Student looks past 'Fahrenheit' DVD release

By Maurice Ndole

What happens when you find yourself in the middle of the summer’s biggest documentary, surrounded by controversy and critics?

Ask Fresno State student Khara Matcham and Shawn Putnam, members of Peace Fresno.

Both found themselves in the cast of “Fahrenheit 9/11” after it was discovered an undercover anti-terrorism police officer had infiltrated and was investigating the Peace Fresno organization.

The controversial documentary was released on DVD and video Oct. 5.

According to the documentary, the group members saw an article published in the Fresno Bee about Aaron Kilner, a Fresno County sheriff’s deputy killed in an off-duty motorcycle accident and recognized him as a member of Peace Fresno—only they knew him as Aaron Stokes.

Members of the group said Kilner attended meetings and took detailed notes.

The incident caught producer/director Michael Moore’s interest and he used a segment of the organization’s meeting to show how the Patriot Act has infringed on individual and group rights.

So how did the publicity affect Peace Fresno? According to Matcham, “Fahrenheit 9/11” did not make Peace Fresno more popular.

“Somebody actually said that Peace Fresno is more popular everywhere except for Fresno,” Matcham said. “Originally when the movie came out we thought we may need more room because we may get an influx of people; I think since the movie came out we only have two people who come now and then.”

Putnam, however, said Peace Fresno did not gain more members from the movie because people in Fresno view them in a negative light.

“They view us [like] bad people. They don’t see that we’re trying to bring peace,” Putnam said about the unpopularity of Peace Fresno in Fresno. “I think they want to trust that everything is good.”

Matcham, disagreed with Putnam’s views and said she did not think it was fair to stereotype everyone in the community.

“I’m not the type to stereotype a large population,” Matcham said. “It will be interesting to see how much the movie grossed in Fresno. Maybe not a lot of people saw the movie in Fresno.”

The two members of Peace Fresno, an organization against the war in Iraq, said the documentary is subjective.

“Michael Moore’s movie is not objective, and I don’t think anyone in their right mind would ever say it is.

It is very, very subjective; it tells you exactly what he wants to put out there,” said Matcham, a graduate student majoring in linguistics.

Matcham, however, defended Moore’s right to produce the movie.

“But the thing is: Why shouldn’t [Moore] be allowed to [produce the movie]?” Matcham asked. “Fox News puts what they want out there every single day. Is that fair and balanced? No.”

Putnam agreed the documentary was not objective.

“Yes, it is swayed on one side, but the facts he said are true,” Putnam said.

Matcham and Putnam, also members of the Green Party, share Moore’s disapproval of the war in Iraq.

“[President Bush] made the case for the war in Afghanistan; that was justifiable,” Matcham said. “But then to extend it to go after Saddam Hussein; there was no justification for that.”

Despite being in the documentary produced by a Democrat and their strong views against Bush, Matcham and Putnam are not planning to vote for Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry.

“I wish I could place my vote on him, but I would not do it; he doesn’t represent me at all. I work for peace,” Putnam said.

Putnam said Kerry contrasts his views with his proposal of sending more troops to Iraq.

Matcham, who said she voted for Al Gore in the last elections, said she would not waste her vote this time.
“People our age need to start realizing that you need to vote your cons

cience,” Matcham said.

“If you’re constantly picking the best of the worst, then what are you going to get the next year? Another terrible president.”