harper & Row, an American company, itself the result of an earlier merger of Harper & Brothers and Row, Peterson & Company. The worldwide...
, initially refused to release the book, fearing bad publicity in the wake of the attacks (despite an advance printing of over 50,000 copies).
HarperCollins wanted Moore to rewrite half of the book. They asked him to tone down criticism of the president. They also wanted to change the title to Michael Moore: The American, delete three chapters: "Kill Whitey!", "Dear George", "A Very American Coup" and insisted that Moore himself would have to pay the cost of printing the revised book, which was $100,000. If he didn't comply, they would simply abandon the project and pulp the books already printed. In the book, Moore suggests that Rupert Murdoch
Rupert Murdoch
Keith Rupert Murdoch, AC, KSG is an Australian-American business magnate. He is the founder and Chairman and CEO of , the world's second-largest media conglomerate....
, owner of News Corporation
News Corporation
News Corporation or News Corp. is an American multinational media conglomerate. It is the world's second-largest media conglomerate as of 2011 in terms of revenue, and the world's third largest in entertainment as of 2009, although the BBC remains the world's largest broadcaster...
and HarperCollins
HarperCollins
HarperCollins is a publishing company owned by News Corporation. It is the combination of the publishers William Collins, Sons and Co Ltd, a British company, and Harper & Row, an American company, itself the result of an earlier merger of Harper & Brothers and Row, Peterson & Company. The worldwide...
, "passed down" this decision.
On December 1, Moore made a presentation in New Brunswick, New Jersey
New Brunswick, New Jersey
New Brunswick is a city in Middlesex County, New Jersey, USA. It is the county seat and the home of Rutgers University. The city is located on the Northeast Corridor rail line, southwest of Manhattan, on the southern bank of the Raritan River. At the 2010 United States Census, the population of...
. He told the audience about the struggle to get his book published and that the only copies in existence were about to be recycled and probably would come back as Rush Limbaugh
Rush Limbaugh
Rush Hudson Limbaugh III is an American radio talk show host, conservative political commentator, and an opinion leader in American conservatism. He hosts The Rush Limbaugh Show which is aired throughout the U.S. on Premiere Radio Networks and is the highest-rated talk-radio program in the United...
or Bill O'Reilly
Bill O'Reilly (commentator)
William James "Bill" O'Reilly, Jr. is an American television host, author, syndicated columnist and political commentator. He is the host of the political commentary program The O'Reilly Factor on the Fox News Channel, which is the most watched cable news television program on American television...
books. Moore read the first chapters of his book to the group. In the audience that day was Ann Sparanese, a librarian
Librarian
A librarian is an information professional trained in library and information science, which is the organization and management of information services or materials for those with information needs...
from Englewood, New Jersey
Englewood, New Jersey
Englewood is a city located in Bergen County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 27,147.Englewood was incorporated as a city by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 17, 1899, from portions of Ridgefield Township and the remaining portions of...
. Sparanese sent word to various email lists including the Social Responsibilities Round Table (SRRT) and Library Juice, explaining Moore's predicament. She expressed that "this battle wasn't just one man's struggle with a publishing house, but was a battle to preserve free speech and to stop censorship
Censorship
thumb|[[Book burning]] following the [[1973 Chilean coup d'état|1973 coup]] that installed the [[Military government of Chile |Pinochet regime]] in Chile...
". Moore was unaware of this until he received an angry phone call from HarperCollins two days after the reading.
Despite HarperCollins' predictions - and, according to Moore, their deliberately limited promotion of the book - the book became enormously popular, becoming the largest-selling nonfiction book for 2002 at such major outlets as Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble, Inc. is the largest book retailer in the United States, operating mainly through its Barnes & Noble Booksellers chain of bookstores headquartered at 122 Fifth Avenue in the Flatiron District in Manhattan in New York City. Barnes & Noble also operated the chain of small B. Dalton...
and Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
, and occupying the #1 spot in the U.S., the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
(including being the number one seller on Amazon.co.uk before a British printing was even proposed), Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, and elsewhere.
The book was subsequently criticized in another book, Michael Moore Is a Big Fat Stupid White Man
Michael Moore Is a Big Fat Stupid White Man
Michael Moore Is a Big Fat Stupid White Man is a book by David T. Hardy and Jason Clarke about author and filmmaker Michael Moore, criticizing him and his works. The title can be seen as a parody of the titles Stupid White Men by Moore and Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot by Al Franken. It was...
, which HarperCollins published.
A Prayer to Afflict the Comfortable
"A Prayer to Afflict the Comfortable" (full title "A Prayer to Afflict the Comfortable with As Many Afflictions As Possible") is a satiricalSatire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
prayer
Prayer
Prayer is a form of religious practice that seeks to activate a volitional rapport to a deity through deliberate practice. Prayer may be either individual or communal and take place in public or in private. It may involve the use of words or song. When language is used, prayer may take the form of...
written by Moore and published in chapter 11 ("The People's Prayer") of the book.
The text of the prayer asks God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
to create circumstances in which (mostly unnamed) powerful figures in the American establishment are given problems or situations which affect "ordinary" Americans, including requests that:
- every member of the House of RepresentativesUnited States House of RepresentativesThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
to contract cancerCancerCancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the... - all senatorUnited States SenateThe United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
s from the Southern United StatesSouthern United StatesThe Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
to become addicted to drugs - the children of senators in the Mountain Time ZoneMountain Time ZoneThe Mountain Time Zone of North America keeps time by subtracting seven hours from Coordinated Universal Time, also known as Greenwich Mean Time, during the shortest days of autumn and winter , and by subtracting six hours during daylight saving time in the spring, summer, and early autumn...
to become gayHomosexualityHomosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
("really gay") - all white political leaders "who believe black people have it good these days" to become black-skinned overnight
- bishops in the Roman Catholic ChurchRoman Catholic ChurchThe Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
(who are by tradition always male) develop unplanned pregnanciesPregnancyPregnancy refers to the fertilization and development of one or more offspring, known as a fetus or embryo, in a woman's uterus. In a pregnancy, there can be multiple gestations, as in the case of twins or triplets...
Moore's message in the prayer is that if all political figures experienced the same level of injustice and misfortune as average American citizens, the former would be more empathetic towards the latter and make better leaders. His tongue-in-cheek conclusion is that the effect of God answering the prayer, in terms of the benefits it would bring to the majority of people, would outweigh the damage to the smaller number of afflicted members of "the Comfortable".
Moore cites in support of his argument, examples of notable figures who have become more sympathetic towards particular problems or situations when they have become personally affected themselves, including:
- Nancy ReaganNancy ReaganNancy Davis Reagan is the widow of former United States President Ronald Reagan and was First Lady of the United States from 1981 to 1989....
's support for stem-cell research, upon learning of the possibilities that it may hold for the treatment of Alzheimer's DiseaseAlzheimer's diseaseAlzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
, which her husband, former U.S. President Ronald ReaganRonald ReaganRonald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
developed in later years. - Dick CheneyDick CheneyRichard Bruce "Dick" Cheney served as the 46th Vice President of the United States , under George W. Bush....
, who was regarded as holding somewhat liberal views on gay rights for a member of the Bush administrationGeorge W. Bush administrationThe presidency of George W. Bush began on January 20, 2001, when he was inaugurated as the 43rd President of the United States of America. The oldest son of former president George H. W. Bush, George W...
, and whose daughter MaryMary CheneyMary Claire Cheney is the second daughter of Dick Cheney, the former Vice President of the United States, and his wife, Lynne Cheney. She is openly lesbian, has voiced support for same-sex marriage, and has been credited with encouraging her father to support same-sex marriage as well...
is a lesbianLesbianLesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
.
External links
- Free online bonus chapter
- A Prayer to Afflict the Comfortable is reproduced here