Those who naively believe the nonsense served up by mainstream media and government bureaucracies that have long since betrayed the public trust have been programmed to call anything that challenges the accepted narrative a “conspiracy theory.” This they clearly mean as a pejorative. Hence, they blindly obey Dr. Fauci’s latest directive and brag that, in so doing, they are “following the science” — no matter how often “the science,” that is, Dr. Fauci, vacillates.
Whoever points to nefarious agendas behind what our betters are inflicting upon us is branded a “conspiracy theorist.” Many people fear being called this, so they keep silent even when their common sense and an abundance of evidence point to an actual malevolent conspiracy against the common good.
That conspiracies exist — and I mean evil, criminal ones — would seem to be reasonably inferred from the fact that laws regarding “criminal conspiracy” are well established in our system of criminal law and jurisprudence (e.g., conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to commit arson).
Not all conspiracy theories emanate from the political right. Some readers may recall Hilary Clinton’s 1998 claim of a “vast right-wing conspiracy” that was underway to bring political harm to her husband.
To those inclined to believe that when Big Gov., Big Tech, and Big Media speak, it’s the Gospel truth and the prudent thing is to trust them, I offer this humorously-narrated but serious presentation on “Operation Northwoods,” an actual government plan to commit violent, even murderous acts as false flag operations to justify war with Cuba. (See video, below.)
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., undoubtedly a man of the Left, wrote disparagingly of this plan in his recent book, and brags that his uncle, President John F. Kennedy, indignantly rejected the proposal by Lyman Lemnitzer.
Click here for the now declassified documentation from which the narrator is reading in the video. He is not making it up. It’s real.
Why do I bring this up on a website about Catholic subjects?
Because whether it’s Covid hysteria, the “war on terror,” the emerging biomedical security state, ginning up war with Russia (or any number of other countries on the map — mostly in the Middle East), the powers that shouldn’t be use these and similar tactics routinely and should most certainly not be trusted. Because all these issues all have a moral dimension, whether or not we are being lied to about them matters very much. Moreover, many of these agendas are attacks on the Church herself (e.g., the shutting down of churches in the name of Covid hysteria and the violation of people’s bodily autonomy by forcing immorally derived, experimental, and dangerous medical interventions upon the masses).
“But isn’t that cynical?” you may ask. No, it’s not. Cynicism is not believing things that have rational criteria of credibility. Trusting those who have betrayed trust (and the above named players do it routinely!) is actually highly imprudent and irrational.
On his Substack, Frank Wright has an informative four-part series on Edward Bernays and the use of propaganda (Capturing the Western Eye, Freedom of Speech in Wartime, Propaganda in the Twentieth Century, and This is How We Make Belief). I’ve only read the first three parts, but they are highly recommended. I look forward to reading part four. My own foray into Bernays is on this site. Some knowledge of the use of propaganda by the government and the press is very helpful — or, rather, absolutely essential — in thinking through these matters.
None of this is to say that all conspiracy theories are to be believed. Far from it! There are many silly and ridiculous conspiracy theories out there (the existence of lizard people among our ruling elites, the Jesuits are taking over the United States [a popular anti-Catholic conspiracy theory in the 19th century], etc.). As in all matters, prudential discernment is recommended.
