My letter to ABC. Any critiques before I hit "send"?

[KnaveRupe]

To: Robert A. Iger
President and CEO, The Walt Disney Company

Dear Mr. Iger:

I've been following the controversy surrounding ABC's upcoming "The Path to 9-11" for a week or so, and I understand that ABC is now labelling the piece as a "Docu-Drama" with fictionalized elements. I further understand that, due to pressure from concerned viewers, ABC is planning to include disclaimers throughout the program. Bravo. That is certainly the least we can expect.

Something still troubles me, however. In the study materials that are being provided to schools via ABC's partnership with Scholastic, I discerned no such disclaimers. In fact, the letter from Thomas Kean (of the 9-11 commission) states that the film "...accurately reflects both the facts and the spirit of the Commission's findings." Really? Richard Clarke and Sandy Berger dispute that assessment - where are the letters to educators telling THEIR side of events?

Furthermore, the study materials ask the students "What were some surprising or interesting facts or concepts about the events leading up to that day that you did not know prior to viewing?" I fail to see how students are to answer a question like that when the piece admittedly contains fictional material. Are students supposed to intuit the "factual" information from the "dramatic license"? These statements which are a bit further removed from the public eye paint a different picture of this enterprise from the semi-fictional-account-loosely-based-on-historical-events spin that is now being furiously imparted regarding this piece.

No matter how ABC attempts to back away from this now, it seems that this whole enterprise was a transparently pre-election partisan piece. The intention appears to be historical revisionism for propaganda purposes. A deliberate blending of fact and fiction that would make Leni Reifenstahl proud. Is this really something that ABC and its parent company wish to be involved in? I could understand and applaud the network for taking a principled stand if this were a production of the ABC News department, but this is not that. This is, at best, 9-11 exploitation penned by a partisan shill and friend of Rush Limbaugh, and I cannot respect a network that would air such a thing.

I have been a long time fan of ABC's programming. Please don't force me to give up on your network over something so ridiculous. Although, come to think of it, this IS a good motivation to break my addiction to "LOST", so go ahead and air this drivel if you must. I probably watch too much TV anyways.

And support too many sponsors.


KnaveRupe

cc. My local ABC affiliate

[Warpy]

1. Wow, spot on

You might also send a copy to your local newspaper.

[Synnical]

2. Just send it

Anything written from "the heart" is worth your time, and theirs. Don't over analyze it. That's how I get LTTE's published, in my experience.

:)

Edit: typo - typing too fast

[MadMaddie]

3. This is a great letter...and it will strike a chord when they

understand that you are willing to give up "Lost". I am with you on this one....I may have to give up my addiction to "Lost" if things don't change.

[Rabrrrrrr]

4. Wonderful!! The fuckin' thing is a travesty. I sent a letter today

throught working assets' website.

I am even more appalled now, though, to read (through your letter) about the FUCKING BULLSHIT WITH THE SCHOOLS!

Now I'm really, really pissed.

:grr::grr::grr::grr::grr::grr::grr::grr::grr::grr:

[Bluzmann57]

5. It's GREAT!

In fact, may I have permission to take a line or two for a note I'm working on? The Leni Reifenstahl line is a good one. And the point you brought up about the lack of disclaimers on the alleged educational material was well taken too.

[classof56]

6. Could you mention that you speak for tens of thousands more?

Me, for one.

Thanks--great letter.

Tired Old Cynic

[Janice325]

7. Excellent letter!

Go ahead and send it, and be very proud of what you've written.
Just my two cents.

[metamorph]

8. I would suggest

saving your time. If you really think that this or any thing else you can do will do make a difference in whether or not they re-edit it, or cancel it altogether, you're delusional.

This is about the bottom line. And that means appealing to the lowest common denominator by making up any shit that they can and putting it out there for the Bushbots to feed on.

That's just how it is. And until we take back the country and bring the corporate news mongers to heel, that's how it's going to stay.

[Janice325]

9. Welcome to DU, metamorph

You're entitled to your opinion.
I still think it's a great letter, and since KnaveRupe took the time to write it and ask for our opinions, I think he should go ahead and send it. It's obviously important to him.

[KnaveRupe]

11. CBS cancelled the Reagan miniseries

because a bunch of freepers whined that it depicted Ronnie as believing in astrology. So it is possible to address shit like this, even if it is unlikely.

And the time has already been wasted, since I already wrote it. But hey! Thanks for your extremely valuable and constructive input! Although if I was wasting time writing the letter in the first place, wasn't it a bigger waste of time TELLING me to stop wasting time?

[Janice325]

13. Hiya, KnaveRupe!

Don't let the any "negative" posters get you down. It's a terrific letter, and I wish I could write half as well as you just did above to ABC.
:hug:
Hey, you've got six votes so far and have made it to the greatest page!

[Nikki Stone 1]

10. Excellent letter.

SEND IT!

[karlrschneider]

12. Well done, son...well done.

:toast:

[bunny planet]

14. Great letter.

Let's hope they get thousands of them just like it.
I especially like the last line, kind of a subtle 'hit em in the pocketbook' parting shot.

[goclark]

15. Wow! Fantastic letter, send it return receipt requested so

they'll know you mean business. :toast:

[NewJeffCT]

16. Good letter - run a spell check, though

Labeling, instead of labelling.

[seabeyond]

17. terrific letter. you kick some tush n/t

[SeattleGirl]

18. Very well done!

Definitely send it!

[Bozita]

19. Terrific close.

Great letter.

[tblue37]

20. "anyway," not "anyways" (eom)