The public debate on the ABC docudrama "9/11" is bizarre.

[Writer]

Conservatives (read: fundamentalists) are preparing for an FCC onslaught because of supposed language in the series (or is this a different program? I heard CBS is airing something as well).

Liberals are upset because they believe that the series unfairly accuses Bill Clinton as being culpable for not catching bin Laden before the 2001 Terror Attacks.

Here's my verdict: I find it disgraceful that these movies are appearing at all. The material still is too hot and too close to the actual events of 2001. Yet given that the concept is marketable (read: inhumane; non-democratic) networks such as ABC are trying to stir the air at the beginning of the television season by putting money into breeding mythos into 9/11/01. I find that disgusting. Yet it's not because they're an evil corporate network (read::puke:) - we're just as culpable for being an eager audience for this crap.

If you don't like it, speak up about it and boycott it. But consider the larger framework in which this shit is being produced: a country trying to make sense of itself while factions vie for control of which world view gets the upper hand this election year.

[NYCGirl]

1. The FCC language problem is on the documentary from CBS. Nothing to

do with the ABC program at all.

[Writer]

2. But it's still a 9/11 documentary, right?

I say this because I think there's a struggle over how we make sense of this day - whether it's on ABC or CBS.

Thanks for the clarification. I knew that CBS had another special, as well.

[NYCGirl]

3. Yes, it's a documentary. The one on ABC is not. NT

[bigbrother05]

4. If the RW can taint the CBS documentary

then the ABC crock-u-mentary will become the de facto 9-11 story in the electorate's mind. Raise a fuss about the language of real people and then the words imagined by a partisan hack will become the "truth" that is remembered. Maybe F9-11 ought to be counter programmed and supplied to the same schools that get the ABC tripe.


Disclosure: Haven't seen either program and probably won't watch (have too much actual memory to want to see either). Just offering an open ended opinion of what could be motives on some folks actions.

[SteppingRazor]

5. I don't really see it as being too soon to 9/11 to do this...

I mean, they were making WWII movies in the 1940s, y'know?

That said, I do have a problem with them using this for political purposes. It's pretty disgusting.

[sinkingfeeling]

6. I keep telling people that I'm so glad I will not be in the United States

from this Friday until 9/18! It's because I do not want to see endless 'memorials', photo-ops, and 'documentaries'.

[KurtNYC]

7. I disagree that it is marketable and too soon

"Flight 93" and "World Trade Center" both flopped financially which will prevent similar movie fare from being funded. People are sick of 911. If anything it is too late for a movie (or documentary) on 9/11.