“JFK” a theory

The editorial that appeared in the Jan. 22, 1992 Northern Star entitled “‘JFK’ film not all accurate” misses entirely the point that Oliver Stone’s movie is making. The movie does not make the claim that the theory that it presents is correct. It is simply a theory about what could have happened. The fact is that most of us don’t know all the facts behind the Kennedy assassination. However, there are people in this country who do know the truth and Stone is trying to bring the issue back into the public eye in hopes of learning what really happened.

The editorial also states that Stone could start a “disturbing trend” for future film makers by rewriting history as he sees it rather than sticking to documented facts. According to the editorial, film makers should not question anything that is documented as fact. I disagree with this idea. Not every documented “fact” is correct! Just because it is written in a book does not mean that it is true. Facts that are based in truth have no difficulty in standing up to challenges concerning their validity. It could be argued that by rewriting history, a film maker will brainwash the public into believing the film maker’s version of history. I don’t think that a movie can totally change a person’s beliefs of what is true. However, a movie can make them question what they believe.

I think that a trend of questioning history by film makers would be beneficial. By questioning history in films, film makers are making the public think about history and question what they believe. As most of the movies produced today deal primarily with sex and violence, any trend in films that involves forcing the audience to think and to examine what they believe certainly isn’t disturbing—it’s refreshing.

Joe Pedersen

Senior

Accountancy