New Oliver Stone movie about 9/11 brings Americans together
New Oliver Stone movie about 9/11 brings Americans together
Steve Hammons graduated from Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, with concentration areas in communications (journalism focus) and health education (psycholgy focus). Hammons is the author of two novels about a U.S. Government and military joint-service research team investigating unusual phenomena. MISSION INTO LIGHT and the sequel LIGHT'S HAND introduce readers to the ten women and men of the "Joint Reconnaissance Study Group" and their exciting adventures exploring the unknown. Both novels are available from the Barnes & Noble Web site, bn.com, and other booksellers worldwide.
Steve Hammons
August 2, 2006
Oliver Stone’s new film WORLD TRADE CENTER, starring Nicholas Cage as a New York Port Authority police sergeant on 9/11, has won praise for depicting the tragedy, trauma and courage during and after the 9/11 attacks.
Does this portrayal of the pain, suffering and heroism of that day conflict with allegations that the 9/11 plot involved an inside conspiracy that has not yet been fully revealed?
There does not seem to be any reason why these views should be in conflict. The search for the truths about 9/11 obviously includes the horrible deaths and suffering of the victims, pain felt by their families as well as the honor and sacrifice displayed by police officers, firefighters and many others.
HONORING THE FALLEN, PURSUING JUSTICE
Whether there is any truth to suspicions, indications and circumstances that point to an “inside job” conspiracy, such views in many ways seem to be part of the same universal reactions to 9/11: Shock, sadness and determination to get to the bottom of the events on that terrible day.
The idea that people could plan and carry out an attack that killed thousands of innocents on 9/11 through a highly complex plot stirred anger in us and a need to hold those responsible accountable.
As an immediate result of the 9/11 attacks, military operations were launched against the Taliban in Afghanistan. Shortly after, the invasion of Iraq was begun. Though the connection between 9/11 and Iraq’s former leadership has certainly been called into question, Americans were told that there was a connection.
The American people believed that anyone connected to the 9/11 plot should be pursued and punished.
This is the same motivation driving many Americans who support the “9/11 Truth Movement,” a substantial portion of the American population who suspect or believe that there was an inside and yet to be fully uncovered conspiracy to create, facilitate or allow a “New Pearl Harbor.”
They also believe that those involved in the complex plot of the 9/11 attacks should be pursued and brought to justice because of this terrible crime that killed innocent people and the courageous cops and firefighters who responded.
POINTS OF AGREEMENT
What are some of the basic common denominators that we all believe about the 9/11 attacks and those beliefs or suspicions of the 9/11 Truth Movement?
- Conspirators, some identified and perhaps some not, believed that the hijacking of passenger planes and crashing them into major targets would further their cause or causes.
- The plot focused on the mass murder of thousands of Americans and damage to U.S. landmarks.
- The conspiracy included terrorists infiltrating the U.S., avoiding detection by CIA, NSA, FBI and other law enforcement authorities, as well as roving intelligence agents from other countries who operate within the U.S. and internationally.
- The plan required the ability to navigate and pilot airliners into targets in a precise manner.
- U.S. air defenses needed to be overcome through stealth and confusion. The multiple air defense training exercises underway on 9/11, though not known to the hijackers, contributed to the confusion.
- The shock and horror of the attacks would have the desired affect of making the American people feel vulnerable, thereby causing fear in the U.S. population.
- The innocent people who were killed on 9/11 are a tragic loss. Burned alive, forced to jump out of skyscrapers, crushed by rubble, killed when their planes crashed. Cold-blooded murder.
- The police officers, firefighters, paramedics, military personnel, air traffic control officials and many others responded honorably and bravely in the face of an overwhelming crisis.
Of course, there are many other details about the attacks and events leading up to and after them. Some are widely accepted, some debated, some apparently covered up, some speculated about and some still creating confusion and possible deception.
FILM FACES PAST, HELPS PREPARE FOR FUTURE
Regardless of the accuracy of all of claims made by those in the growing 9/11 Truth Movement, most Americans can agree that the effort by Stone in his new film is a worthwhile one.
The overwhelming truth of 9/11 is that it was a horrible crime, like other horrible crimes when innocent people are killed. WORLD TRADE CENTER brings this truth to us in a way that is clear and necessary.
Necessary because an attack like 9/11 may happen again. It may be even more severe. The anger and determination of those who hate the policies of the U.S. Government and do not like some aspects of the culture of America have only grown in recent years, and for many reasons.
Those who want to manipulate the American people and Congress through violence and fear, through attacking our liberties, our Constitution and Bill of Rights are still a threat. These may be enemies foreign and domestic.
Revisiting and more fully understanding the 9/11 attacks is necessary because it has been nearly five years since that day, and memories do fade. And we sometimes want to repress and forget terrible things we have seen in our lives.
It may be helpful to look back to that day to consider all that has happened since 9/11: Large numbers of U.S. military deaths and severe injuries in the open-ended war in Iraq, new laws and policies affecting fundamental elements of our democracy and many other developments, some positive and some quite disturbing.
The courage and dedication Stone depicts in the movie are also things we should remember. Remember and cultivate these qualities. Because they too, may be needed as we go forward to strengthen and protect our country, uncover the full truth of the 9/11 plot and bring all of those responsible to justice.
Steve Hammons graduated from Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, with concentration areas in communications (journalism focus) and health education (psycholgy focus). Hammons is the author of two novels about a U.S. Government and military joint-service research team investigating unusual phenomena. MISSION INTO LIGHT and the sequel LIGHT'S HAND introduce readers to the ten women and men of the "Joint Reconnaissance Study Group" and their exciting adventures exploring the unknown. Both novels are available from the Barnes & Noble Web site, bn.com, and other booksellers worldwide.
Steve Hammons
August 2, 2006
Oliver Stone’s new film WORLD TRADE CENTER, starring Nicholas Cage as a New York Port Authority police sergeant on 9/11, has won praise for depicting the tragedy, trauma and courage during and after the 9/11 attacks.
Does this portrayal of the pain, suffering and heroism of that day conflict with allegations that the 9/11 plot involved an inside conspiracy that has not yet been fully revealed?
There does not seem to be any reason why these views should be in conflict. The search for the truths about 9/11 obviously includes the horrible deaths and suffering of the victims, pain felt by their families as well as the honor and sacrifice displayed by police officers, firefighters and many others.
HONORING THE FALLEN, PURSUING JUSTICE
Whether there is any truth to suspicions, indications and circumstances that point to an “inside job” conspiracy, such views in many ways seem to be part of the same universal reactions to 9/11: Shock, sadness and determination to get to the bottom of the events on that terrible day.
The idea that people could plan and carry out an attack that killed thousands of innocents on 9/11 through a highly complex plot stirred anger in us and a need to hold those responsible accountable.
As an immediate result of the 9/11 attacks, military operations were launched against the Taliban in Afghanistan. Shortly after, the invasion of Iraq was begun. Though the connection between 9/11 and Iraq’s former leadership has certainly been called into question, Americans were told that there was a connection.
The American people believed that anyone connected to the 9/11 plot should be pursued and punished.
This is the same motivation driving many Americans who support the “9/11 Truth Movement,” a substantial portion of the American population who suspect or believe that there was an inside and yet to be fully uncovered conspiracy to create, facilitate or allow a “New Pearl Harbor.”
They also believe that those involved in the complex plot of the 9/11 attacks should be pursued and brought to justice because of this terrible crime that killed innocent people and the courageous cops and firefighters who responded.
POINTS OF AGREEMENT
What are some of the basic common denominators that we all believe about the 9/11 attacks and those beliefs or suspicions of the 9/11 Truth Movement?
- Conspirators, some identified and perhaps some not, believed that the hijacking of passenger planes and crashing them into major targets would further their cause or causes.
- The plot focused on the mass murder of thousands of Americans and damage to U.S. landmarks.
- The conspiracy included terrorists infiltrating the U.S., avoiding detection by CIA, NSA, FBI and other law enforcement authorities, as well as roving intelligence agents from other countries who operate within the U.S. and internationally.
- The plan required the ability to navigate and pilot airliners into targets in a precise manner.
- U.S. air defenses needed to be overcome through stealth and confusion. The multiple air defense training exercises underway on 9/11, though not known to the hijackers, contributed to the confusion.
- The shock and horror of the attacks would have the desired affect of making the American people feel vulnerable, thereby causing fear in the U.S. population.
- The innocent people who were killed on 9/11 are a tragic loss. Burned alive, forced to jump out of skyscrapers, crushed by rubble, killed when their planes crashed. Cold-blooded murder.
- The police officers, firefighters, paramedics, military personnel, air traffic control officials and many others responded honorably and bravely in the face of an overwhelming crisis.
Of course, there are many other details about the attacks and events leading up to and after them. Some are widely accepted, some debated, some apparently covered up, some speculated about and some still creating confusion and possible deception.
FILM FACES PAST, HELPS PREPARE FOR FUTURE
Regardless of the accuracy of all of claims made by those in the growing 9/11 Truth Movement, most Americans can agree that the effort by Stone in his new film is a worthwhile one.
The overwhelming truth of 9/11 is that it was a horrible crime, like other horrible crimes when innocent people are killed. WORLD TRADE CENTER brings this truth to us in a way that is clear and necessary.
Necessary because an attack like 9/11 may happen again. It may be even more severe. The anger and determination of those who hate the policies of the U.S. Government and do not like some aspects of the culture of America have only grown in recent years, and for many reasons.
Those who want to manipulate the American people and Congress through violence and fear, through attacking our liberties, our Constitution and Bill of Rights are still a threat. These may be enemies foreign and domestic.
Revisiting and more fully understanding the 9/11 attacks is necessary because it has been nearly five years since that day, and memories do fade. And we sometimes want to repress and forget terrible things we have seen in our lives.
It may be helpful to look back to that day to consider all that has happened since 9/11: Large numbers of U.S. military deaths and severe injuries in the open-ended war in Iraq, new laws and policies affecting fundamental elements of our democracy and many other developments, some positive and some quite disturbing.
The courage and dedication Stone depicts in the movie are also things we should remember. Remember and cultivate these qualities. Because they too, may be needed as we go forward to strengthen and protect our country, uncover the full truth of the 9/11 plot and bring all of those responsible to justice.
posted by Accidental Antagonist @ 9:29 AM
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