truthaction.org

[truthmover]

This is Julian from TruthMove. Many weeks ago I was offered an advanced copy of "The Shell Game." I had heard it was good talking to a prominent member of the movement whom I respect.

That got me looking into the author. What I found out did not make me very enthusiastic, and I expressed those concerns. My biggest concern at the time was this:

http://www.truthmove.org/forum/topic/985?replies=15#post-5601

So I asked for a copy of the book and read it cover to cover. After having read the book I was at first somewhat charmed by reading fiction that dealt with many of the themes I am so close to. However, after a week of thinking more about it, I came to realize that I had many problems with the book. I offered a review of the book and had an interesting discussion about it here:

http://www.truthmove.org/forum/topic/882?replies=32

Then a few weeks later I received an e-mail message that Steve Alten sent out asking for support. The message contained many inaccurate, misleading, and even false statements. I expressed my concerns here:

http://www.truthmove.org/forum/topic/905?replies=4

I thought this was all over with, and that the book had run its course, when I found out about the "Week of Truth." I found many statements made on the website highly divisive and disrespectful. I felt fed up. I responded here:

http://www.truthmove.org/forum/topic/985?replies=15

I suppose that all this makes me one of the most vocal skeptics of the benefit of the book and its promotion. But I certainly have not been alone in expressing distaste with the book or concerns about how it is being promoted. I have tried in all my statements to remain level headed and as fair as I could be, offering the benefit of the doubt wherever possible.

I post this here now as I feel that with so many prominent people behind this promotion that it has now become more difficult for people to express concerns or reservations that they may feel about how this is all going down. I feel that it is very important that we not feel a sense of group think or bandwagon effect taking hold in this matter.

In case you do not read anything from the links I have provided, I have made it clear that many of those who support the book and its promotion are people that I highly respect. However it is for that very reason that it has been challenging for myself and others to express our concerns.

I hope to open a constructive dialog about this matter. I encourage everyone to do your very best to stick to facts and logical critique as there is a strong potential for disagreement.

[Scott N]

http://www.stevealten.com



Glad to see people speaking out about this nonsense.

[Art V]

Truthmover-


Thanks for the write up. I read all the posts at the truth move forum. I was not aware of the list endorsing the book, and my feelings were exactly in line with yours (in reference to the Bevin Karret quote). Is it possible that Alten was a horror story author, ignorant to 9/11 truth, and then decided to use his talents to make a 9/11 novel to promote the truth?
The fact that he is making the most money during the week of truth is a cause for concern. I have not read the book and have heard mixed opinions about it. I don't rally want to read any fiction. Only the facts for me.
In addition I have learned in a short time that the bandwagon effect in the truth movement is very dangerous.
Most of all I simply liked the post and the commentary. I feel that you were respectable, admitting you could be wrong, but cautious at the same time.
I guess we will just have to see what the end result is.

[truthmover]

ArtV, that's a really awesome response. I really appreciate that you noticed my sincere if imperfect attempt to present this in an open way. I know that I can't make up people's minds for them. But some of what's in front of us just doesn't look kosher to me and others, and I am very surprised that so few people have expressed a similar concern. That's what has motivated my expression of concern about this book and its promotion.

Few people in a movement of critical thinkers would like to admit that they are ever subject to group think or on a bandwagon. And yet that potential is real. When I see so many red flags and then hear that so many people I have respected for their critical thinking haven't noticed or decided to ignore them, I get really concerned.

I've noticed that people who disagree with the issues myself and others have raised tend to defend the quality of the book while ignoring the serious problems with the manner in which it is being promoted. And that doesn't feel all too prudent coming from people who spend a great deal of time considering how to best promote something.

The fact is, many people have been willing to express their opinion that the book isn't very good. That might signify that its not going to be a #1 hit, but its also not really the reason why I've been pressing this issue.

[truebeleaguer]

Dubbing as "Truth Week" an obvious astro-turf effort to game the best-seller
system and sell fiction seems a tactic to inspire ridicule.

[truthmover]

[Art V]

Taken off 911truth.org


ichard Gage; Architects and Engineers for 9/11 Truth
- Kevin Ryan; former Underwriter Labs manager/whisteblower
- Professor Steven Jones; Scholars for 911 Truth & Justice Founder
- Paul Craig Roberts; Past editor Wall Street Journal/Columnist for The National Review)
- Peter Phillips; Director of Project Censored
- Dylan Avery; Producer/Director “Loose Change – The Final Cut”
- Bob McIlvaine; Father of Bobby – Fighter for 9/11 Truth
- Daniel Sunjata; Star of “Rescue Me” TV Series – 9/11 activist
- Luke Rudkowski; A Founding Member of WeAreChange
- Jack Blood; Radio Host Who Challenged Tim Russert on 9/11 Questions
- Kyle Hence; 9/11 Press for Truth Director/Citizen’s Watch Founder
- Carol Brouillet; Organizer of 1st National 911 Truth Conference in San Francisco
- Cosmos; Founder of TruthAction.org
- Janice Matthews; Director of 911Truth.org
- Jarek Kupsc; Director of the film “Reflecting Pool”
- Jon Gold; 911Blogger Columnist
- Jonathan Mark; FlyByNews
- Ken Jenkins; Co-Organizer of the 1st National 9/11 Truth Conference/Filmmaker
- Les Jamieson; New York 9/11 Founding Activist
- Michael Jackman; Student Scholars for 9/11 Truth Founding Member
- Michael Wolsey; Visibility911.com Founder
- Mark Peters; Student Scholars for 9/11 Truth Founding Member
- Justin Martell; Student Scholars for 9/11 Truth Founding Member
- Mike Berger; 911Truth.org Media–Spoke to America on CNN in March, 2006
- Paul Deslauriers; 911truth.org grassroots coordinator
- Paul Krik, Filmmaker, "Able Danger: The Movie"
- Peter Garritano; Vermont911 Founding Member
- Reprehensor; 911Blogger.com

this is a very comprehensive list....maybe this is a good idea...Cosmos, would you like to add some commentary?

[Scott N]

Actor Daniel Sunjata blogged the following in support of the Shell Game Truth week:

"Forgive me if in the process I end up repeating or restating things which you may feel I had already made sufficiently clear. First off, I want to say how much I admire the critical and independent thinking that is so prevalent amongst the 9/11 Truth community. It should not come as a surprise, since in the absence of such critical analysis and thought, all of us would still be hoodwinked by the official myth.

This is, therefore, one of our greatest strengths. But in my opinion it can also be a tragic flaw. Let me clarify... Many of you have been at this much longer than I, but as a relative newbie, it has been my perception that our movement's biggest weakness is our divided, fractionalized, schismatic lack of unity in general.

While it is a definite plus to have this "leaderless resistance" waged on many fronts and according to varied methodologies, this particular approach to the info war leaves us oft-times disconnected and isolated by our differences in tactics."

I posted about the 11th Day Actions in response and encourage you to do the same:

http://911blogger.com/node/14807#comment-182108

[truthmover]

[Art V]

[YT]

[Art V]

Thanks for the reply. Very well written and clears a lot up for me.

[truthmover]

I haven't seen this posted here on the TruthAction forum or over at 911Blogger. The following opinion piece is one the primary reasons why myself and others have been so concerned about how the "Week of Truth" is being promoted and who is coordinating the effort.

"Naivete is Killing the 9/11 Truth Movement's Hope for Media Breakthrough!"

http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_bill_dou_080312_naivete_is_killing_t.htm

[Col. Jenny Sparks]

[Col. Jenny Sparks]

I forgot to mention in the thread truthmover linked to where one of the people criticizing Douglas in the comments does so like this: