They

Have you ever heard of Delmore Schwartz? Probably not. He was a poet and short story writer who lived in the early and mid twentieth century, winning many accolades, including both a Bollingen Prize for his poetry, and a Guggenheim Fellowship. That, in and of itself, isn't all that important to my remarks, but what is significant is something he said: “Even paranoids have real enemies.” It's been attributed to others as well, however Schwartz seems to have been the first to enunciate it for posterity.

But what's wrong with paranoia? It's really an extension of care and caution. Without that caution, without instinct, animals would find themselves the victims of predators, but with it the same animals can be the predators. Paranoia is simply the assumption that others are plotting – often to get you – and that you have to be on guard to make sure they don't. It can be viewed as a logical consequence of the psychiatric concept of “ideas of reference,” with the subject convinced that whatever he hears somehow relates to him. And those whose hearing is deficient are likely to be certain that others are talking about them. It's normal. Though, as Schwartz said, it often reflects a real problem.

“They,” however, have given paranoia a bad name. They've tried to convince us that it's abnormal, and that those of us who are merely careful – or even cynical – are missing a few marbles. They tell us we're crazy (whatever that means) when their real goal is to get us to lower our guard and not notice the threats that are all around us. They subscribe to the idea that “forewarned is forearmed,” and they want us defenseless.

Paranoia, however, is the rage. Complain that there is a plot against you, or a group of which you are a member, and there will be a rush of “normal” citizens supporting your cause. Thus those who protest that “Black Lives Matter” are certain to attract the attention of other paranoids who believe that there is a conspiracy of racist white police officers against defenseless blacks despite the evidence that far fewer blacks are killed by the police than others, and despite the fact that the vast majority of blacks are killed by other blacks [see the writings of Heather Mac Donald, among others, especially “The War on Cops.”]  Certainly no preventable violence is justified, whether against blacks or whites, whether by police or by civilians. But caution and reaction are both necessary tools in defending our lives and our liberties. A measure of paranoia in the effort to protect ourselves is reasonable, and nature has served us well by instilling it within all of us. As long as that paranoia is based on rational risks, not on political dogma and expediency.

Rational risks. And instinct. That's what keeps all animals, including humans, on their toes. Perhaps it's better to term it “caution” than “paranoia,” however – even though they're quite similar. Sounds better that way. We'd be far worse off without it, irrespective of the blatherings of the psychiatrists and pop-psychologists among us. And we'd be crazy to ignore its warnings.

But, perhaps, the greatest advantage of paranoia exists in a specific group, one that most of us will concede is carrying the idea too far. The group is commonly referred to as “conspiracy theorists,” and consists of those who are convinced that everything they don't like is the result of a plot by “THEM.” There is a group of (generally unnamed and unidentified) people who are withholding information from the rest of us, and who are plotting either to help themselves or to harm others. They maintain that the group they fear has organized to accomplish its goals at their expense or that of others (historically, antisemitism is a prime example of this phenomenon). And their paranoia (or political agenda) is infectious – often the basis of a mass movement. For they have an advantage over those who may take issue with their positions.

The advantage is that conspiracy theorists are always right. Ask them. It's easy for them to prove. If you agree with their position, you've confirmed it. If you disagree, you're part of the conspiracy itself. And your cover-up is further proof that their view is true. Heads they win. Tails you lose. Whether their paranoia is reasonable is open to question. It is undeniable that governments sometimes hide the truth from their citizens, but suspecting such deceit all the time, and questioning the honesty of those who disagree with you, represents a paranoia of overdeveloped dimensions.

Some paranoia is good – in fact it's necessary. But not all. Mae West notwithstanding, you can have too much of a good thing.

They

Whoever they are, they're out to get me. They're out to get all of us. They've been doing it for a long time, too. And it's not a mistake. They're doing it on purpose. I know that because every day I see, on my computer home page and in my internet files, links to all the things they don't want me to know – whether it's secrets about diets, car insurance, debt forgiveness, or whatever. I also hear about companies that can get the IRS off my back or even help me beat the police who catch me speeding. Doctors are the worst offenders. They know of lots of cures for our maladies, but they're hiding them. If we're healthy they can't make money. Fortunately, their conspiracy has been discovered and revealed by dedicated practitioners of alternative therapies.

I know it's true. It doesn't take a genius to know that conspiracies are rife in our society. I'm a good person, and the things going on all around me are mostly aimed at getting my money or, worse, getting me. If we Americans are the most litigious people around, it's because we're tired of being taken by people who are getting away with murder,ⁱ and the only way we can get back at themⁱⁱ is to sue them. After all, the problems that we have are their fault. They're certainly not ours. We're not to blame or anything that goes wrong. They've been putting it over on us for a while. Just look at Amazon.com and you'll find lots of books detailing all the things they don't want us to know. Even Amazon isn't clean.ⁱⁱⁱ And the really juicy stuff is on all of the TV shows and movies I see. There are lots of really bad people out there. You can't trust anyone.

But that's just the tip of the iceberg – the nickel and dime stuff. The real conspirators, the ones causing the most mayhem in our country, are members of the government. They're worse than the Mafia and the cable company. They're often acting against other government officials in a vast effort to sell us out or take over for themselves. Think about the Kennedy assassination for example. The Warren Commission whitewashed it, but anyone with an ounce of sense knows that the FBI had a hand in it. And 9/11 was obviously a governmental ploy to stir up everyone against the Muslims in general and the Arabs in particular. It worked, by the way.

Another thing. I'll bet that lots of our officials made a bundle on the Madoff ponzi scheme and on the bank bailout. People don't run for office because they're public-spirited. They do it to get in on the good things that people in the know can wheedle. They do it to become part of the vast network of cabals all around us. We may not know about all of them, but those in politics are in on how they work, and how to get a piece of the action. Sure there are all sorts of investigations, but they only target the low-level types; the people really responsible are never revealed or, if they are known, they're never convicted.

And don't get me started on Area 51 and Roswell, New Mexico. The government doesn't want us to know the truth about the aliens. Perhaps they think it's for our own good^iv that we don't find out, but they've a lot of our fellow citizens involved in the coverup. “Transparency” may be the buzzword of the day, but don't expect government officials to reveal their co-conspirators. The business they're in is too satisfying and too rewarding.

But I sell the others short when I suggest that conspiracy is an American invention. There are too many coverups of which we know, and too many that we don't. For example, everyone is aware that aliens have been coming to earth for millennia. The crop circles, cave paintings, rock formations, and possibly even the introduction of human life, attest to the visit to earth of outsiders. Contrived explanations just don't wash.

And what about the Jews? There's a group of plotters if I ever saw one.^v After coming up with a fake religion and engaging in deicide, they moved on to poisoning the wells, starting plagues, and killing Christian children for their blood. Nowadays they're giving AIDS to the Muslims and killing them whenever they can make up an excuse. It's part of their plot to take over the earth. They already control most governments, the banking system, Hollywood, and the media. We only know what they want us to know.

Even they have competition though. Other schemers include the communists and the CIA (who are probably working together) and people like Benedict Arnold, Vidkun Abraham (does that name tell you anything?) Quisling, Kim Philby, Deep Throat, Bradley (Chelsea!) Manning, and Edward Snowden. They're all around us and spying on us. We can't trust Google, our GPS, or anyone who has a computer. Or anyone who doesn't.^vi

We need an orderly society, one where everyone is in agreement, like the one described by George Orwell. We need a big brother who will protect us from all of them. But they won't let that happen. You never know who they^vii are but they're all around, whether we recognize them or not. And its them against us, so arm yourself.

Next episode: “The Death Of Archie Andrews” – I saw it in the funny papers.

I         I mean that figuratively, although I'm sure that sometimes it's literally the case. But I'm not discussing organized crime here. Lots of others also engage in this method of commerce.

ii        And their deep pockets. My lawyer tells me that they can afford it, and he'll be happy to help me fight the injustice.

iii       See “10 Things Amazon Doesn't Want You To Know” in the Huffington Post, June 25, 2012.

iv       Let's get real. They never do anything for our good. One way or another it's helping them – if only to avoid the embarrassment of the truth. Or maybe their supporters are worried about business losses that might result from people hunkering down. Never cross a lobbyist. Especially one who's supplying you or your campaign with money.

v        Lots of them change their names so you won't recognize them. They call it “assimilation,” but it's really infiltration. The goal is to take over our countries and it's easier from the inside. They try to pass as loyal citizens wherever they are, but we know better.

vi       You don't really believe them, do you? They're lying to you. Of course they have one. And it's connected to a cloud that's not accessible to you.

vii      That's why I haven't said who “they” are. I don't know who they are but I know they're there. Their actions are a tip off.

They

 

Osama bin Mohammed bin Awad bin Laden was killed a few days ago by Navy SEALs. It is not a matter of dispute. The government of Pakistan has faulted our government for our action in their country, and al-Qaeda has said it will fight on despite the death of its leader.ⁱ Ismail Haniyeh, head of the Hamas administration in the Gaza Strip, told reporters that the group regards bin Laden's death “as a continuation of the American policy based on oppression and the shedding of Muslim and Arab blood.” In a bid to minimize Muslim reaction, and in line with Muslim traditions, bin Laden was buried hours after his death. The burial took place at sea in order to remove the possibility of a terrestrial monument that would be the focus for the congregation of angry militants, and the site of inspiration of further terrorism.

Regrettably there are some who call for the release of photographs of the dead bin Laden. They suggest that he is not dead and that what has happened is another plot to placate those who have called for his end, and a ploy to dispirit his supporters. It is all a conspiracy, and it must be proved with photographs demonstrating that he is dead.

Of course photographs, even if they are demanded now, won't be satisfactory. If produced there will be accusations of doctoring.ⁱⁱ Conspiracy theorists didn't accept photographic and video proof of the moon landing so it's difficult to understand why any documentation offered now would be convincing for them. It will only be viewed as another part of the conspiracy.

Conspiracy theories have always existed, but in recent years they are multiplying.ⁱⁱⁱ The flying saucer that crashed at Roswell was hushed up, the “Elders of Zion” are planning on taking over the world, President Kennedy was assassinated by the CIA (or Mafia or Russians – your choice), the moon landing was faked, the United States or Israel was responsible for the attack on the World Trade Center, the medical profession is hiding the cures to many diseases from us, gasoline prices are raised or lowered to help favored political parties win elections: you've heard these and many more. Like the murder of Princess Di by British intelligence and the cover-up of the fact that Jesus survived the crucifixion. And we all know that Elvis is still alive (as are Bigfoot and the Loch Ness monster). Those who create and foster these myths are legion, even if their ideas are illegitimate.

It's difficult to find a single cause for these theories, but some possibilities come to mind. One is the recent emphasis on the warning against trusting authority.^iv More and more people are inclined to doubt everything they hear from anyone with power,^v and eager to believe anything told them about the involvement of some individuals or groups in every controversial subject. For them, every explanation is a cover-up of the involvement of some group, “them,” in that incident. There are evil forces who are imposing their will on the powerless.^vi We have to stick it to them. It's paranoia. So no demonstration of its fallaciousness will be believed. The same evil forces are trying to misdirect those who, like us, seek the truth.

That reality should be obvious to everyone. In fact, everything that deviates from what you want is caused by someone else. You're not responsible for anything. It is always someone else's fault.^vii And, of course, you should sue that person.^viii There is always someone to blame – someone^ix who should be held accountable. And often that “someone” is a corporation or other large organization – like the government, a drug company or an insurance company – that is working to hide some important information to the detriment of everyone else. They are conspiring against all us “little people.”^x And the lawyer so eager to help you isn't looking for any payment unless he can get some money from the conspirator. So why not. It's worth a try. If he's so sure that you have been injured by a conspiracy you should be sure as well.^xi And it's time to pay back the corrupt society in which we live.

What results is a society that always believes the worst, one that trusts no one – especially its own leaders. And mythology sells. It's a sure path to your fifteen minutes. Sadly, there is no solution to the problem. Paranoids will not bury their fears; irrational people will not bow to logic. I'm from Missouri and they haven't proved anything to me. So all we can do is not to take them too seriously. The problem is theirs and we cannot let it become ours.

Next episode: “Sex And The Single Cell” – Plus ça change, plus ça change.

i     A statement from the group included the following: “We will remain … a curse chasing the Americans and their agents, following them outside and inside their countries … their happiness will be turned to sadness … their blood will be mingled with their tears.”

ii    Anyone with a computer can “fix” a photograph. And, of course, anyone with a computer can publicize his theory about how we are all being manipulated.

iii   They're quite common in the United States. I don't know about their frequency in other countries. The Wall Street Journal, though, reports that UFO sightings are becoming more frequent in Asia.

iv    Ideas of this type have always existed but they seem to be more frequent now than in the past.

v    Including their parents and teachers. No. Especially their parents and teachers.

vi    It's them versus us. We may not know who “they” are (that's part of their plan) but we must always be on guard for them. They're out to get us. Whoever they are.

vii   You're good. You could never do anything wrong. It must be someone else. Your mother told you that. It's one of the few things she said that you can believe, even if she didn't believe it. After all, if you did something wrong it would reflect on her.

viii  Your lawyer told you that. He agrees with your mother. How can they both be wrong?

ix    Ideally someone with a lot of money.

x    No one ever raises the issue of the conspiracy of the class action law suit designed to make as much for everyone as possible, irrespective of any loss we may have suffered. We only see greediness and venality in others. They conspire. We exercise our legal rights.

xi   Would your lawyer lie to you?

Dear _____

 

What follows is a letter I wrote recently to a relative. It gave me the opportunity to explore some ideas which had been troubling me and, certainly, had been troubling the one to whom I wrote. I've made some slight changes in the document both to make it a little more anonymous and to fit in with the style of the blogs I write.ⁱ

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April 27, 2011

Dear ______,

First of all, It was nice spending a few days with you. I suspect, though, that you were as glad to go home as we were. Visiting is nice, but there's no bed like your own.

Second, I apologize for the delay, but … slowed me down.

And now the real reason for writing. I overheard your discussion with ____ – the one dealing with the unfairness of children suffering, and of death in general. I was busy and couldn't talk then, but I'd like to offer some thoughts now. I know I won't be able to satisfy your concerns but I think there are some things that weren't said, relating to the issue.

There are numerous books written about the suffering of the good and the success of those who are less so. They are numerous because we have no answers. In fact, that is one of the major lessons they teach – that G-d's ways cannot be understood by humans; they can only be accepted. And the ills which we endure must be accepted along with the “blessings” in which we rejoice. It will always be a source of unhappiness to recognize that there doesn't seem to be a direct relationship between our actions and our rewards. Clearly G-d's ways are beyond our comprehension. But that really shouldn't be too much of a surprise. Our intelligence is negligible compared to His, and our attempts to understand the world in which we live and the conditions affecting our lives are doomed to failure. In the Book of Job, G-d upbraids the long-suffering man for trying to understand and explain His ways. Job did not participate in creation or in the “management” of the earth, so he cannot possibly fathom its mysteries or the logic of the Creator. That is one of our teachings – that His ways are not understandable in human terms and that we cannot possibly explain the apparent paradoxes of life. There are no answers. All we can do is accept what we are given – good or bad – as the portion G-d wanted us to have. Theodicy will always be a stumbling block if we let it be.

Theodicy, though, is a strictly human invention. It asks the question, “Can the Creator of good also be the Creator of evil?” It presumes that we know what is “good” and what is “evil.” But we don't. We've coined the words and given them meanings that reflect human prejudices. That's not to say that we shouldn't try to be good, but we should realize that what we're doing is based on our feelings rather than knowledge. In fact, we lack true knowledge of such principles. Indeed, we must lack that knowledge.

But that kind of explanation is unlikely to be very satisfactory to anyone who does not already believe in what may be called a “super-rational”ⁱⁱ system. We are trained in reason – at least reason as we understand it – and we use that system as the benchmark by which we judge everything. We live by the platitude “Man is the measure of all things.” With that as the standard for judging everything, it is not a surprise that we belittle that which we don't comprehend; it is understandable that what we don't recognize as “fair,” must be unfair.

Suppose, however, that we don't know everything. It's not hard to suppose because it's so obvious. Before we could demonstrate their existence, there were electrons; before we had microscopes, there were cells – even if we couldn't see them. And there are still many mysteries for which we have no explanation. In fact, there are some things that will never be explained, because we lack the tools and the wisdom to do so.ⁱⁱⁱ

With that in mind, then, consider the following construct: this world, which is the only one we know, is not the best of all possible worlds. It's a difficult idea for us to comprehend because we know of no other, so we view our existence on this earth as the only existence, and certainly as the only one worth anything. Many people have such a perspective, but not everybody. Perhaps the following analogy is applicable. One who lives in a village in the third world, and who struggles through a life of hardship, may consider that life to be the only possibility. He may not be aware that anything else exists. Another person from the same village, one who has learned of the outside world, may decide, correctly, that life in America would be preferable, so he comes here and enjoys a better life. But he's the exception. What is familiar is – for most people – what is best.

However such a perspective reflects a very narrow view. We fear what we don't know and try to explain what we don't like. So a child may refuse broccoli or Brussels sprouts without even tasting them. “I don't like that.” You've heard it I'm sure. “Like” takes priority over “good.” And we have our own prejudices about what we like, though they may not always be good. Thinking about children again, it is hard to ignore their liking of sugar and “junk” food. They lack the knowledge of what is good for them and judge all things by what they like.

We adults are the same way. We indulge in risky behaviors as well, whether in terms of what we do or what we ingest. Once, when I was in the Air Force, I nearly killed myself while flying. I was in the process of getting a private pilot's license^iv and I crashed and destroyed the plane. But I survived, and I continued with my lessons, eventually getting the license. In retrospect I realize how stupid that was, and that even though I thought I liked what I was doing, I was only trying to prove myself. I liked being able to tell people that I knew how to fly. But now I know that not everything I like – indeed, not everything anyone likes – is right or good.^v And the opposite has merit as well. “The worse it tastes, the better it is for you.” Whether true or not, the saying demonstrates that the correlation between “like” and “good” is not a given. Some of the things we see around us may appear to be good – we may like them – and still be bad, and many of the things that we consider bad – ideas and situations – may be good. Unfortunately^vi we're not wise enough to know.

So let me get back to your original point – that the suffering of children is unfair. It certainly seems that way to me as well, but I yield on any ultimate meanings. I don't know what reward and punishment are, and I don't know what is good and bad. I only know what I like and dislike. Que sera sera. Both of the approaches I've taken really say “I don't know,” but I sometimes rely on the second to provide some ideas to support what may otherwise be viewed as a glib response.^vii If there is such a thing as “free choice,” (as opposed to determinism) it must be the choice to believe that we don't know everything and can't judge everything. We can bewail our fate or believe that, somehow or other, what we view as wrongs will be righted, even if that means we will learn that some of them were not wrongs. So in the meantime, our best option is to do good for others as we see it while we are waiting.

I'm not foolish enough to believe that this will convince you, but it may give you something to think about when mulling over the issue. I apologize for it turning into a long sermon, but when I start it's hard to finish.

See you soon,

Next episode: “They” – Remember. It's not your fault.

i     Especially the footnotes.

ii    Not “irrational,” which is a pejorative term.

iii   Atheists may disagree, believing that science will someday answer all questions. I'm prepared to wait and see.

iv    Don't worry. It wasn't a military plane. It didn't come out of your taxes.

v    I love red meat, especially steak. And I love it fatty, burnt, and with salt. That certainly qualifies as risky behavior, but some habits die hard.

vi    Or, perhaps, fortunately.

vii    I'm not sure it's any less glib than the first, but the thought that went into it is comforting to me.