Make believe 9-11

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

Dear Mr. Iger:

I have been reading in the news that ABC plans to air a two-part mini-series called "The Path to 9/11" on September 10 and September 11. Accounts of advance screenings indicate that this in not a direct interpretation of factual events, but uses some facts and the rest is scripted for entertainment or dramatical purposes.

I am a big believer in freedom of speech and expression, and support ABC producing whatever programs you like, provided you are quite clear with the public, with what you are presenting.

It is my understanding that this program is being positioned as a documentary or a semi-documentary. If ABC chooses to proceed ahead with putting this program on the television or cable then ABC had better be blatantly clear this is a "dramatized", and not a documentary based portrayal.

9-11 is a painful and raw emotional memory for our nation. I would prefer this not going on the air at all, but it is your choice.

If this does proceed ahead with any "hint" of being portrayed as a fact based documentary, I can assure you will will lose my support, as a loyal audience member, and that I will express my displeasure in as many public forums as I can engage in.

This is a choice I will make, although one I would prefer not be forced to make.

Our country still has not applied all of the learnings from this horrific event, and we have yet to fix many of our intelligence, and security weaknesses. We are putting the Nation at risk if we distort the truth, and lead the public to an "entertainment based" view of what actually happened.

Thank you for your attention and consideration. We live in discomforting times.