Another Email fwd: Do you Remember 1987?

Received this email forward today (of course no sources cited in the email) interspersed with images like this of 9/11:

"I had forgotten all of this. Do you remember when the senators were giving Ollie North such a bad time? This brings it all into perspective doesn't it? Have a great day.

Thought you might be interested in this forgotten bit of information........ It was 1987! At a lecture the other day, they were playing an old news video of Lt.Col. Oliver North testifying at the Iran-Contra hearings during the Reagan Administration. There was Ollie in front of God and country getting the third degree, but what he said was stunning! He was being drilled by a senator; 'Did you not recently spend close to $60,000 for a home security system? Ollie replied, 'Yes, I did, Sir.' The senator continued, trying to get a laugh out of the audience 'Isn't that just a little excessive?' 'No, sir,' continued Ollie. 'No? And why not?' the senator asked. 'Because the lives of my family and I were threatened, sir.' 'Threatened? By whom?' the senator questioned. 'By a terrorist, sir' Ollie answered. 'Terrorist? What terrorist could possibly scare you that much?''His name is Osama bin Laden, sir' Ollie replied.

At this point the senator tried to repeat the name, but couldn't pronounce it, which most people back then probably couldn't. A couple of people laughed at the attempt. Then the senator continued. Why are you so afraid of this man?' the senator asked. 'Because, sir, he is the most evil person alive that I know of', Ollie answered.

'And what do you recommend we do about him?' asked the senator. 'Well, sir, if it were up to me, I would recommend that an assassin team be formed to eliminate him and his men from the face of the earth.' The senator disagreed with this approach, and that was all that was shown of the clip.

By the way, that senator was Al Gore! Also: Terrorist pilot Mohammad Atta blew up a bus in Israel in 1986. The Israelis captured, tried and imprisoned him. As part of the Oslo agreement with the Palestinians in 1993, Israel had to agree to release so-called 'political prisoners.' However, the Israelis would not release any with blood on their hands, The American President at the time, Bill Clinton, and his Secretary of State, Warren Christopher, 'insisted' that all prisoners be released. Thus Mohammad Atta was freed and eventually thanked us by flying an airplane into Tower One of the World Trade Center .Many of the American TV networks reported this at the time that the terrorists were first identified. It was censored in the US from all later reports.

If you agree that the American public should be made aware of this fact, pass this on. Do Not Break - it is 6 years strong This is why I always say I love YOU.... This has not been broken since 9/11/01, please keep it going...This has been kept alive and moving since 9/11. In memory of all those who perished that morning; the passengers and the pilots on the United Air and AA flights, the workers in the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and all the innocent bystanders. Our prayers go out to the friends and families of the deceased. "

This is completely false on both accounts, and even so has been passed around the world since 9/11/01. Oliver North never mentioned anything about Osama during his hearings… see Snopes.com. And Ata was a case of mistaken identity, it was never run in the media because it wasn't the same person... not because there was some cover-up. (See Snopes again).

As much propaganda as there is regarding terrorists and Arabs we don’t need false information that just creates more confusion and distrust. It brings shame to the memory of those that died in the 9/11 attacks when we accept falsehood. People, especially American Evangelicals, pass on false stuff like this and digest it because it seems it's what they want to hear.   If it further demonizes the enemy and the political party we oppose, it must be true.  I urge you... don't propagate lies and hatred! 

I wish that we as Evangelicals could be known as those who seek truth and are working for peace.  Instead, in situations like Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Israeli-Palestinian issue, we've taken sides, and believe whatever supports our ideology, without checking facts.  There’s always a side to the story that doesn’t get as much press… like the allegations that the CIA actually trained bin Laden in the 80's to fight the communists, or the US enabled racism against Palestinians, illegal seizures of land, and Israel's continual violation of UN resolutions. (See here)  But things like this never make it into email forwards… because it’s uncomfortable counter-cultural truth, and that’s not what people want to hear.