Page 25 - 201006 - The 'X' Chronicles Newspaper - June 2010

June 2010_june_july_2009.qxd 30/06/2010 11:48 PM Page 25 Chemtrail Conspiraciy Theories 25 In an off-kilter world, far- out theories don't seem so nuts By Liz Soares One of my high school students asked me recently why the Greeks told such horrific tales of rape and murder. This led to a discussion of why the ancients created their myths. Basically, without a deep knowledge of science, they needed to tell stories to help them understand what must have seemed like a chaotic world. Much like the world we live in today. Oh, we know our science. We understand the Earth is not flat, and it revolves around the sun. We know about climate change and evolution, too -- at least most us do. But we're confused about politics, economics and technology. All is not what it seems, and we are furiously concocting conspiracy theories and modern myths to explain it all. Barack Obama is not a native-born citizen. He is a Muslim. He wants to disarm us all. He is a socialist. The Bush administration engineered 9/11. The Illuminati rule the world. Fluoride in our water makes us stupid. Vaccines cause autism in toddlers or turn adults into passive our own benefit, but to rationalize reducing or drones. eliminating Social Security. So what if most CHECK OUT THE ALL NEW In 2012, the world will end. The Mayans people would end up losing money because the ‘X’ ZONE MERCHANDISE said so. We are in the end times, biblically stock market is not for non-MBAs who have to AT speaking, anyway. If the Beast promised in work 40 hours a week and don't have time to Revelations doesn't get us first (and he is out figure out what they're doing with their there, make no mistake), the New World Order investments? will. Those people who can actually work the Our digitalized TVs are spying on us. market would just benefit even more. Or Big Pharma creates new illnesses to sell more something like that. drugs. Airplanes release "chemtrails" of The point is, I not only sense something mysterious biological substances. is very wrong with the stock market. Millions of Admission: I love conspiracy theories. I people lost their retirement savings in the 2009 don't believe most of them and am not entirely crash. How about May 6?, Nuff said. convinced of those I consider plausible. But I've got another one. Why, when until a few days ago, I thought my interest in thousands of gallons of oil are pouring into the them was fun, a sort of hobby. An "alternative Gulf of Mexico, aren't gas prices going up? reality" show. Maybe because that would be the death blow to I was listening to the radio. One of those our economy? How come the laws of supply 10-minute business updates came on. "The and demand aren't working? Huh? stock market rallies," the host's voice trilled. I Conspiracy theories and modern myths www. expected "Joy to the World" to rock out, rather often contain a kernel of truth. At the very least, xzonestore. than the show's regular theme. they show that the tellers, and listeners, are I didn't feel any joy. So what if the stock upset, confused and looking for answers. com market is up? The rest of the country is going to The speculations about President hell in a handbasket, to put it mildly. Obama, for example, are absurd. Yet I wonder How can anyone in their right mind be about the person I supported and voted for. His HIGH: Confessions Of An excited about a stock market rally when the darn administration is stocked with Goldman Sachs International Drug Smuggler thing is going up and down like a yo-yo on insiders. His reaction to the BP oil spill has been cocaine? My husband and I no longer have pathetic. money invested in it (thank God), but an During the primary season, I wondered investor would have to be in heavy denial to why the Republicans were almost endorsing think that what is happening on Wall Street is him. I shrugged it off, rationalizing that they business as usual. thought he'd be a weaker candidate than Hillary It does not help to be fed a steady diet of Clinton. The "messiah-like" stagings of his "ho, ho, ho, the market has rallied and all is campaign also struck a discordant note with me. right in the world." Now I feel unsettled, and vaguely afraid. This sort of insanity breeds conspiracy I'm looking for a story, an explanation, of whom theories. we really elected. I'm sure he's not the Beast or Here's one of my very own. The even a socialist. I just hope I get an answer government pushed workers into 401(k)s not for before 2012, or I'll never rest in peace. [] www.brianodea.com