Ray Bradbury and Fahrenheit 9/11

Apparently, Ray Bradbury, author of Fahrenheit 451, was pretty steaming mad about Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11. "Michael Moore is a screwed a-hole, that is what I think about that case. He stole my title and changed the numbers without ever asking me for permission. [He]is a horrible human being – horrible human!" This was reported June 3, 2004 in a Swedish interview, so it isn't new news, but it is to me. I was never in love with Bradbury's writing (it is a bit to high schoolish to dwell on), but I still respected him. Also, he is a total technophobe. He doesn't like computers, the Internet is a scam, and he has never driven a car. I guess that that might explain some of his stories' morbid techno-horror futures. On the political front he hates Clinton, and loves Bush, but that has nothing to do with the Michael Moore Rant (he says). Why would this experienced writer think that anybody needs to ask permission to spoof a title? In fact, you can reuse any title of any creative work without permission, and Bradbury has. Titles are not copyrighted. This just makes me lose respect for the man because he has proven that he is just a cranky old man who is pissed that he will be dead soon. Reading recent interviews with him shows how old-manish he really is, like his powers of observation have shut down, and he is just running on old steam and anger.

Or maybe I am reacting emotionally to this infantile attack on Michael Moore's movie? Fahrenheit 9/11 was very informative and poignant, but also unbelievable in same way Rush Limbaugh is. The limited facts given were arranged in order to garner the most arousing reaction. The whole truth was not given. However, I still agree that Bush is a slime ball. And Bradbury should just go away.