Media Blackout Lifted

The august New York Times covers 9-11apalooza in Chicago:

In the foyer, there were stick-pins for sale ("More gin, less Rummy"), and in the lecture halls discussions of the melting point of steel. "It's all documented," people said. Or: "The mass media is mass deception." Or, as strangers from the Internet shook hands: "Great to meet you. Love the work."

Such was the coming-out for the movement known as "9/11 Truth," a society of skeptics and scientists who believe the government was complicit in the terrorist attacks. In colleges and chat rooms on the Internet, this band of disbelievers has been trying for years to prove that 9/11 was an inside job.

But, as the article notes, the convention had about 500 attendees in total. IIRC, the cost was about $50 so that may have kept some of the college crowd away. That doesn't mean they can't dream though:

To get the message out, the movement has gone beyond bumper stickers and "Kumbaya" into political action.

There is a plan, Mr. Berger said, to create a fund to support candidates on a 9/11 platform. There is a plan to create a network of college campus groups. There is a plan by the British delegation (such as it is, so far) to get members of Parliament to watch "Loose Change," the seminal movement DVD.

And there's the usual paranoia:

"I hope you don't end up dead somewhere," a companion said to a participant, hours earlier as he dropped him at the Loop. "Don't worry," the participant said. "There's too many of us for that."

But overall I am sure that the Truthers have to be thrilled with this particular article. It does note that they're frequently considered nutty by even their family and friends, but it does not attempt to characterize them that way, and avoids mentioning the really wacky stuff in Loose Change. The description of the conspiracy theory is roughly LIHOP with demolition charges, which is probably the most palatable version of the CT.