I’d heard about this event last week, but it managed to cause such a small blip on my radar that I intended to simply let it pass without a second thought. Well, I’m bored.
Apparently last weekend here in Los Angeles, a small group of like-minded individuals gathered together in the convention hall at the Sheraton Hotel under the perceived auspices and their undying confidence in the straw-grasping that is 9/11 conspiracy theory. I say apparently because I can’t even find a simple news story on the web concerning this small meeting of small minds.
They called it the “American Scholars Symposium.” Ahem. I wonder if they intentionally left out any verbiage relating to 9/11, and particularly conspiracy theories, in order to avoid the inevitable bad press that would generate as a result of their two-day symposium. Most likely.
Anyway, here’s their website.
Their list of speakers is fairly dubious. Most notable is the high school flunky, Dylan Avery. Dylan crafted a passably produced, if obviously ridiculous, film called “Loose Change” that focused on the actual airline attacks during the morning of 9/11. Dylan also performed double-duty as the narrator, and damn, he has an annoying voice.
Here’s a kid who failed to graduate with his high school class in 2001, and yet he’s managed to ignite the conspiratorially weak-minded with what many consider a brilliant essay on what officially happened on 9/11. Personally, I can’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it–this situation, and his film.
On their front page, in large text near the middle they boldly state concerning the convention “Two Days of Truth Facing the Facts.” Um… yeah. Don’t facts equal truth? Is not truth a summation of facts, or more accurately a conformity to facts? How can truth face facts if the outcome has already been ordained? I know I’m nitpicking, but if this banal slogan is representative of what they’re trying to accomplish, then perhaps the American Scholars Symposium needs to look towards professionals, such as an actual PR company, to promote their causes and events.
If anything, this convention, and those like it, prove the old adage that birds of a feather flock together, and so will pigs and swine. These people don’t care about truth, or what they would consider dissenting viewpoints. They think they’re right. But the burden of proof is on them. This is not an argument about determinism and free-will. This isn’t akin to an atheist demanding evidence for the existence of God. I am not required to prove anything. 9/11 Conspiracy theorists must be the ones to present compelling evidence in order to overturn what is regularly accepted through eyewitness accounts, scientific evidence, and common sense. These people would rather raise absurd questions. And raise them over and over and over. That’s all they do. They’re entire belief system is contingent upon a never ending stream of “what ifs.”
If we’re lucky though, perhaps this will be their only convention in LA. Of course, there are a lot of quacks and morons out there willing to latch onto anything that can give them some sort of community, wrapping themselves in insipid conspiracie theories, while simultaneously trivializing those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.
Currently listening: Freakery By Cretin Release date: By 18 April, 2006 |
I agree 100%. Their entire argument is based around meaningless rhetorical questions and what-ifs. Their arrogance is such that they believe they have such a high level of intelligence that they have outwitted a massive conspiracy. If any professional disagrees they claim they have fallen for the clever ploy of the government or are apparently working for them in some way. From their arguments it sounds as if every politician, government agency, and corporation has conspired to kill Americans.
It is disheartening. I believe much of this has to do with America’s failure at academic performance. Lack of education and arrogance is a bad mix. Which incidentally describes the Loose Change kid.
I totaly Agree with Jon, if you ever site the fact that there were very thorough investigations by every civil engineering and structural engineering association, they think somehow THEY are part of the conspiracy… or they just completely ignore you
Hopefully They’ll bring out a new series of Star Trek. That’ll keep the idiots occupied until the next ‘conspiracy’ crops up. It’s about their own egos – nothing else.
These people are so stupied that they think they are smart. I get really angry about this issue. Im really agry that these people actually live among us everyday, thinking they are so smart and they just get it and we dont.
Then they say just THINK about it. No you Just THINK about it!REDICULOUS!
Remove the blindfolds! Look at the buildings collapse with YOUR OWN EYES! It is CLEARLY a controlled demolition. If the Government told you that the sky was red would you call me crazy if I said, “No, the sky is blue”? Bunch of mindless lemmings. Think for yourselves! Be a REAL AMERICAN! I didn’t believe it at first, but it didn’t make sense to me, my eyes did not agree with the “official” story. I’ve done a lot of research the past 3 years and now I know that 9/11 was a hoax. At least do your homework. If your only argument is, “that’s what the government said”, then you’re an idiot. What are you afraid of? The possibilty that we may have corrupt, evil men calling the shots now? What are you going to do? Criticize the true patriots of this great nation who are NOT afraid to call the tyrants? You cowards! Read the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution! Why don’t read what the founding fathers wrote about the DUTY of American citizens to question our government? You’re a bunch of whiny little girls. Grow some balls and serach for the truth. Do it yourself! Don’t depend on the corrupt media to tell you what to think.