5th Anniversary of 9/11 (Part I)

There are only three days left. Already, the tributes and documentaries and political posturing has begun for the fifth anniversarry of the most (insert adjective here) act of terrorism ever carried out on US soil.

This post is about this article on the BBC about an ABC TV movie that recounts the run up to 9/11. Members of the Clinton administration have strong reservations about the content of the film citing "factual errors." In their defense, ABC has offered this statement:

"For dramatic and narrative purposes, the movie contains fictionalised scenes, composite and representative characters and dialogue, and time compression," ABC said in its statement.

"We hope viewers will watch the entire broadcast of the finished film before forming an opinion about it."

Part I of fhe film - er, movie - will be released Sunday, and continued with part II Monday night.

I think that Mickey has gone too far this time.

Sure, we want to believe that the Disney-ified view of the world can come to pass. We want to believe that Prince Charming would never find his love but for glass slipper. Its OK Bambi, you're an orphan but tomorrow will be better. Aladdin and Jasmine talk like US, but Jafar is the embodiment of evil. The Knights Templar may killed millions in the Crusade and plundered billions (21st c. dollars) in treasure from the Middle East, but as long as the Declaration of Independence is preserved and the family name is upheld, revisions of history are A-OK.

But, to have the House of Mouse dictate history, with "fictionalized scenes, composite and representative characters and dialogue, and time compression" on the anniversary of the tragedy they are redefining is a further example of American disdain for anything but their own mythology.

Calling upon the public, already searching for absolution, to recognize that a movie depicting 9/11 contains fiction is like asking kids to kick the tooth fairy's ass. Every American production that depicts 9/11 will be believed to be respectful of the dead and respectful of history.

Belief is nice, but not always reality. Contortions, mutations, and outright revision of history is no justification to support beliefs. Disney does an immense disservice to history teachers around the world with each of its creations.

I won't watch the film, I will look for the factual errors on iMDB, and then I will redouble my efforts to incite suspicion in any of the films Disney releases.