It's long since time someone expressed this concern. I'm jumping into this with my characteristic lack of regard for political correctness. I know that there are many people who silently share my view here. I'll be as sensitive as possible.
First of all, I'm not going to go into paroxysms of genuflection about how I support the first responders. I've supported them in the past. I will continue to support them in the future. The same goes for TruthMove. Let this message not be generalized as a criticism of donating money to such a worthy cause.
I have been wondering for some time why nearly every fund raiser in the movement supports the first responders. While we all agree that this is a worthy cause, I have not been able to figure out how this directly benefits the pursuit of 9/11 truth. I've heard people say that it lends our cause credibility. I've even heard prominent people in the movement say that it's good PR for our organizations. That might be true, but is that kosher? Do we raise money for the first responders because it makes us look good? Do we raise money for them because people won't donate money to the movement?
The 9/11 truth movement is broke. As in having no money. Like many movements of the people, we have few resources other than our will, our creativity, and our bodies. And we need money. Cooperative Research seems always to be on the verge of closing up shop. TruthAction is run at a monetary loss. The majority of activists groups operate out of pocket while living check to check. We see people coming up with creative ideas for new projects that will never get off the ground for lack of funding.
So if this is one of the most important movements of our time why aren't we trying to raise money to support it?
We can't rely upon wealthy philanthropists. Those who have tried to help have been confused and frustrated by the diversity and divisions in the movement. They have been exploited by the greedy and driven away by those trying to undermine our cause. In other words, these people are not a predictable or dependable source of funding for the movement.
And we have to be careful about wishful thinking. The NYC ballot initiative states clearly that it is to have a budget of $10 million a year for up to five years, the commissioners making $100,000 a year, and that the commission will not begin its duties until the necessary funds are acquired. It is suggested that there is some donor willing to give a fair amount of money, but nothing close to $50 million. That would be more money than has been donated to this cause since it began.
So then it is up to us to come up with ways to fund our activities. For that reason it might be best if we donate a healthy portion of what little money we have to organizations that directly benefit the movement. And I also think it wise that we spend our money helping our local activist groups to afford such things as banner signs and flyers. And ultimately, it would be refreshing to see a large event intending to donate proceeds to a movement organization.
I think its important to keep in mind that one premise of this movement is that we are all victims of 9/11. We labor to end the War on Terror that has been responsible for more death and misery that we have seen on our shores. And we should not fail to see that many of the people working for 9/11 truth are real heroes in their own right. Ultimately, if we are going to raise money we have to know that we deserve it.
So I'm not implying in any way that we stop supporting the first responders. But the response we are having is also important, patriotic, heroic, and worthy of financial support.