I have been quite vocal on Facebook about how close to the truth Ben Affleck's movie Argo is vs. the "real" facts. I decided to ask Michael about it so I could put my (over-active) mind to rest, once and for all. This is the Q&A I had with Michael on the veracity of Argo, America, and a dream.  

From a Private Live Chat on February 28, 2013:  

[Maureen]: I don’t want to take up too much time with this subject, but it’s become a distraction for me, so I’ll just ask about it and hopefully your answer will help to put it out of my mind.

[Maureen]: FIRST PART of the QUESTION: What is going on with all the passionate viewpoints about the veracity of Ben Affleck’s movie Argo? Argo is a fictionalized account of the escape of six Americans from Iran, with the help of the Canadian Embassy, the head of the Canadian Embassy Ken Taylor and the Canadian Government in 1979/80. The CIA had some involvement but the movie depicts them as the heroes when it was actually the Canadians who were the real heroes. Even Jimmy Carter who was President at the time said: “90 per cent of the contributions to the ideas and the consummation of the plan was Canadian,” but the film “gives almost full credit to the American CIA.”

[Maureen]: What is the truth about this event? Are there as many truths about this as there are people or some people telling outright lies? I don’t normally get quite so upset about nationalism and politics. Why am I so upset with all of this?

[Maureen]: Is any of this related to my CFs or is it a broader interest in wanting to know “the truth” – related to being in a “No Bullshit” Cluster? Is this an attempt, from those around this movie, to try to reclaim the “top-dog” for the U.S.? Is the country working through this using the negative/positive poles of their Idealist Attitude?

[Maureen]: I said in a post: “You can’t steal your way back to the American Dream and feel good about yourself. The truth “theft” not only diminished the Canadians who participated in the event, it diminished the Americans who so blindly, and greedily, accepted it as “their truth”.”

[Maureen]: SECOND PART of the QUESTION:  Interestingly, I had a dream about Ben Affleck a couple of days before any of this came to my attention.

[Maureen]: Dream February 19, 2013 am: I dreamed that I was; 1) moving, 2) not sure about moving but did find an apartment, 3) was staying (as is), 4) and staying where we were but Ben Affleck (the actor/director/writer) and his girlfriend where moving into our apartment.

In the first part of the dream where I was going to be moving and had already started to move, it was in an apartment that didn’t have enough room for all my things – whether that was books or clothes or whatever. I wasn’t even very aware that Lorie was coming until towards the end (of the 1st dream).

I talked to someone (probably a part of me or someone who was listening) about how strangely the kitchen was designed. It seemed to have enough counter space (which I need now!) but the “intuitive” entrance was closed off and it forced you all around to the other side to enter.

When I looked closely when I as showing this to someone I could see that they had installed a very small “gate” that perhaps a small child could squeeze through when opened. After I had noticed the kitchen, I really noticed (and explained to whoever was listening) that the whole apartment was badly designed – that they hadn’t paid enough attention to the energy flow of the place -- the underlying premise of Feng Shui. So that was that and I went back home and decided to stay, as is. I realized how well laid out our place is – I could appreciate it after seeing the “new” place.

Then it went on to Ben Affleck being 3/4s moved in with his girlfriend to the middle room (which Lorie uses) of our apartment. He had a bed, an awful painting that faced the bed. It was an Abstract with white, green and blue (which was OK), BUT then, it had two Ants painted into the picture at the bottom right that made it really ugly.

Then I noticed that he had sponge painted the wall behind the bed with toffee-coloured impressions (smudged circles) that was ugly too – but I could “live with it”. Because we all sort of liked the painting I suggested that he paint out the Ants. He was going to be crowded in the room, and we (Lorie and I) were going to be crowded in the rest of the place.

[Maureen]: Interestingly (as well), I had a cyst that felt quite painful that had formed in the area above my eye, below the brow and beside the bridge of the nose. It had started to reduce the day before – but I noticed on awakening that it had reduced substantially overnight. It’s mostly all gone now.

[Maureen]: I know this was a lot of information to go through Michael! Any comments you may have would be appreciated.

[MEntity]: In response to the first part:

[MEntity]: The amplification of your reaction was heightened in proportion to the celebration of reckless treatment of the truth. It is not that these things are differentiated as one having priority over another as you come across misinformation, lies, distortions, or "bullshit," but when it is paraded on such a global display, the distraction is proportional.

<Note: My Attitude is Realist>

[MEntity]: We do not see this as being related to any Chief Feature, as this is not based in fear or self-protection, but more of Realism and the typical shock that can sometimes come when others cannot see something as "obviously" as you do/can.

[Maureen]: Yes -- I felt like the courtier who saw that the Emperor had no clothes on.

[MEntity]: There will always be variations on the truth, and variations on the sense of credit due, and while Canadians did not contribute "90%" to the heroics, it was far more than is depicted. This inaccurate depiction was not for any other reason than what we can see as a sense of entitlement to creative license for sheer dramatic effect.

[MEntity]: There are many parts that have nothing to do with credit due to any side, but simply, completely fabricated for effect. We see the entire project as being more for that purpose than for educational or historical accuracy.

[Maureen]: What was the percentage that Canadians contributed?

[MEntity]: The fact that it was marketed as a depiction of revealed, historic documents is the only thing that makes the film a lie, rather than a simple, creative project or artistic interpretation.

[Maureen]: Yes – that's what I felt as well Michael. If they had just said it was loosely-based on a true story – but they passed it off as "the truth".

[MEntity]: Keep in mind that the lines between "based on" and "this is a true story," etc, has come to be lost as a meaningful reference in film as the claims of origin for footage, ideas, history, etc. are now an acceptable part of the marketing and creativity to provide a compelling experience, rather than as legitimate context.

[MEntity]: Argo, then, could be said to have done nothing more than the equivalent of a Blair Witch Project type of marketing.

[MEntity]: This does not appease the sense of lies, of course, since one is entirely a creative project and one is exploitative of sensibilities.

[MEntity]: The percentage of contribution from any part of this story is difficult to quantify, but for the most part, the entire unfolding of events went rather smoothly, even if tensely at times. If we were to attempt to quantify the impact from "Canadians" as it affected the results, we might say 70%.

[Maureen]: Thanks. I have been seeing whatever I can on this, since all this started last week, and that number seems right to me.

[Maureen]: How did my dream fit into all this?

[MEntity]: Is there more to the first part that you may prefer further response?

[Maureen]: If you think so -- then yes please continue.

[Maureen]: I can see that this still needs to be answered: Is this an attempt, from those around this movie, to try to reclaim the “top-dog” position for the U.S.? Is the country working through this using the negative/positive poles of their Idealist Attitude?

[MEntity]: We are fairly complete in our response, but will say that it is Good Work to examine your own interpretations of what you presumed were the motivations for making a film of such distortion of truth. In many cases of lying, it is for the sake of self-serving effect far more than it is for any elaborate, far-reaching effect. In other words, it was the project of creative people who feel they were being creative for effect, not for educational purposes or indoctrination purposes.

[MEntity]: We would say it is tied to Naivety, indeed, but not with any grand intention. It is more the other way around: these kinds of creative motivations without sense of responsibility to the truth is a result of American indoctrination of entitlements and naivety/Idealism.

[MEntity]: Only that it was more a result of such Idealism, rather than a promotion of that.

[Maureen]: I see – yes

[MEntity]: We will look at the dream now:

[MEntity]: Symbolically, Kitchens tend to represent processes of preparation and presentation. In this case, it seems that you may have been working out potential paths that you once thought would have been better for you, only to realize with greater appreciation what resources you currently have.

[MEntity]: We think that "Ben Affleck" was brought into the symbolism as a representation of "America," since America is representative of a great playground of comparisons. Many find themselves comparing, consciously or subconsciously to the perceived arrogance and position of the United States.

[MEntity]: It as beloved as it is resented.

[Maureen]: yes :)

[MEntity]: The Sage in question represents this innocence and blind arrogance "perfectly."

[MEntity]: In the dream, it would seem that you were revealing to yourself that while you may realize that various paths anticipated may actually not serve you as well as where/how you are now, you also spend a great deal of time in that space comparing yourself to others in a way that no longer serves you. In other words, you are not made better by observing only how others are worse.

[MEntity]: This set the stage for your reaction in waking state when this fragment's art was critiqued. While wholly justified, it also revealed your feelings about credit being given where you feel it is not worthy of being received, while watching yourself, and others, who are far superior in value being overlooked, taken for granted, or lacking.

[MEntity]: It is not easy to watch the profoundly-skilled artist overlooked for those who merely press a sponge to a wall, if you will.

[Maureen]: yes

[MEntity]: Your dream seems to have been a part of the healing of this process of comparison, not only to others, but to potential paths and futures that keep you from being where/who/how you are, NOW.

[MEntity]: You and your Essence are "cooking up" some plans that may shift some of your previous notions and anticipations, so it is helpful to unhook yourself from comparisons for a while, consciously or subconsciously, and allow room for centered moments where you let yourself be where/who/how you are right then and there.

[Maureen]: OK -- I can work on that. :)

[MEntity]: Keep in mind that cysts tend to be where the body stores old patterns regarding pain that was nursed as a means for justifying behaviors.

[Maureen]: Thanks Michael

(03/03/13) Here's some Canadian Humour to finish off this discussion.  :)