Preface:
I rarely, and try not to at all, rely on singular accounts of stated “facts”, cross referencing judgements/interpretations through time, researching origins and changes as the subject matter is produced.
Analysis:
Conspiracy theories abound and continue to grow through time, maybe especially in and during the current state of affairs/politics/purposeful divisiveness and, yes, it is hard to separate the truth from the “fake news” and alt right OR far left. We, as a society, have come to a crossroads where we take the path to and with the masses of either/every persuasion or the one much less traveled today of examination, investigation, inquiry and scrutiny. The latter is not easy, in actuality, very difficult, as the media of every stripe have their own agendas that perpetuate their interests, versions, ideas and ideals so it becomes a challenge to seek the whole picture and ferret out the accurate information that should, as more evidence arises and is verified, likewise be brought to light which seems to be rare in current journalism practices.
This exploration began as I was asked by a dear friend and colleague to look at an interview on- line re “Nesara/Gesara” (also known as QAnon or just “Q with Charlie Ward and Jack Kidd that was conducted on 5/15/20. Of the dozen or so points discussed I quickly observed numerous falsifications, misinformation, incorrect dates and lack of thoughtful inspection (or even common sense in some cases). Yet, not only is this conspiracy theory being perpetuated it is growing exponentially and is becoming an example of how and maybe why we are at the crossroads.
The theory began in October, 2017 with a post on the anonymous image board, 4chan, by “Q Clearance Patriot”, presumably by an American high-ranking intelligence officer representing a group claiming to have access to classified information involving the Trump administration and its opponents in the U. S. Supposedly, it concerned a secret plot by an alleged “deep state” against President Trump and his supporters, by top Democrats including the Clintons, the Obamas, George Soros and a multitude of Hollywood and media celebrities as well as religions leaders including Pope Francis and the Dalai Lama. The premise holding the expanding assemblage together is that in addition to molesting children the participants kill and eat their victims in order to extract life-extending elements from their blood.
Q is predicting that Trump’s war against the global cabal will cumulate in, “The Storm”, (and “The Great Awakening” when he unmasks the members and their crimes and restores America to greatness. This became a reference to a cryptic remark the President made that same October posing with representatives from the military, “You guys know what this represents? Maybe it is the calm before the storm”. The Q believers use this as proof that the President is sending coded messages about his plans to break up the faction with the help of the military. The President also defended the group in a statement, “I’ve heard these are people who love our country…so I really don’t know anything about it other than they supposedly like me”. They look for any mention by the government of “seventeen” as Q is the 17th letter in the alphabet. It has also been proposed when he wears a pink tie it is a sign that he is freeing trafficked children (a reference to hospital’s “code pink” for a child abduction in progress)
Among the various conspiracy theories that have become part of the movement are the JFK assassination, 9/11 and more recently the Pizzagate which began by alleging that Hillary and her associates were operating a child sex-trafficking ring out of the basement (which there was none) of a Washington restaurant, proven to be totally false and embarrassing resulting in criminal charges against Edgar Welch who shot three rounds from an AR-15 into the establishment, Q later speculated that the shooting was a staged attempt to discredit them.
It is obvious that the interest in the movement has increased, over 600% during the “Plandemic”, (as it is referred to on their sites) it has expanded worldwide with over a million individual participants who are now seeing it as both a political and social entertainment platform where they have alternate outcomes much like an online game of reoccurring characters, story lines and puzzle related functions. It has also been compared to a church where people have a likeminded support system and agree on a common belief of good vs. evil. The phenomenon that came out of Q4 and Q8 into mainstream social networking on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, with the latter two taking down groups, pages and Instagram accounts in the flood of much controversy over content, “that endangers someone”, is still holding strong on several new message boards like EndChan and 8kun that are now organizing to “wage war” to influence the 2020 elections.
The radical element is now calling for “vigilante justice” and even though many of the predictions have not materialized the movement has found ways to reframe the discrepancies and continue to pursue their “Q Drops” in Facebook groups, chat rooms, the Discord chat app and Twitter threads all enticing and appealing to fellow and future believers. The followers have used #SaveTheChildren, a registered non-profit anti-child-trafficking organization, as a recruiting tool attracting a new dedicated but unaware audience. Their promotional schemes are mirroring religious concepts of millenarianism and apocalypticism purposefully construed to temp disgruntled organized church followers into a new role toward the 1,000 years (Millennium) of peace, life, hope and truth.
This prophesy continues to be a corner stone around which the rest of Q’s persuasive marketing campaign is based. As Travis View, a leading researcher in the origins, rise, acceptance and plans put it, “The essence of the theory is a worldwide cabal/sect of Satan-worshiping pedophiles who rule the world essentially controlling everything, including politicians, media, Hollywood [etc.] and cover their existence…they would continue to rule the world were it not for the election of President Trump who knows all about the evil wrongdoing, and is planning to put an end to them with the aid of the U.S. military by taking over the country and everyone will back him as a result of “Q” through the imminent event, “The Storm”, where thousands of people, members of the cabal, will be arrested, imprisoned and either executed or sent to Guantanamo Bay [which can only accommodate less than 1,000 prisoners] all resulting in salvation and utopia on earth”. Other respected academicians who study mass movements and cults have likewise issued warnings, “an evidence-free religious emergence”, “baseless”, “unhinged”, “a deranged conspiracy cult”, etc. It could be argued that all of the detractors are assimilated into the cabal but their diversity, affiliations, achievements and character decry any ulterior motives.
There are numerous sidebars and alt support clusters including fringe media outlets that promote and perpetuate Q and the associated internet connections that are becoming more sophisticated in luring pro “Q Clock” enthusiasts that use a wheel of concentric dials to decode clues based on the timing of Qdrops and Trump tweets (who may be totally unaware of his role in the process) with appealing plausibility of being involved with a world changing event. As View relates, “you can sit at your computer and search for information and then post about what you find and Q promises you are going to radically change the country, instituting this incredible, almost bloodless revolution becoming a part of historical event that will be written about for generations”.
Some believers have begun to realize that they have set into play self-isolation from family and friends and suffer loneliness due to their obsession and explore divesture of the cultish attraction, but others defend their actions with the isolation reinforcing the comrade they get from being a part of a life changing suspenseful moment that will culminate in vindication for their loyalty and prove their beliefs right as leaders in knowing better than those who were never involved.
Conclusion:
There are many more directions, connections, events and/or facets that could be pursued but at this point I should go back to the crossroads I referred to at the beginning. We have come to a crossroads where the power of the citizens to direct the course of their future has become a human dilemma of great consequence where politics and partisanship have divided the existing population into fragments. Each faction is guarding their reality, defending their veracity and protecting their view of what they perceive as the truth even if they question the accuracy of their sources and cohorts. They feel that they have declared their allegiance to their alliances and must support their associates no matter what divisions result.
Certainly, all “sides” are under duress with an all-encompassing fear, anxiety and even panic over the multitude of stresses imploding on today’s society. Individuals within the populace are personally challenged trying to make the right decisions for themselves, their families, colleagues and friends. Thus, the blame for the situation we find ourselves facing is directed toward anyone that does not share our viewpoint, perspective or stance and it appears to be pointless to try to reason or even listen to others who we think have turned on America and have become the enemy.
The only thing that has become clear now, at this point in our 244 year history and what has become so disturbing, is to see the pursuit of power, seeking to gain momentum and leverage over every opponent that differs with another person’s thinking and/or position. No matter what the consequences are to the nation, the destruction to the original concepts that created the Republic and sustained it through numerous challenges, it seems there are no limits or boundaries to the defamation of what made us the democracy that, up until now, people around the world wanted to emulate.
The Founding Fathers were in the same boat after they decided to declare their Independence and they struggled mightily over what the Constitution would or would not include. They sequestered themselves and through all of the debate, considerations, communications, compromises, cooperation, collaboration and final agreements, they produced the most significant document civilization has experienced in governing a people for the benefit of all of its citizens. Was it perfect? No, it had to be amended and adjusted through the high court’s due to the necessary changes recognized by the populace that made it better, more equitable and unbiased, but the framework was there, and is still there, with the structure to allow it to survive and prosper.
The only infringement or misapplication of and to the document we strive to protect and project has been thwarted in the past and we must now take this opportunity to look closely at what we, each of us, can do to bring back the civility and respect for one another that it took to create the articles of the confederation. We must now look to each other as fellow Americans to enhance the meaning, purpose and significance of what is right and appropriate to provide an example for those that follow. Resolve to mediate, reconcile and reunite in a singular goal to make this moment in our heritage a positive one that brings us out of the deadlock and into a momentous transformation for a more perfect union.
Yes, we are at a crossroads, coming down separate trails but we have a responsibility to end up on the same path, even though we may be carrying divergent wisdoms, that will lead us into new perspectives and with a vision that encourages the next generations to look at their differences as we did in this one.