Though Mr. Heston never would, I, myself, far less gracious and more contentious that he was, could well have voiced that line again, quite justifiably, at Michael Moore for his anti-gun propaganda, misrepresentation, ill treatment of Heston, then NRA President, in "Bowling For Columbine." Many suggestible viewers of Moore's film might well have come away almost believing that Mr. Heston was responsible or actually did the shooting.

Never mentioned in Moore's film and not revealed by authorities or the media for many years thereafter was the fact that the principal shooter, Eric Harris, was heavily medicated on school-prescribed and school-administered anti-depressants.

Furthermore, it was never mentioned in Moore's film that Eric Harris had begged his parents to take him off the medication (Zoloft) because it was at times making him suffer suicidal thoughts and homicidal thoughts at other times.
As Drugs.com (http://www.drugs.com/zoloft.html) states regarding Zoloft:

"You may have thoughts about suicide when you first start taking an antidepressant, especially if you are younger than 24 years old. Tell your doctor if you have worsening symptoms of depression or suicidal thoughts during the first several weeks of treatment, or whenever your dose is changed. … Do not give Zoloft to anyone younger than 18 years old without the advice of a doctor. Zoloft is FDA-approved for children with obsessive- compulsive disorder (OCD). It is not approved for treating depression in children."

(Emphasis mine, underlined… RDM*)

Eric Harris had just turned 19 years-old and although Eric's parents did intervene with the school psychiatrist and Eric taken off Zoloft, he was immediately remedicated. The school psychiatrist simply substituted the generic version of the same drug.

None of this was ever mentioned in Michael Moore's diatribe against private gun ownership. Instead, gun owners, the NRA and Charlton Heston, in particular, were portrayed as the Villains (if not the shooters).

I am grateful to have known him and that, during his final years, I had the privilege to call him "a friend." I have met many stars throughout my life but never have I been more impressed (or "star struck") than the day that I shook hands with Moses and El Cid. I remember with great pleasure and some mischievous glee, the surprised look that came across his face as he autographed his book for me, when I said to him:

"Mr. Heston. You have been for me, throughout my life, a guide, a lodestone and a compass, in my spiritual quest… May I have your permission to communicate with you about Druids and Democracy?"

Mr. Heston, quite surprised by my request and the topic (to be sure), with eyebrows raised, looked at me with sapphire-blue eyes and smiled broadly, replying:

We shook hands and I was quite "electrified" to realize that for over 50 years, I had already known this man. He had become a part of me, a major facet of my belief system, in my soul, a symbol of my faith and spiritual values and a clear definition of "manhood."

As I looked upon him, then almost as old as Moses had been in the final scenes of "The Ten Commandments," I realized how fortunate I was to have seen him eye-to-eye and shaken hands with "Moses," "Judah Ben Hur," and "El Cid" in the flesh.

That meeting began a 10-year long correspondence with yearly birthday and holiday wishes exchanged, as well as books and letters.

My last communication with him came near the end of his years with my final birthday greeting to him and a poem that I had written for him to commemorate his 81st birthday.

I knew that his time here was not long and I was deeply touched (as he was suffering then from advanced Alzheimer's Disease) to receive his reply through his devoted secretary and personal assistant, Ms. Carol M. Lanning, who wrote in his stead:

Dear Mr. Morningstar:

Mr. Heston has asked me to thank you for your warm birthday greetings and generous words: they touched him deeply. The poem you did brought tears to the eyes of all of us who heard it read.

Thank you not only from Mr. Heston but from all of us. He accepts your prayers with deep humility and gratitude. You'll be interested to know that Mr. Heston is living quietly in his home surrounded by his family and friends. He has a team of medical people who genuinely care for his comfort and well-being.

               May God continue to hold us under the shadow of His wings.

The poem that I composed for his birthday 2005, inspired by Walt Whitman's "Captain, My Captain," was entitled "A Poem for Captain Heston, October 4th, 2005… In celebration of his 81st Revolution of the Star, Sol."

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