Conspiracy Theories

The other day I met with another contractor who specializes in remodeling homes. He told me that because of the economy he is taking distressed properties in "the bad part of town", renovating them and then renting them out. Because of what he is doing, he is in contact and having conversations with black people everyday, and he told me that every single one of them believes that George W. Bush was behind the 9/11 attacks. So they believe that the President of the United States of America orchestrated terrorist attacks on his own people!

Glenn Beck has come up with lists of progressive leaders who he believes are working with certain organizations to take over America and transform the way we live socially and politically.

Oliver Stone's "JFK" was dedicated to the conspiracy theory that Lee Harvey Oswald did not act alone, and that the government knew more about the President's murder then they were letting on...that Lyndon Johnson stood aside while the military-industrial complex schemed to get rid of Kennedy.

Some people don't believe humans landed on the moon, that it was all a big hoax put together on a set in Hollywood.

I don't think conspiracy theories are bad. If you aren't suspicious that things aren't way they seem, there is a good chance you could be fooled. It is important to have multiple views on everything, we need to obtain all the information we can before we form an opinion or belief.

Theory is a great tool humans have. We can think, reason and form ideas to create theories. Without theories there is no scientific method. You must have a theory (hypothesis) before you set out to create something or test an idea. There are all kinds of theories and none of them are bad unless we fall victim to calling them fact.

Evolution is a theory. Creation is a theory. Bigger government, more taxes and government spending to create jobs will provide as successful economy is a theory. Smaller government, less taxes, and the 'trickle down effect' to provide a strong economy is a theory. Global warming is a theory. Taking troops out of Iraq will be better for America and Iraq is a theory.

I don't have a problem with people believing in conspiracy theories. I don't have a problem with people advocating their theory. What I do have a problem with is the people who hear those theories and then accept them as fact and they let that information become apart of their belief system without ever hearing the other side, doing research, and making an informed opinion. I'm not suggesting that you spend hours researching what you heard after Glenn Beck or Michael Moore speak, but if you're willing to accept what they say, and it's going to be apart of your thought process then continue on and seek out whether or not it really is the truth...something worth believing.

One of the biggest problems in American society is taking things written or said on TV at face value. People across the country watch the evening news and accept what they hear as fact. They haven't taken into consideration that the anchor, the producer, and the network airing the broadcast all have their own beliefs and as hard as they try (if they try) they will have some bias in their reporting. Objectivity is no longer apart of the news, and it is affecting those who don't have strong opinions. The impressionable people in America and around the world fall prey to good speakers with unproven theories. If you think for yourself, you've done the research, you know what all the options are, and you still disagree with me then I can respect you...but I can't if you are willing to follow blindly behind someone else's agenda.

JB