This is my entry for the Information Finding Championship Final: Round 2 run by @apolymask and @ifc. The topic for this round is: Conspiracy Theories.
It is a shame that in this climate of dis-trust on all levels of modern life, truth becomes a 'word weapon' of choice. Here it is, here is Truth! It is sold and pandered to any willing passerby. To be sure, truth of the modern age comes with bells and whistles, customizable ring-tones and flash-banners to entertain and engage the senses!
How insulting to those that respect Truth in the highest sense, to witness the word flung around in total disregard as if no more relevant than tabloid fodder.
However, people are starving for Truth, within themselves and outside...so they grab from this tree and that tree - the brightly colored fruits of disinformation, half truths and stories willingly and without much forethought or in-sight.
And what of the sellers of truth, the sharers of truth? Why has the word "Truth" become such a controversial proclamation....such a trigger word for anger, more dis-trust, doubt, confusion...and in extreme cases, even violence?
What in the hell is Truth?!
So, how did we get to this point? Much of it can be explained by the repeal of The Smith-Mundt Act - Until 2013, it was illegal for our government to use propaganda on it's own people. Now the government can use propaganda on its own people which has made getting to the truth of any topic particularly arduous and time consuming.
Learn more: ---> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith%E2%80%93Mundt_Act
Dictionary.com defines Conspiracy as: THE ACT OF CONSPIRING; AN EVIL, UNLAWFUL, TREACHEROUS, OR SURREPTITIOUS PLAN FORMULATED IN SECRET BY TWO OR MORE PERSONS; PLOT; A COMBINATION OF PERSONS FOR A SECRET, UNLAWFUL, OR EVIL PURPOSE: HE JOINED THE CONSPIRACY TO OVERTHROW THE GOVERNMENT; LAW. AN AGREEMENT BY TWO OR MORE PERSONS TO COMMIT A CRIME, FRAUD, OR OTHER WRONGFUL ACT.;
So, logically speaking, conspiracy or conspiracy theory should only have a subtle difference - that being, one is evidence-based and the other is based on an idea.
Unfortunately, this word has been turned into a highly charged/negative word meant to discredit and imply a person is crazy if they have any idea or truths that puts into question the status-quo or official story. Which is absurd considering that history is full of conspiracies. We do not live in a world with only 'good' people.
What ever happened to “Question Everything”? What ever happened to critical thinking and discussion?
This might prove to be an arduous pursuit these days.
I consider myself a fairly aware person when it comes to this mountain of truth - I am a truth-seeker but I do not rely on conventional resources - I go to the source itself (if possible) and read multiple views. We've had to become our own investigative researchers! With that comes a more engaged and aware population. However, that has also caused a plethora of mass information and opinion.
HOW I WAS INTRODUCED TO CONSPIRACY
(Of course, it wasn't called that back then)
At the tender age of 23, I had gone to a large book sale. Overwhelmed by the prospects, I asked for a recommendation from the man sitting on the other side of the table. He seemed to be a very nice (or not so nice , depending on how you look at it) and suggested I read, "Behold A Pale Horse" by William Cooper. "It's a 'classic'", he said as he handed it to me with a mischievous smile ;) The old southern farts sitting with him all chuckled and rolled their eyes. Based on their reaction, I had reservations about wanting to read the book but felt compelled to read it after several of the men agreed this was an excellent choice. LOL Wow! It took me years to read and absorb the contents of that book. HEAVY stuff! Stuff of nightmares, quite frankly. At the time,it was difficult for me to wrap this around my mind (I had nothing in my environment that resembled it) but I was at least open to this being 'possible'. Was the information in this book 'truth' or some elaborate fictional story tied together by real documents? I really didn't know. I would define it as conspiracy x100!
At the age of 26, I worked with a man that turned out to be in the CIA. Hello!
You would never know it by his demeanor - a quiet and understated man - hardly the example of bravado I witnessed in the other men I worked with in this engineering firm. But I did notice that those that left his office, came out noticeably stressed. Then, there was the occasional office comment that seemed to denote 'fear' of this man. So, clearly, there was another side to him. It made me very curious as to 'why' given that I didn't share the same experience others had with him. In fact, this man seemed to look out for me at several points in those two years - he went to bat for me in securing other positions, called me into his office to compliment a project I did or squelched office drama. All this added to my curiosity.
However, I never engaged in any meaningful conversation with him and I never saw him out at any of our office celebrations with the exception of once.
It was a birthday party for one of the managers. He sat alone, separate from everyone else at his own table - observing...quiet. As well, no one else approached him or tried to socialize. I felt a little sorry for him sitting there alone. Maybe he was misunderstood, maybe he really was a nice guy. I caught him laughing a few times as I attempted karaoke with a fellow co-worker and so finally got up the nerve to approach him, inviting him to sit with the rest of us but he declined. So, I tried to make small talk with him asking him how long he knew the person we were celebrating and then asked him how long he worked for our firm. "Not long", he stated. "Oh, where did you work before?", I asked. He very freely and calmly offered (to my surprise), "The CIA." Didn't see that coming! LOL! My mind went off into all directions of 'oh shit!' Given that I had just read that 'classic book' this was like being side-swiped by a reality check. Do I run away NOW or let my curiosity get the best of me (my mind repeating in pulses of warnings, 'curiosity killed the cat, curiously killed the cat)?!!!.
Curiosity won. I quickly found my composure and calmly executed the question, "Oh? That's interesting...How long did you work for the CIA?" (gulp!) He stared at me as if trying to select carefully his words and with a sigh and deep breath answered "You don't ever leave the CIA...." With a side smile, he paused and then drifted off as if in deep thought of a memory and then continued, "I had friends that tried to leave - people that I cared about - and I never heard from them again." My mind, again, went off into all directions of 'oh shit!' However, I was struck by the human being sitting there and heard the deep haunting sadness in his defeated voice, the regret...and his face almost searching mine for a reason to believe in life or perhaps forgiveness from a young life that had not seen what he had seen? All I could think of to say, given the awkwardness and seriousness of this moment was...."I'm so sorry." And I deeply meant it.
"Can I ask you a question?" I prompted. "Sure, ask me anything" he answered. [What does an immature 26 year ask a CIA agent?] I giggled in my embarrassment, "Are there really ALIENS? Have you seen them?" Honestly, I don't think he was expecting such a question, he looked a little surprised. "Hmmmm...I'm going to answer your question with a question and then we can go from there. If you really want to know, I will tell you but it will ruin your life...Do you still want to know?" Unquestionably, his face was as serious as it could be - he meant it and I felt it! I hesitated with my excitement of learning about this burning question. I sat there studying his face further as the wheels of my mind turned - Do I want to know? What if his answer really did ruin my life? Is it worth knowing? He allowed me to study him for several moments suspended on these questions as I breached his false exterior wall into what this answer had done to him (at least in part). Then I looked into his eyes and saw them flutter and retreat into that guarded space and with that I knew..."No, no I don't think I want to know." "That's a good answer" he replied "...just enjoy your life."
Admittedly, not every young life starts off with experiences like this. What kind of message did this experience give me?
1) That there is information my government knows that is bad enough that it would ruin my life knowing about it.
2) That people within these agencies are basically held hostage by the information they know
3) That people within these agencies are just human beings - some good/some bad
4) That what I think I know about my reality isn't necessarily the full picture
Between that disturbing book and this experience with this CIA agent, my worldview was slightly cracked and spilling out distrust. And this was a big deal considering I grew up in Washington DC - The epicenter of patriotism, American spirit...our government. Free speech and truth were celebrated - protests happened daily! I was surrounded by both past history and history in the making. I went to school with diplomats'/politicians' children. The Constitution and Bill of Rights were a part of our normal curriculum.
By golly! I believed in the 'checks and balances' of both the American people (and that spirit living inside) and all these agencies that were created to keep us safe and on point with...ummm...freedom?
As time marched on and I continued to witness soooo many injustices, suffering, corruption taking place, I began to realize that something was very wrong.
Sometimes life has a way of shaking some truth into you.
Nothing said this more than when I became ill after a tetanus shot. Something I didn't want to have in the first place (major phobia of needles) but was approached by 7 doctors in white coats with a pile of waivers for me to sign if I didn't take the shot. "Just get it over with and you'll be good for 10 years." they said. It was a highly intimidating situation and I relented. If I could go back and undo that moment, I would!
That was the moment my life changed. The following day, I had a very high fever, developed a rash all over my body, developed Raynaud's, horrible fatigue, headaches and just progressed in following weeks into losing my eye sight intermittently, blood pressure dropping to the 40's, pneumonia...
I would spend the next 6 years going to every specialist under the sun, having procedures that were horrible, twice a week blood draws until finally an immunologist said, "We've done everything and tried everything but you obviously have a connective tissue disease. Nothing we've tried has worked so the only thing left is chemo. Hope you don't mind being a guinea pig. We'll just kill everything off and see what comes back." That was exactly his words! He finished it off with, "You will never be able to have children and I don't know how long you have." NEXT!
I spent the next 3 days sitting outside in my backyard balling my eyes out, praying and even cussing. I went through a plethora of emotion facing my own mortality and the thought of leaving this beautiful earth and loved ones. I thought a lot about life, what life meant, what I would miss....and then I just felt a peace wash over me. I was done.
The next day, I had a knock at the door from a new neighbor I didn't know. She never socialized with anyone. It was rather odd. She just said, "I thought maybe you could use this more than me." and handed me a list of doctors and specialists. I have no idea how she even knew I was sick - I didn't talk to anyone about it - I didn't have the energy to have relationships with other people.
To make a long story short, this was the beginning of my major wake-up and what would ultimately save my life.
This new doctor had just spent the last 5 years of her life sick and unable to work without help from her own field. Much like my own story. She took her medical knowledge and put it to work researching and learning things she was never learned in medical school - and healed herself. I was one of her first patients after she re-opened her doors. She was a 'force' is the only way I could describe her personality. A whirlwind of energy! On my first visit, she hurled so many question and information at me that my head was spinning. And all the while she is talking, she is also typing and spits out a printout for me. She meant business! "You are a very sick girl, but if you will give me 3 months and do what I say, I can give you back your life." she said.
This was all foreign and overwhelming to me. Sounded like a lot of work! But, my choice was quite simple: try this or do the chemo.
One of the things on her list was to remove 'fluoride'. No tap water - only distilled water, filter in shower, no fluoride toothpaste.
What?!!! Fluoride?!!! But...but....
She was very matter of fact, "fluoride is toxic", it needs to be removed completely!
Was this true and if it was true, are my teeth going to rot out of my head now too?!
Okay, okay.....
When I looked into this topic, it completely dismantled my trust. How could this be?!!
The Conspiracy of How Fluoride Entered Our Lives
What I learned about this chemical and it's history defies logic and human ethics. A conspiracy fact no matter how you look at it and continues to this day.
[Source]https://pixabay.com/en/pollution-factory-industry-smoke-2575166/
In 1951 INDUSTRY WELCOMED fluoridation with open arms.
Even the US Public Health Service and American Dental Association, State Dental Health Directors and various other health bodies (even women's clubs) urged this trend enthusiastically. Why would the public question those that are entrusted to 'protect'?
[source]https://pixabay.com/en/vintage-woman-girl-female-lady-1319058/
However, those most enthusiastic were chemical companies and equipment firms benefiting financially:
General Chemical, Harshaw Chemical Co., Blockson Chemical Co., American Agricultural Chemical Co., Aluminum Co. of America (ALCOA), Davison Chemical Corp., and Baugh Chemical Co and even nuclear corporations.
Toxic waste and by-products are such a problem!
Let's go back in history to understand what brought us to this point.
In the 1930's, ALCOA (Aluminum Co. of America) and other manufacturers had a huge problem with disposing of their waste and by-products. So huge was the problem that the process to eliminate it became increasingly difficult and costly. After all, you couldn't just dump these toxic compounds in the environment anymore. The government was cracking down on this - one plant in Washington state was fined for dumping fluorides into the Columbia River.this resulted in injury and death of surrounding cattle.
Additionally, for decades, the manufacturers of steel and phosphate fertilizers were also having an issue with their toxic by-product waste as well. Lawsuits were piling up! The word was getting out. A couple from Pocatello, Idaho filed a judgment as their local trout farm and fish hatchery was being damaged and the eggs from the fish were being rendered 'worthless' as they no longer hatched. The fish also were developing malformations. Eventually the build up of toxicity of their farm was resulting in a ton of dead fish per day and fluoride levels in the water ranged between 0.5 and 4.7ppm (this is no different than current levels in our drinking water now).
To make matters worse, industrial fluoride hazards around the world were progressively worsening and with that came a mountain of more litigation and press. Just to give an example how pervasive the toxicity was at the time, Polk County Florida saw a reduction of 120,000 cows in 1954 reduced to 30,000 by 1965. The levels of fluoride in surrounding plants were tested at an astounding 1800ppm.
When the human health effects started becoming more well-known, additional lawsuits were filed and despite investment in expensive air-cleaning equipment, it wasn't helping effectively (fluoride's particles are very small). Between the expense of cleaning equipment, lawsuits (costing millions of dollars) and public awareness - these manufacturers were looking at their extinction.
Ed Bernays to the rescue - If you haven't heard of him, you should!
Austrian-American pioneer in the field of public relations and propaganda
November 22, 1891 − March 9, 1995
Nephew of Sigmund Freud
He described the masses as irrational and subject to herd instinct—and outlined how skilled practitioners could use crowd psychology and psycho-analysis to control them in desirable ways. He is aptly known as the 'Father of Propaganda"
Bernays touted the idea that the "masses" are driven by factors outside their conscious understanding, and therefore their minds can and should be manipulated by the elite few.
"Intelligent men must realize that propaganda is the modern instrument by which they can fight for productive ends and help to bring order out of chaos."
Other quotes:
“Propaganda is the executive arm of the invisible government.” ― Edward L. Bernays
“The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society. Those who manipulate this unseen mechanism of society constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country. ...We are governed, our minds are molded, our tastes formed, our ideas suggested, largely by men we have never heard of. This is a logical result of the way in which our democratic society is organized. Vast numbers of human beings must cooperate in this manner if they are to live together as a smoothly functioning society. ...In almost every act of our daily lives, whether in the sphere of politics or business, in our social conduct or our ethical thinking, we are dominated by the relatively small number of persons...who understand the mental processes and social patterns of the masses. It is they who pull the wires which control the public mind.” ― Edward L. Bernays, Propaganda
To get a full understanding of how influential (and diabolical) this man was in shaping American culture and history (and the world for that fact), this documentary will shake the foundations of everything you think you know: "Century of the Self" ---> https://youtu.be/eJ3RzGoQC4s
Under the direction of Bernays, ALCOA and other corporations paid for studies with the Melon Institute, Kettering Laboratory, Universities and other labs to prove that 'fluoride' was not only non-toxic, but healthy. They then met with government agencies and other public and environmental safety organizations to promote this paid for propaganda. So substantial was this body of information that it is still used today to promote the benefits of