Bad Move, Fridley

I meant to post this earlier. I got an email from MoveOn.org which disturbed me. I'd been following it a bit in our local paper, but it hadn't quite registered (no pun intended--the paper is the Register). The text of the email:

Dear MoveOn member,

Michael Moore's movie "Fahrenheit 9/11" is having a powerful impact on this country, provoking an important debate about the Bush Administration's record.

Unfortunately, two theater chains (Fridley Theaters in Iowa and Nebraska and GCK Theaters in Michigan and Illinois) refuse to carry the film. GKC Theaters claims they made the decision to show "undivided support" for the troops -- an especially bald claim given that the whole point of the film is about supporting the troops. The president of Fridley Theaters is making the ludicrous claim that the movie somehow incites terrorism*. At the end, these decisions simply amount to partisan censorship.

Please take a moment to call the theaters now and demand that they not censor this important movie.

1) Call your local Fridley theater...You can find your local theater
at the bottom of the page linked here: http://www.fridleytheatres.com/

2) You can also call the Fridley Theaters central
office:
Robert Fridley, Owner (or)
Brian Fridley, Buyer
(515) 282-1020 or (515) 282-9287

P.S. Here are a couple links to articles about this
situation:

Fridley Theaters (IA/NB):
*http://abcnews.go.com/wire/Entertainment/ap20040703_769.html

GKC Theaters (MI/IL/IN/WI):
http://www.miningjournal.net/news/story/072202004_new01-n0702.asp

I understand they're getting pressure not to show it, and I can even understand if they don't want to show it cuz they disagree. They're a business, they can do this, but the reasons they give just don't jibe. What's really upsetting about this is that I usually go to Fridley theaters, instead of Carmike-owned ones, cuz they give a better value around here. They also own, or rather are partial investors in and will probably be running, the newly-renovated theaters in Grinnell, Iowa, where I went to college. I'd been looking forward to seeing movies in Grinnell with my friends there, and supporting the local business, but now I'm torn.