Robert Wuhl (of Arli$$ fame) did a special for HBO called
"Assume the Position" that takes a look at all of several historical myths that have managed to become accepted as truths. I guarantee if you see this show you will never look at history the same way again. I think Comcast still has it OnDemand.
History is a myth that men agree to believe - Napoleon
As everybody knows Paul Revere made a valiant ride through the night warning everyone that "The British Are Coming" or did he? Revere did in fact make the ride but it was far less glorious than you have been taught.
Listen, my children, and you shall hear
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere,
On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-Five;
Hardly a man is now alive
Who remembers that famous day and year,
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 1860
Revere in fact made the shortest ride of the night from one town to another. Several other riders also rode that night but a man named Israel Bissell rode for four days from Massachusetts all the way to Philadelphia. Surely he was the one that should have gotten the glory? But Israel Bissell didn't sound as good as Paul Revere... after all what rhymes with Bissell? Until Longfellow wrote his poem, Revere was not known as a significant part of the Revolutionary War. It was Longfellow and his poem's popularity that "catapulted the propaganda" to steal a phrase.
Now we are faced with a movie loosely based on facts but mostly based on being a political hit piece.
Will "Path to 9/11" become the next "Ride of Paul Revere"? Probably not... but that does not make it something we should ignore. It is movies like this and right-wing control of the media that are creating history the way they want it seen. We all know the truth today but the more that things like this happen the more legends will spring up.
And when the legend becomes fact, print the legend.
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