From server@firefly.prairienet.org Wed May  3 14:13:42 1995
	id OAA10263; Wed, 3 May 1995 14:13:25 +0200
	id AA13806; Wed, 3 May 95 07:04:34 CDT
Subject: Conspiracy Nation -- Vol. 4 Num. 77
X-Comment:  Conspiracy Nation


              Conspiracy Nation -- Vol. 4  Num. 77
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                    ("Quid coniuratio est?")
 
 
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FLASH! -- STOP THE PRESSES!
We've Made The Papers!
 
Be sure to check out this week's *Time* magazine with cover 
story: "How Dangerous Are They? An Inside Look At America's 
Antigovernment Zealots". Inside I have found.....
 
** About the *only* decent critique of conspiracy theorists I 
have seen. The article, "Psst! Calling All Paranoids" does not 
contain the word "anti-Semites" at all! (Note to Berlet: read 
this article for an idea of how a decent critique is written, 
i.e. using logic instead of unfair smears; the majority of 
"conspiratologists" are *not* anti-Semitic and resent being 
unfairly called such.) Of course, that said, I don't agree with 
the article. For example, the author, Christine Gorman, writes 
"Often these aggrieved people fall in with others sharing the 
same point of view." What happens when there are tens of 
thousands who share this point of view? They can't all be 
"crazy"; it's not that simple. Still, the article is a major 
improvement over the usual baloney.
 
** A picture of Lawyer Thompson! She doesn't look too bad; get it 
enlarged and she can be the "Conspiracy Pin-Up Girl".
 
** The article "Enemies of The State" by Jill Smolowe states, 
"What is most perplexing is the vague intersection between those 
so-called patriots who merely spread the word Paul Revere-style, 
those who are arming themselves in anticipation of a fight to 
defend their rights, and those who are already taking aim at 
perceived enemies." Hey, Jill: Are you suggesting there is a 
*conspiracy*? You should do an "*institutional* *analysis*". Then 
you'll see that these groups are each reacting independently to 
the federal Frankenstein.
   Hey, Jill: Don't be *paranoid*.
 
 
Surprisingly decent coverage of the militia movement and 
conspiracy theories. However I must fault *Time* magazine for 
ignoring a key ingredient in the lively, ongoing conspiracy 
dialogue: i.e., solid and convincing evidence of government 
corruption that is being woefully under-reported by media outlets 
such as *Time*. *Time* magazine is, after all, one of those that 
praised the ridiculous Posner book, *Case Closed*, to the skies. 
Anyone who has read just a little bit into the matter must, as do 
I, consider *Time* magazine as -- generally -- not to be trusted.
 
Still, relatively speaking, the coverage is much better than most 
of the drivel I come across that poses as serious rebuttal.
 
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Aperi os tuum muto, et causis omnium filiorum qui pertranseunt.
Aperi os tuum, decerne quod justum est, et judica inopem et 
  pauperem.                    -- Liber Proverbiorum  XXXI: 8-9 

 Brian Francis Redman    bigxc@prairienet.org    "The Big C"
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    Coming to you from Illinois -- "The Land of Skolnick"        
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