- Conspiracy theories: (Sheen's assertions equal: moon landing hoax, Area 51/alien invasion, Holocaust denials, etc)
- The
victims' families: it apparently "hurts" or "disrespects" the families
that lost loved ones on 9/11 if one challenges the 9/11 Commission's
version of the attacks. These emotional appeals, repeated countless
times since 9/11 to silence criticism or substantive debate, these
never seem to mention the fact that the 9/11 Commission itself would've never been created
if not for the pressure applied by the victims' families as a result of
their many unanswered questions. Perhaps you remember: in the aftermath
of the attack, the Bush administration promised to provide irrefutable
public evidence linking bin Laden and al-Qaeda to the event. Both
President Bush and Tony Blair joined to subsequently stonewall that
promise, prompting the victims' families, themselves, to instigate an
independent Congressional investigation. And it was only then, 440 days after the attacks,
that Bush and co. appointed the so-called 9/11 Commission, choosing a
director (Philip Zelikow) that, in his capacity on Condi Rice's
National Security Council staff, actually penned, in 2002, the
administration's military strategy in the Middle East. Look it up. And
that is one reason why the media cannot even mention
this damning bit of FACT, as it destroys the underpinnings of using
"victims' families" as an excuse to dismiss legitimate criticism.
- Sheen's personal character (prostitutes, drug use, how much money he makes, whether he is, in fact "crazy", etc).
But never the issue itself.
If one looks closely, carefully, one realizes that Charlie Sheen has actually released a "document" of questions, of observations, of implications, the intent of which is to scrutinize--actually scrutinize!--a phenomenon of social importance. And considering that, yes, he is the highest-paid actor on television; and, yes, the subject matter is seen (by some) as too controversial to be looked at intelligently--this instigation to critical inquiry into--let's be honest--the single most defining moment in recent American (and global) history...this is, without a doubt, a courageous act (If you were Charlie Sheen, would you do as much?)
And yet the media's response has been to either ignore, attack, or marginalize this attempt, brushing aside both Sheen and, more importantly, the information--without one single sentence pertaining to the documents, the videos, the news links (that are the subject of his assertions).
Perhaps you notice a pattern here, yes? But what is the pattern?
As an individual that has found much fault in what passes as "journalism" these days; as an individual that has given both time (and a more-than-average critical eye) to understanding the events surrounding 9/11, including the 9/11 Commission Report (the conclusions upon which both our foreign and domestic policy is supposed to be based), allow me to offer a more reasonable, adult-like suggestion as to how to handle the Sheen "event."
How about: try reading the actual document Sheen produced; try following the embedded links he has provided; try asking intelligent questions; try doing follow-up research; try playing devil's advocate with yourself; try taking an investigative trip to the bookstore; try realizing that the internet is an information playground (as fun and rewarding as you choose); try being your own council and guide.
Try asking yourself, what are Charlie Sheen's assertions? And are these assertions really "crazy," as many relish in suggesting? Or are they something to seriously consider? Has he crossed a line? But who drew the line?
And so on.
These are mere suggestions. What these suggestions do is put you face-to-face with yourself. Is that so bad?
Of course I have many questions, opinions, speculations, and follow-up preoccupations relating to what happened on 9/11...I have questions, opinions, speculations, and follow-up preoccupations about a number of issues, some of which are shared by a few, some of which are shared by many, some of which are shared by none.
As 9/11 is the foundation of the entire political landscape as it now exists; and as I am intimately concerned with understanding (and manipulating) that political landscape in some healthy way...how can I not have well-informed opinions about 9/11?
But my point here is not to share with you my beliefs about 9/11, but to challenge you to confront your own.
Too long has the totality of our perceptions been guided by irresponsible monsters of public opinion--hypnotizing media personalities, business leaders, and self-interested politicians that choose, as a matter of strategy, to avoid engaging our intellect. These people, instead, "make" public opinion by gentle tugs or by violent pushes upon our waking attention, each action designed to manipulate the primordial weaknesses of the audience--appealing exclusively to both our fears and our desires.
Sometimes we notice these strings as they're being pulled, yet many times we do not. After all, we each have our own weaknesses.
Regarding Charlie Sheen and his assertions, whatever the "truth" may be (or may have been), our awareness of this truth lies outside this damaging matrix of public perception and thought control.
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