Are what we call conspiracies really just points of views and opinions not approved by the government?

Question

Afterall, this is the same governments who public schools teach you that a millions of white men would fight and kill each other, brother against brother over a couple hundred thousand black slaves, in 1865! Suuure.

Answer 1

Some are, some aren't. I think it's safe to say you could call WWI the way the conspiracy theorists call it: a war of merchants against other merchants. On the other hand, people saying the US Govt. purposely plotted to make 9/11 happen are just whack.

However, as you mention, a lot of completely BS history is taught to US students, and that is just so the people of the US aren't politically and historically sophisticated and will not generally argue with their policies, as we are permitted to do. Our nation is one of the most historically ignorant on the planet, especially given the level of our education here.

Answer 2

In actuality, I don't recall being taught the "facts" you mention any more than you were taught literacy.

What I recall learning at the public high school in Hartford, CT was that slavery and the emancipation proclamation were only part of what caused the war. I also learned that southern states were imposing their own will on the northern states, and that some of their actions were neither constructive nor necessary. Retributive acts deemed necessary by slave owners assisted by law enforcement authorities disrupted many productive citizens lives in non-slave states.

Also, I learned by virtue of the fact that my culture and the government that protects its rights, also instilled in me the desire for a life of learning, and the desire and passion to question the authority by which it stands, and that when this is done in a rightful manner, we call it democracy.

As a result of that passion, I also learned after the high school books were closed and gathering dust, that the educators only had so much time to get some points across.

So, while pursuing what that system had instilled in me, along with what I had received from my creator, I also learned that some of the northern non-slave states had actually elected, or helped elect a slave owning President. Only the lazy accept at face value what is fed to them by any educator. This nation needs to be emanicipated again. But this time, sadly, it is from the self-imposed slavery to ignorance and apathy that we need to be set free.

A conspiracy is simply this and nothing more: a set of plans or actions, by one or more individuals that takes away, or stands against (con) the breath of life (spir.) (Yes, I know that it is typically believed that a conspiracy must be between at least two, but think about it. I won't spell it all out for you, so you can gain some insight on this on your own.) That, my friend, is the role of an educator. And even when they (the educators) came up short, even for that, we should be grateful. It was then that we found the ability to learn, which is much more important than being taught. (The former is from the inside out, while the latter is from the outside in, if you know what I mean.)

I might as well add here, as I think it ties in very well, that when Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, what did those with attitudes like yours do? Instead of taking responsibility for their own actions, or lack thereof, they blamed the government. By ignorance, procrastination, indecisiveness, and laziness, frequently joined with cruelty, abuse, and neglect, lives were lost in the richest economic nation on earth. Why did whe come up short? Because economic riches cannot make up for what the heart of a society lacks. How will we respond the next time? How does your question prove or disprove our propensity to not learn from our mistakes?

Stronger than any government within a societal context is any media forum that is perpetually misused or abused, including this one. The world is becoming a smaller place all of the time. Be careful about what you say, because Americans are not the only audience you are addressing. If you look at the potential of Yahoo! Answers to draw people together, or drive them apart, which of these would your question do?

Answer 3

Conspiracies exist everywhere at any time at any point in history, its taken America 30 odd years to come to terms with the fact that JFK's death was an inside job. A conspiracy actually. The recent death bed confession of one of the main players proves this. And I see where youre going with the conspiracy angle being spun as damage control by the govts of the world and youre spot on. Notice how effective the internet has been in making people think that the very word conspiracy should be used in conjunction with the word "theory"....there are many many truths out there in cyberland that have been erroneously named theories. Thats why its so important to think critically and logically and question everything you are told, everything you read and everything you see with your own eyes. If you fail to question things you may as well be a sheep in the fields or perhaps an ostrich with its head in the sand. We are all capable and deserving of more than that, as humans we have incredible strength, vision, forsight, insight, and problem solving abilities but minds dont work until theyre opened. Frinstance the civil war was supposedly about freeing the slaves. But in the context of the times it was the cotton farmers wanting to eradicate the hemp farmers who had discovered an incredible new product with so many uses and applications. I dont know why hemp farmers didnt increase or prosper after the war (well I do I just cant be stuffed typing it all out) but yeah my main point is to question everything, coz the truth certainly does set you free...it frees you from all the other herd thinkers out there.

Answer 4

Conspiracies form around events where a lot of details are missing, and the existing facts are questionable. For example, JFK. My theory is that most conspiracies are wrong in their assessment, but that where one exists half truths or lies were told, or not all the information was given to the public.

Answer 5

If you believe the civil war was only about slavery you slept through your history class. It was more on state sovereignty than anything else. Many of the things the south was fighting for have come to pass.

Answer 6

possibly,but don't believe the history they teach in school. i'm not sure if they teach any history anymore

Answer 7

simplification of history and conspiracies are two totally different things....

Answer 8

the civil war was about more than just slavery. i bet you paid as much attention in high school history as you did in gym

Answer 9

911 was an inside job.

Answer 10

I suppose it's indeed possible.