HistoryCommons.org has been offline the last few days, including the Complete 9/11 Timeline, as we reported early morning 9/11 as part of our story about the CIA threatening the “9/11: Press for Truth” filmmakers. It is a relief to report this morning that the site is once again available.
If you have not been aware or taken advantage of this astounding research tool, or participated in the development of this “experiment in open-content civic journalism,” I encourage you to do so. The 32 individual timelines hosted at HistoryCommons offer an astounding wealth of information drawn from the media on subjects such as the events on 9/11, it’s environmental effects, anthrax, Iraq war, neocon influences on US politics, George W. Bush’s treatment of American troops, electoral politics, and much more.
Students often write to me asking where and how to start researching on some aspect of 9/11 or related matter for class projects and research papers; HistoryCommons.org is where I tell them to start. Not only is the information presented in a comprehensible manner, every single entry is thoroughly sourced. I challenge anyone to review what’s at HistoryCommons.org and maintain their belief that people asking questions are lunatics or morons.
Thank you, Paul Thompson and all of you who dedicate your time, voluntarily, to civic journalism and assembling this incredibly valuable historical record. I know our posterity will thank you, as well. Welcome back!