by Carol Brouillet
July 11, 2011
The first Deception Dollars were printed in the autumn of 2002. They were
a collaborative effort to overcome censorship of the basic facts about 9/11
that were so well concealed by the mainstream media, and to drive people to
check out websites challenging the official story. Their popularity inspired
many people to create better websites, as millions of Deception Dollars were
passed out at anti-war rallies and marches in an attempt to prevent the unjustifiable,
immoral, heartbreaking war upon Iraq. Canadian artist Blaine Machan did the
artwork, maintained the Deception Dollar website and contributed greatly to
the budding 9/11 Truth Movement.
Donations for Deception Dollars helped keep websites and researchers going,
helped fund documentaries and film screenings and helped fund the first International
Citizens’ Inquiries into 9/11 in San Francisco and Toronto. The Deception Dollars
evolved over time. Eventually the portrait of George W. Bush was flanked by
Rove, Rumsfeld and Cheney, to be replaced by Cheney, and finally by an unknown
character behind an Obama mask. Over nearly a decade, numerous websites were
added and subtracted from the Deception Dollars. As new technologies have driven
more people online, full-length films began to be posted online. The 9/11 Truth
Movement grew and so did the problems that we faced. To raise awareness about
these problems, we published Media Deception Dollars and Election Deception
Dollars. As faith in government, the press and the dollar waned, in 2007 the
first Conception or “Hope” Dollars were printed, pointing towards solutions
and “change” that people yearned for. In 2010 we printed an evolution of the
Conception Dollars, the first Perception or “Love” Dollars.
With the tenth anniversary looming on the horizon, I have been torn about
where to concentrate my time and energies. It’s a lot of work to publish a new
edition and generally involves much collaboration between the artist and the
many people who contribute their thoughts, ideas, and website suggestions, as
well as dealing with the printing fund and the distribution channels. In addition,
Blaine’s wife, Janelle, is expecting their first child in August, which means
the artwork needs to be done before the end of July. This September there will
be Hearings in Toronto, One the Event, organized by Firefighters for 9/11 Truth’s Erik Lawyer in Seattle, the Campaign to Remember Building 7 and air TV ads to
draw people’s attention to the demolition of a skyscraper that was not hit by
an airplane on the afternoon of September 11th, a campaign for a ballot initiative
to form a Citizens’ 9/11 Commission, and multiple events in New York, Washington D.C. and in the Bay Area.
We are running out of the 11th version of the Deception Dollars. I would like
to create a new version drawing attention to the deceptions behind the nuclear,
oil, monetary and military industries, the most recent crises threatening all
of us, that arise from the corporate quest for global dominance. While I deeply
appreciate and respect the heroic efforts of many who devote the bulk of their
time and attention to shattering the myth of 9/11, I can’t help but see 9/11
as one big lie amongst many, the unraveling of any of which might help to dismantle
the dominant empire that has so thoroughly corrupted governments, courts and
institutions throughout the world. Opposition to the truth is fierce and the
truth movement has been under attack for years. Decentralization and diversity
have been a blessing as well as a curse in our efforts to pursue the truth.
We have demonstrated over time that we can agree to disagree about certain issues
or where to place our greatest emphasis, and still recognize our profound common
ground.
On September 11, 1906, Gandhi and three thousand others gathered
together in South Africa to launch a campaign against immoral, racist
laws. Although he was inspired by Thoreau and Tolstoy, Gandhi felt
that the words “civil disobedience” didn’t adequately convey
the meaning of direct action infused with spiritual commitment to describe
their efforts, so he held a contest to find the right words to name
their campaign. In this way “Satyagraha” was born, combining “Truth”
and “Force” in a new, powerful way, which inspired a successful
struggle in South Africa and eventually the withdrawal of the British
Empire from India. It is my hope that the 9/11 Truth Movement will
similarly spark and grow into a global Truth Movement that challenges
and dismantles, nonviolently, the mental chains of corporate dominance
and the legitimacy of corrupt governments and military forces that
oppress and destroy people and the planet, blindly, for profit.
Sadly, however, the nuclear, military, and oil industries have created
toxic legacies which they, themselves, cannot contain or control and
which threaten current and future generations. In addition to
exposing the truth about 9/11, it is up to us, the ordinary people, to
halt the suicidal technologies while we can.
I hope that the combined forces of people infused with love and courage will
overcome the institutions reliant upon fear, greed and violence. I hope that
people will reclaim their future, including gaining more control and responsibility
for their lives. I hope that the Perception and Deception Dollars will nurture
that effort, encouraging and informing the struggle and the shift in consciousness.
Together we can do what no one of us can do alone, and I
welcome ideas, insights, suggestions and assistance in creating and distributing
the next generation of Perception and Deception Dollars. I hope that
the greater Truth Movement will succeed and that future printings will not be
necessary. I dream of a world without war, without massive environmental destruction,
without institutional violence, where all people and life are respected, nurtured
and entitled to a fair share of the abundant gifts that have been showered upon
this beautiful planet.
If you would like to help with this project, please send your ideas, suggestions
and offers my way. Carol Brouillet – cbrouillet [at} igc (dot] org. (We also
will reprint paper versions of the ’11 Remarkable Facts about 9/11′ sheets when
we reprint the Dollars, and offer a special pre-publishing rate to those who
help us during the usual cashflow crunch.)