Hidden Realities of The War On Drugs: "Kill The Messenger"

Because of our traditional historical narratives, Americans have a hard time handling the truth.

The first to call out governmental crimes and corruptions are usually marginalized in American history. They are side barred "messengers," the first to call out official wrongdoing. Gary Webb, reporter for the San Jose Mercury News, deserves a place among the "firsts" who provide balance to American history.

Webb's story -- of this country's CIA's and military's complicity in cocaine shipping, the mass arrests and encarceration of South Central LA civilians; the CIA's stalking and intimidation of him, the American media's impugning of his ethics -- should be in a chapter devoted to our history of whistleblowers.

We must learn to tell modern American history differently. No more "great man/strong man" framing. No more "enemy" framing or "aren't we wonderful" stories that lull us into "sheltering in place."

An American history of positive "firsts" -- Paine's visions, founders' documents, presidents and innovators -- must be balanced by firsts that reveal ugly truths, as well. Such has been the goal of objective investigative reporting.

This movie -- as the story of one of our first whistle blowers -- reveals one whistleblower's history as a reality check on old American narratives.