American Government’s blog on the documentary “Loose Change,” depicts 9/11 as an inside job, while revealing a mass of inconsistencies. After reading this insightful revelation, I began some research of my own, to include the viewing of this film, and while I am not wholly convinced that such an act is feasible to be committed by our own people, inconsistencies in the events of that day have been established extensively, and the American people deserve answers. Mr. Allen poses in his blog, “If there is nothing to hide, why can't they answer simple questions?” I’ll quote late President Kennedys speech on secret societies that said, “It is our obligation to inform and alert the American people to make certain that they possess all the facts that they need, and understand them as well- the perils, the prospects, the purposes of our program and the choices that we face. No president should fear public scrutiny of his program. For from that scrutiny comes understanding; and from that understanding comes support or opposition. And both are necessary.”

            In addition to the inconsistencies that Mr. Allen brings to light, one that compelled me was hearing of the massive insurance plan pursued by the owner, Larry Silverstein, of the twin towers and building 7 just six weeks prior to the incident and upon it, he attempted to cash in a 7.2 billion dollar reimbursement and subsequently was awarded $2.2. It almost reminds me of instances where a husband per say, takes out a large life insurance plan on his wife two weeks before her mysterious disappearance. How convenient. Additionally, the low-quality video which portrays supposed Osama Bin Laden taking credit for the acts of terrorism, shows him writing a letter with his right hand when he is factually left handed and it additionally has him wearing a gold ring, which is against his known religious practices.

            I also watched a you-tube video of TV show “Democracy Now!” where correspondent Amy Goldman had the creators of the film Loose Change, as well as writers of the book called “Debunking 9/11 Myths: Why Conspiracy Theories Can’t Stand Up to the Facts.” To see a debate of the facts and misleadings prescribed put things in perspective for me as well.

            One of my favorite approaches to the conspiracy was exacted in one of the “Zeitgeist” videos where it said, “men in caves dressed in robes planned and funded this?” And there is also a report that there was a dry run of the same situation on the same day which confused those whose responsibility it was to prevent these things from happening, to more or less justify not shooting the planes down, the last looming red flag in the sea of inconsistencies is in the engineering insight to the fall of the towers and the notion of possibilities with it being inconsistent of that of damage causable by aircraft.  

            In closing, my classmate states, “The bottom line - “Loose Change” has opened the eyes of people all over the country including me and even those who do not believe have those lingering questions running through their minds. I know it's hard to believe George Bush could be a part of something so intelligent, but with a little help we all have our moments. Evidence is evidence, no matter how tragic, unbelievable or scary it may be. My advice for the disbelievers, go do the research, I mean really dig in and look for the facts, and then tell me you don't believe it.”

While I’m part of the group not wholly convinced, yet overwhelmed with lingering questions of the truth behind this matter, I greatly admire the search for truth portrayed by Mr. Allen and the makers of this film, as well as anyone who is able to detach themselves from the “norm” acceptance and dodge the conformity plagued by the majority of American citizens who believe everything they're told without critical analysis. My best friend (roommate, battle buddy from fighting together against terrorism in Iraq, top ten percent of his class at UT) clearly someone who I respect in matter of opinion and intelligence wore a “9/11 was an inside job” t-shirt this year on the retrospective day and I, still confused with the matter, was utterly embarrassed to go in public with him- for no reason other than the nasty reactions received by the majority of those we encountered.

I thought maybe he was trying to get attention, and that our government cannot be thought of in this light. But over the course of this semester, in writing these blogs, coming to an understanding of components that makeup our system of democracy, and becoming more and more involved in history and government and learning over and over again of the despicable acts that have gone on in the past by devious politicians and the unrelenting subduedness of the unthinking majority, I can no longer sit around and suggest that asking questions and bringing to light inconsistencies is unpatriotic, it is in fact just the opposite. 

These heroes are researching and fighting for truth, something you don’t have the care or motivation to do, lost in a world of television, shopping, eating McDonalds, texting all day on your cell phones and getting drunk. Many like Mr. Allen said find it hard to believe but ultimately, “evidence is evidence, no matter how tragic, unbelievable or scary it may be.”

Some food for thought-“Franklin Roosevelt repeatedly deceived the American people during the period before Pearl Harbor….he was like the physician who must tell the patient lies for the patient’s own good….because the masses are notoriously shortsighted and generally cannot see danger until it is at their throats.” Thomas A. Bailey

“We meet in the midst of a nation brought to the verge of moral, political and material ruin. Corruption dominates the ballot box, the legislatures, the Congress, and touches even the ermine of the bench. The people are demoralized….The newspapers are subsidized or muzzled; public opinion silenced; business prostate, our homes covered with mortgages, labor impoverished, and the land concentrating in the hands of capitalists. The urban workmen are denied the right of organization for self-protection; imported pauperized labor beats down their wages; a hireling standing army….established to shoot them down….The fruits of the toil of millions are boldly stolen to build up colossal fortunes….From the same prolific womb of governmental injustice we breed two classes-paupers and millionaires….” Ignatius Donnelly

“You’ll get freedom by letting your enemy know that you’ll do anything to get your freedom; then you’ll get it. It’s the only way you’ll get it. When you get that kind of attitude, they’ll label you as a “crazy,” or call you an extremist or a subversive, or seditious, or a red or a radical. But when you stay radical long enough and get enough people to be like you, you’ll get your freedom.” Malcolm X

“In the right light study becomes insight,

But the system that dissed us teaches us to read and write,

So called facts are fraud,

They want us to allege and pledge and bow down to their god,

Lost the culture, the culture lost,

Spun our minds and through time ignorance has taken over,

They’re the teacher that taught me to fight me,

Compromise, conformity, assimilation, submission,

Ignorance, hypocrisy, brutality, the elite,

All of which are American dreams.”

“But I learned to burn that bridge and delete,

Those who compete at a level that’s obsolete,

Enough, I call the bluff,

Fuck manifest destiny,

See right through the red, white, and blue disguise,

With lecture I puncture the structure of lies,

Installed in our minds and attempting to hold us back,

One sided stories for years and years and years,

I’m inferior, who’s inferior?

Yeah, we need to check the interior,

To expose and close the doors on those who try,

To strangle and mangle the truth,

What? The land of the free?

Whoever told you that is your enemy,

Who pulled schemes on the dream,

And put it to an end,

Ya better beware,

Of retribution with mind war,

20/20 visions and murals with metaphors,

The main attraction-distraction” Rage Against the Machine lyrics 

"We've got to regain knowledge again, and we've got to regain an understanding again, of who we are. Not just those chosen to fuel systems, but individuals who have the power to criticize and analyze, and attack injustice when it becomes prevalent and apparent in front of our faces like it is in ours right now. We've been all put to sleep. Put to sleep to a system. A system that continues to perpetrate ignorance amongst our spirits and amongst our minds. One that wants you not to act. A system that would rather see all of you at that bar drinking beer filling your minds being put to sleep with beer or with drugs, rather than acting against it and fighting a system which has been perpetrating imperialist lies and other fucking bullshit for five hundred years. 
           So fucking drink up or fucking wake up. You're part of the solution or you're part of the fucking problem. I am sick and tired of my own complacence in my life and I know I'm fucking sick of yours. So wake up and stop fucking sleeping. Wake Up." --Zack De La Rocha