Tired of negative news stories and films?
If a small entrepreneur, thinking outside the box and going against the crowd can start Microsoft, who's to say that a social entrepreneur can't start a revolution in the way we think and communicate? If it was technology that allowed Bill Gates to start his revolution, it will also be technology that frees closeted ideas and fosters forums for open debate and discussion on college campuses and in society at large.
Never underestimate the power of the internet: Al Gore's brainchild has become the catalyst for a revolutionary free speech trend on college campuses. I witnessed the power of the internet in action last month when the independent film, Indoctrinate-U, previewed at the Oak Street Cinema near the University of Minnesota's campus. Indoctrinate-U premiered in Washington at the Kennedy Center. So, why did it's producers choose to do their second screening in Minneapolis?
All of the hype and excitement for this independent movie was generated online. The liberal Hollywood community would never allow a film like this to become a blockbuster. In the words of the director, "We would never have been able to have made this movie without technology."
Because of modern technology, such as YouTube, and the film's website, www.indoctrinate-u.com, Maloney didn't need Hollywood to promote his film. He worked closely with Thor Halvorssen, former CEO of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) to produce the film.
This is a very exciting time to be a college student. It is an exciting time if you are a fan of free speech. It is an exciting time if you are tired of big money winning elections instead of leaders with powerful ideas, passion and a strong work ethic.
I believe that Indoctrinate-U represents the beginning of a growing trend and demand for freedom of speech on college campuses and in the public arena.
Students are tired of having their ideas and viewpoints squashed on their own campus-a place where ideas should be freely debated and discussed, not closeted. In Indoctrinate-U, Maloney documents his two and a half year journey across the country investigating college campuses ranging from elite Ivy League institutions to small community colleges. At every campus, the story was the same: Liberal viewpoints were dominating, and in many cases intentionally silencing conservatives and their views.
Maloney introduced himself to the crowd of supporters at the cocktail party/premier, sponsored by Ken Doyle and the Minnesota Association of Scholars, by saying that Halvorsson turned him down the first time he called and asked him for help because he had no prior experience in filmmaking. He was just a guy with a lot of passion who wanted to make a movie showing the reality of campus politics and indoctrination.
Indoctrinate-U has been declared, "Riviting" by the Wall Street Journal's Peter Berkowitz, "Alarming and funny" by the New York Post's Kyle Smith, and "Excellent" by Linda Seebach with Rocky Mountain News. The fact that an entrepreneurial software engineer with no prior filmmaking experience could direct and star in a film this successful proves that Hollywood's power and influence is diminishing.
It's not just Hollywood that is losing influence: It's big money without substantial ideas to back it up. How else can you explain the viral popularity of Ron Paul? While he may not have a chance in the general election, his campaign is a perfect example of the internet's power to unite people with similar belief-systems who would otherwise feel disenfranchised and without a voice in the current political system.
How else do you explain the popularity of the new independent film, Bella? Bella, which came to Minnesota theaters this November, is the first film produced by Metanoia films. Metanoia's mission is to, "make movies that matter and have the potential to make a meaningful difference in people's lives." Bella is a beautiful story about true love and the gift of life. The movie tells a captivating story and is a great family film with a pro-life, pro-adoption message.
Initially, people were very skeptical and never imagined that Bella could be successful. However, the movie has a strong message and a beautiful story, so the word has spread quickly with the help of the internet. On Bella's website, www.bellathemovie.com, fans are voluntarily signing up to promote the movie, host private screenings and arrange for mass groups of friends and family to go see the film.
Indeed, Bella won the highly-coveted "People's Choice Award" at the Toronto Film Festival. This puts Bella in the same league as previous award-winners, many who have gone on to win Oscars, such as American Beauty, Life is Beautiful, Chariots of Fire, and Hotel Rwanda. Bella's team has won many other film festivals across the world, was recognized with the Legacy Award from the Smithsonian Institute, and honored by the Whitehouse and the Mexican Embassy for its "positive contribution to the arts."
Our own state, Minnesota, seems to be the breeding ground for smart, innovative and passionate individuals who use technology to advance the truth and the freedom of ideas. One of the best examples I can think of is Scott W. Johnson, a founder of the Power Line Blog, www.powerlineblog.com, which he started with another local attorney, John Hinderaker.
Johnson authoritatively exposed the forged Bush-bashing memos of CBS' Dan Rather on Sept. 9, 2004 in his blog post titled, "The Sixty-First Minute." We also have Katherine Kersten, Minnesota's watch dog, writing and blogging in the Minneapolis Star Tribune every week.
Lastly, free speech reigns free on our local the airwaves, since AM 1280 The Patriot radio station, based in Eagan, Minnesota, broadcasts conservative pundits like Laura Ingraham, Bill Bennett, Michael Medved, Michael Savage, Dennis Prager and Hugh Hewitt every day.
My basic message is one of hope. Never give up, and keep up the good fight. Indeed, Margaret Mead said it best: "Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed citizens to change the world. Indeed, it has never been done otherwise."