See other Editorial Articles
Title: Stop Shooting Conspiracy Theory Messengers
Source:
[None]
URL Source: http://www.opednews.com/articles/St ... -Dean-Hartwell-100126-807.html
Published: Jan 30, 2010
Author: Dean Hartwell
Post Date: 2010-01-30 10:05:49 by Ada
Keywords: None
Views: 330
Comments: 7
In the days of old, the king would kill someone who told him something he did not want to hear. But few people today would even contemplate that. And bad news is all around us. We have wars that have dragged on for years, we have an economy that is sputtering at best and we are constantly reminded that many of our leaders have moral shortcomings. No one shoots the messenger over anything like this. But when the subject concerns facts about government involvement in criminal activities, the reaction of much of the public and the media is perhaps even worse: the messenger gets ridiculed. Recently, Stephen Colbert of the Colbert Nation brought 9/11 Commission member John Farmer on his show to discuss his new book. Right away, Colbert asked in a facetious tone whether there are any conspiracy theories in the book, like "Dick Cheney as a flight attendant." Predictably, Farmer assured Colbert that there were no such theories. Oliver Stone's 1991 movie JFK, which supports conspiracy theory in the John Kennedy assassination, was attacked by media critics before it even came out. This response contrasts sharply with the admiration the media gave the Warren Report and its support of the official lone gunman theory. Many of the critics did not actually read the report. When I discuss the assassination of Robert Kennedy, I frequently mention facts such as an audiotape of the event that indicates that thirteen shots were fired, five more than the number of bullets in convicted assassin Sirhan Sirhan's gun. I also point out that Sirhan was never seen within two feet of Kennedy, whereas the coroner said the fatal shot was fired at point-blank range. Eyes start to roll and I am called a "conspiracy nut." The typical response I get in giving factual support for conspiracy theory is for people to give the benefit of every possible doubt to the official (non-conspiracy) theory. "Sure, I hear what you say, but the audiotape and eyewitnesses could have been wrong." There is nothing wrong with speculation and exploring alternate hypothesis. This is frequently how theories get started. But those who use speculation (such as thirteen mistaken eyewitnesses) to prove a theory only succeed in keeping their view viable in their own minds. If people could be convicted of crimes based on this way of thinking, we'd all be in jail! Does anyone believe our government never does anything wrong? I doubt it. The blind eye that many turn as to the facts of events like 9/11 likely stems from the refusal to confront the horror of something that has power over us. As one who supports certain conspiracy theories, I never recommend forming any conclusion until one has accounted for all relevant facts. And therein lies the problem: critics of anything that smacks of conspiracy decline to consider or counter the message. They shoot the messenger (and any chance of a reasonable discussion) instead. http://www.deanhartwell.com Dean Hartwell has written the newly-released book "Dead Men Talking: Consequences of Government Lies" and previously wrote "Truth Matters: How the Voters Can Take Back Their Nation." Convinced that the government has no interest in telling us the (more...)
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#1. To: Ada (#0)
The conspiracy theory with JFK is the one that was pushed by Arlen Spector and the Warren commission. To the folks that think political assassinations can't happen here, think again. They have, and no doubt will continue.
Conspiracy theories are often helpful in that they present new perspectives. Unfortunately they tend to cast attention away from the underlying causes of history, which are much harder to counter than mere conspiracies.
Conspiracy theories reveal to us the deeds of the rotten class of cowards who hide behind men of iron whom they pay with the gold that they steal from us.
But not how they get away with it, or what conditions made it possible for them to get away with it, or how we can avoid such in the future.
A good deal of it is quite clear. The people have been stupified with a false prosperity and a decrepit culture. They will do nothing until the last crust of bread is taken from their mouths.
The culture is tax maximization. Political power has never been so highly concentrated, and the result is a "prosperity" that is actually just churn.
When the masses aren't stupid enough to elect the chosen puppet ... those that instruct us to "work within the system" violate their own policy and call in contract killers that conduct an executive change in puppets, ie., Kennedy. The people in general continue to play according to hoyle while their masters employ any and all evil to accomplish their ends.
Whoever would return government to the "will of the people" must first return the United States to the use of CONSTITUTIONAL COINAGE as a medium of exchange and through it return the Constitution as law in the United States.
Oliver Stone's 1991 movie JFK, which supports conspiracy theory in the John Kennedy assassination
#2. To: Ada (#0)
#3. To: Deasy (#2)
#4. To: randge (#3)
#5. To: Deasy (#4)
#6. To: randge (#5)
"The people have been stupified with a false prosperity and a decrepit culture."
#7. To: Ada (#0)
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest