While the news of ISIS, the Ebola crisis and the Republicans "winning" the 2014 midterm elections have dominated the headlines in recent weeks, many of us have still kept a close eye and ear to the news coming out of Ferguson, Missouri. We've been expecting a decision from the grand jury in regards to whether or not Officer Darren Wilson, the man who fatally shot an unarmed Michael Brown, will be charged in the shooting. As the city awaits the decision, which was said to come sometime after November 15th, Gov. Jay Nixon has declared a state of emergency and has activated the National Guard in anticipation of any possible unrest that may occur if Wilson is not indicted. Community leaders and Brown family spokespersons have urged Brown family supporters to remain peaceful in the face of an unfavorable decision. All this leads me to believe that it is more than likely that Darren Wilson will not be charged. What will such a decision mean for Ferguson? Unfortunately, I don't see anything positive coming from this scenario.
In the weeks leading up to this moment, multiple pathologists have said that the autopsies performed by the Saint Louis county medical examiner and by the pathologist hired by the Brown family could support both sides of the story. Officer Wilson told police there was a struggle between him and Brown in his police vehicle and that Brown reached for his gun before Wilson shot him. Some witnesses say Brown was shot multiple times after that initial struggle as he had his hands held up in surrender. The autopsy results show that Brown was shot 6 times, with the fatal shot being to the head. With missing evidence (Brown's clothes was not made available to the family pathologist and only three bullets were recovered from Brown's body) and mixed testimony as to what happened, if Wilson isn't indicted and doesn't go to trail, we may never really know what happened. If Ferguson, whose citizens have rallied around the Brown family for the most part, is left with no answers, I fear the protests and violence that we saw in the beginning will pale in comparison to what will happen next. This will not be in retaliation to what many see as a crime. The protests will be in defiance of a system that is not designed to protect its citizens. Those in Ferguson had already expressed their apprehension with the local police force, and their reactions to initial peaceful protesting did nothing to ease the tension that has been mounting in Ferguson for decades. Sure, the looting and rioting that took place was unacceptable. But as the media descended upon Ferguson and as the citizens took note of the need to curb the sometimes violent expressions of protest, the Ferguson police department decided to ratchet up their show of force by mobilizing tanks and infringing on the rights of the citizens to demonstrate peacefully. Eventually, cooler heads prevailed over the course of several weeks and the confrontations between police and protesters calmed down. But Ferguson didn't stand down and they made sure that the attention grabbing headlines regarding national politics and Ebola didn't overshadow what was still happening out there. It is because of that, the unrelenting spirit of the citizens who have rallied around a cause bigger than them, that we are all anticipating the decision of the grand jury.
These cases are always difficult to assess because, as in the cases with Trayvon Martin, Jordan Davis and countless others, the other individual involved is dead. While witness testimony and the testimony of Darren Wilson play a huge part in determining what actually happened, those testimonies are biased on both sides. Without Michael Brown, it is literally he said, she said; Darren Wilson's supposedly first hand account of what happened and then the witnesses accounts of what they say they saw. In this case, however, there was another individual involved, one Dorian Johnson. He was with Brown during the entire incident and he echo's the accounts of what other witnesses say occurred, that Brown was shot initially by Wilson at close range during a scuffle which Johnson says involved Wilson trying to pull Brown into his car by his neck. Two other witnesses corroborate this story along with testimony from Johnson that say once the first shot was fired, both young men ran off. Johnson said he hid behind the nearest car while Brown kept running. It was at this point when Wilson fired a second shot and Johnson says that Brown stop and turned around with his hands up in surrender, telling the officer that he was unarmed and not to continue shooting. Johnson says Wilson shot several more times, killing Brown in broad daylight in the middle of the street.
It is my belief that the only person that has anything to gain here from lying about what really happened is Darren Wilson and the Ferguson police department. Dorian Johnson has nothing to gain and nothing to lose in this case by either lying or telling the truth. Witnesses who have relayed a similar account have nothing to gain or lose. There is said to be several witnesses who support Wilson's testimony but have not spoken publicly out of fear for their safety. These witnesses are said to be Black. In any case, due to the lack of irrefutable evidence one way or the other, this case should go to trail for the sake of Michael Brown, the residents of Ferguson, MO. and yes, for the sake of Darren Wilson. There needs to be transparency, as Ferguson citizens have expressed concern that the grand jury deliberations are too secret and can be manipulated in an attempt to sweep Brown's murder under the proverbial rug. These are genuine concerns because this is something that does actually happen at a regular clip. Remember Eric Garner, the Staten Island, NY man who was choked to death on a city sidewalk in broad daylight, supposedly over illegal cigarettes? If you don't it's because that case is being mired in a grand jury proceeding as we speak. The evidence it is has for review should include video of the incident which clearly shows an officer applying an illegal choke hold while Garner was on the ground. Meanwhile, in both cases and cases like them, the victims are subject to assaults on their character, to discredit the fact that they were potentially treated improperly by law enforcement and that their deaths could have been avoided. In other words, those who are supposed to enforce the law were the ones that ended up breaking the law and committing a crime. Instead of trying to prove whether a crime was committed, these cases are often reduced to trying to prove that one was not.
Whether Darren Wilson gets tried or not really underscores the problem, which is the continuous tensions that arise in Black communities between its citizens and the police departments employed to serve them. All too often, regardless of the circumstances, the officers are either not charged or eventually acquitted of all charges during the trail process. There are officers that act with impunity, knowing that if their actions come into question, they will be protected by "the shield". Law enforcement officials are often given the benefit of the doubt due to the dangerous nature of their job. Yes, they come in contact with criminals everyday and they lay their lives on the line every time they put on a uniform and step out of their homes. Their families often wonder will they see them at the end of the day. This should not go unnoticed. But what should also not go unnoticed is the fact that young, Black men in many urban communities leave their homes under the same circumstances. Most of these young men are not violent men, yet they are subject to sort of a blanket scrutiny that society has placed on them. Ben Stein argued that Michael Brown was armed with "his big, scary self" and that is what lead to Darren Wilson shooting him. When comments like this are used to defend a man who not only carries a gun to do his job, but is also trained to use that weapon in discretion and only when his life is legitimately in danger, then there is a bigger problem that is not being addressed. It is the perception of the young black male in not only the eyes of the people but in the eyes of those trained to differentiate between threats and non-threats. An even bigger issue is the lack of value society has for the lives of these young men. Until those issues are addressed, it won't matter if Darren Wilson is charged and goes to jail or not because there will be many more Wilsons and Browns to come and just as many more protests, civil and uncivil.
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Monday, November 3, 2014
Internet Propaganda vs. The Truth: The "Evil" Illuminati
I know I am diving into rough waters on this topic because I've had some heated debates over it for quite some time. In this "information age" that we now find ourselves living in, we can access just about anything at the stroke of a keyboard, smartphone or tablet. Want to know what George Clooney's wife wore to their wedding reception? Google it! Did you see the video of (enter appropriate sport's figure) doing (enter hot topic of the minute)? YouTube it! Did you hear what Senator so and so said about Black people and welfare? Check you Facebook newsfeed! And last but not least, and easily one of the most talked about things amongst people who either like pop music or hate pop music and their stars and who are super duper conspiracy theorists, the "Who's down with the Illuminati" topic! From Jay Z, Beyoncé and pretty much anyone associated with them to President Obama, there is a vast supply of information out there (mostly on the Internet) that range from wild accusations to somewhat convincing arguments that "expose" certain individuals and their affiliation with this secret society. While there has been many books written throughout history regarding the Illuminati, it seems that the information we see nowadays is less about historical reference and more about the dark agendas and cultist practices of those associated with the group. While Presidents are often linked to this and other secret societies, President Obama is made out to be the evil usher of a global government, part of the New World Order that is supposed to be the main agenda of the Illuminati. The actions and/ or supposed actions that he has been said to sign into law (from approving genetically modified foods to approving gun laws aimed at suppressing American citizens to preserve his reign) are often pointed to as signs of his Illuminati agenda. Recording artists like the aforementioned Jay Z (whose use of symbolism, lyrical reference and influence make him "without a doubt" a sure fire member of the Illuminati to some) and actors and actresses in Hollywood are said to be part of the Illuminati's way of speeding up the pace of the inception of the New World Order by infiltrating the mainstream media.
Now, I want to make it clear that I am not discrediting the existence of the Illuminati or any other secret society. I do believe, as a group, they are very real. I believe they have a tremendous influence in government and in entertainment. I'll even go as far as to say that the people who are accused of secretly being high ranking members within the society could very well be affiliated with the group. I just find that the people who are pushing the propaganda on the Internet, saying that the Illuminati has a dark, secret agenda are promoting an agenda of their own. Propaganda is defined as "information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view". While some of the information is based simply on tangible things and occurrences (like symbolism, terminology, song lyrics, etc.), a lot of it is misleading, or at the very least, sensationalized to capture the attention of the reader, viewer or listener (perfect example here: http://gothamist.com/2014/04/06/jay_z_wears_controversial_medallion.php. These are really just a bunch of generalizations and speculative thinking). Often, these articles and videos are from well intentioned, faith based individuals trying to warn others who may be unknowingly caught up in their fandom or support of their favorite celebrity. But there are many out there who are trying to use religion, politics and fear as the basis for their campaign to discredit or malign a particular person or group.
While rumors of the Illuminati and other secret societies have always been a part of trying to expose government secrets, I feel that it is not a coincidence that the information supposedly exposing the group has flowed freely and heavily during the presidency of our country's first non-white president. While accusations of the nations previous presidents being linked to secret societies were far from flattering, theories of devil worship and Satanic influence are being levied at Barack Obama and other high profile Black individuals linked to him at an outrageous clip.Then there are videos claiming that these artists are being possessed by demons during their performances, channeling those spirits and bring the masses that listen to them or attend their concerts under Satanic influence. Again, while one cannot truly say that such events are 100% impossible, all we have to reference these allegations are YouTube videos that cannot be 100% authenticated, song lyrics and clips from interviews that can easily be twisted and placed into a context to support whatever theory exists. Yes, it is true that Beyoncé has claimed to have a "split personality" that takes over when she performs. And yes, she has said that she kind of "blacks out" during her performances and often can't recall what happens while she's in character. While this could easily be attributed to some sort of possession, it can also be easily attributed to what many artists, athletes, musicians and the like refer to as "being in the zone" or being totally focused on their craft. Michael Jordan often spoke about feeling like there was another gear that he could summon at will when he was carving out one of the greatest careers in modern day basketball. Many performance artists, myself included when I'm performing spoken word or hip-hop, often say the person that they are outside of their craft is different than their persona on stage. And you can see from an artist like Jay Z or Nas or anyone who has achieved a certain level of success in the entertainment industry get caught up in the moment when tens of thousands of individuals are screaming their name or reciting their song lyrics. Jay has said he has fallen into a trance like state during these moments out of sheer awe of the said moment. So while the theories of possession and spiritual influence can tickle the ears of those looking for something to pin on these individuals being so successful that it has to be something other worldly that is responsible for it, you can also attribute it to their ability to excel at whatever it is that they do.
I want to expound on that thought further, and I will, but I also want to circle back to point I started with the link in the last paragraph. That article is full of speculative comment in regards to what the writer deemed to be clues to Jay Z's affiliation with the Illuminati. None of these are actual concrete facts. While the symbolism (or Jay's wearing completely different symbolism to supposedly "trick" us into believing he's really not part of the Illuminati) may be real, one thing that is never really spoken on is the possibility that maybe this is a clever marketing ploy by Jay Z to keep his name and brand out front. Because regardless of why people are talking about him, his wife and his daughter (even her name, Blue Ivy, is supposedly very Illuminati), they are talking about him and he has managed to remain relevant when many of his Hip-Hop peers have long seen their glory days passed. When you look at the individuals who are linked to this secret society, particularly the Black celebrities and politicians who are said to have a heavy influence on the youth in our country, they are said to have sold their soul to the Devil so that they can achieve their status. This, too, is an irresponsible twist on a religious ideology of "being a part of this world", where if you have not given of yourself to the Lord, or to Jesus or God in general, then you are of Satan's world. The way it is being made to seem, to me at least, is that if you have gained any level of success and you are not of the typical elite class (which for a better part of human history and even now is being a white American) then you have to be part of some wicked, dark society that just happens to also be ran by white people. So not only are these individuals not given credit for their natural abilities and desire to be the very best at what they do, they are essentially sellouts to those who look like them and support them.
It is on that note that I get back to the actual hard work and success of these individuals. The word Illuminati literally means 'enlightened' when you translate the word from it's original Latin form, illuminatus. When the group was originally formed they had pretty simplistic ideals, one being to oppose religious influence over public life and abuses of state power. In the context of this information, it is no wonder why Barack Obama has been a target of not only being associated with the Illuminati in a negative and dark aspect but also being associated with the Muslim faith and to be a proponent of science when it comes to the idea of traditional Christianity and creationism. And while the inclusion of others like Jay Z is mainly due to the success these individuals have attained in the entertainment industry, the influence these individuals have on the youth to be "free thinkers" (a term associated with the Illuminati that refers to the philosophical viewpoint of Freethought, which holds the notion that ideas regarding truth should be formed on the basis of logic and reason instead of authority, tradition and dogmatic principles), can be viewed as a threat to the old ways our society was based on. Religion still has a very heavy hand in the way our government is run and many of the laws and principles our country was founded on were based on religious teaching. Christian values play a major role in the way a lot of our politicians and Supreme Court justices frame their interpretation of our Constitution. It's only logical that they would resist and look to discredit anything that would be viewed as alternative thinking on their ingrained beliefs and principles, especially if they feel like it is an attack on their way of life. While there are definitely arguments on both sides of the Obama divide, the truth of the matter is a lot of politicians and Americans opposed Obama from the very beginning, in part, because he ran on a platform that promoted a drastic change to the way politics are done in this country. The element that race brought to the equation created fodder that could be used to promote a simple yet effective smokescreen, a racial divide. This is effective, mainly, because it's an easy tool to use; most people who oppose Obama feel that Black people would typically side with him and use racism as an excuse for blind support in some cases. Throw the Satanic Illuminati cult reference out there, attach it to some high profile supporters of the President, and now you have a question of faith and spirituality that resonates deep within the Black culture. Feed that to impressionable people, either young people or faith driven older people, and you have a recipe for opposition based on a higher power, God himself. While the scriptures talk about Satan often disguising himself as 'an angel of light' so as to mislead many into following him, the Illuminati references to political and pop culture celebrities make sense here as well. Illuminati also can be interpreted as "followers of the light", or in the case of those who cast this secret society in an evil light, "followers of the false light" or Satan himself.
According to history, the Illuminati, along with other secret societies, were outlawed in 1785 by the Bavarian ruler, Charles Theodore, with the full support of the Roman Catholic Church and were permanently disbanded. There is no evidence that they survived their suppression in 1785. That is not surprising because if the group wanted to remain in secret, they would have made sure to conceal their existence. So it would also not be surprising that organized religion would spearhead the campaign of promoting the group as an evil society bent on world domination. The individuals that are often linked to the Illuminati are of the elite, operating on the highest levels of their professions. So to cast these men and women as minions of Satan isn't hard, especially in the economic and social times that we live in. Barack Obama has been given most of the blame of why our economy and government is in the fragile shape that it's in, even though it was the policies and decisions made during the George W. Bush presidency that has shaped our current state of affairs. While the Bush family's Illuminati ties were often made as jokes about how bumbling George W. Bush was, Obama's association with the group depicts him as pretty much the harbinger of an apocalypse, the end of days, and the "The Great Destroyer", according to author David Limbaugh who is also the younger brother of radio talk show personality Rush Limbaugh (no surprise there).
As my blogs often do, this one has also centered around race and for good reason. While I am not saying that Obama, Jay Z and Beyoncé are being singled out as members of the Illuminati because they are black, much of the malicious press these individuals get is related to their supposed affiliation. Jay Z and Beyoncé, along with other artists they are associated with, have been able to get to a rarefied air in the entertainment industry that very few have attained, let alone Black artists. As influential as their white contemporaries are, there is very minimal association for them with the Illuminati, aside from the occasional Justin Bieber reference (which I think comes from an American dislike of his Canadian heritage, and the fact that he's a spoiled brat who is not as American as the Lindsey Lohan's of our great country). You don't hear Justin Timberlake being associated with the dark practices of a secret society. You see LeBron James flash a "three" sign after he nails a three pointer and because he's associated with Jay Z or he's been seen throwing up the pyramid symbol in homage to Jay Z's former Roc-A-Fella record label, he's said to be flashing Illuminati signs. Both Jay Z and Beyoncé have worn jewelry, clothing and have used images that have Illuminati symbols or references and this has been said to have been tell tale signs that they are definitely affiliated with the evil Illuminati. Seemingly insignificant things like Jay Z dropping the hyphen in his stage moniker and embracing veganism has been said to be Illuminati behavior. Even when these celebrities have ventured into causes to help and support others, like when they showed their support for Trayvon Martin, there was widespread speculation that this only occurred because Trayvon's father was an Illuminati Grand Master with ties to the Free Mason organization. Again, anything is possible. I just feel that if one can look at a situation and make claims as fact, one should also examine the flip side and just ask what is behind the implications of the claims. There is truth that can be proven without a shred of doubt. Then there is propaganda, which could be true. But instead of it being based on facts, it's based on the perceptions and subsequent reactions of those who will read or hear this information.
The point of all this, really, is just to express my personal opinions on the matter of the Illuminati and all the groups supposed members. I could be 100% wrong regarding this and I know at least one person who, as soon as this is posted, will have all sorts of evidence to back the claims that are out there regarding the Illuminati. While I respect the efforts individuals go through to prove conspiracy theories and expose secret social and government agendas, I feel like sometimes that effort is consumed (and in some cases, wasted) on one line of thought when other equally or more important information gets overlooked. To me, what millionaire celebrities, personalities and politicians do in their personal lives rank very low on my list of priorities, even if they are suspected of "devil worship". If millions of other people follow their lead, so be it. But I have my own path to follow.
Now, I want to make it clear that I am not discrediting the existence of the Illuminati or any other secret society. I do believe, as a group, they are very real. I believe they have a tremendous influence in government and in entertainment. I'll even go as far as to say that the people who are accused of secretly being high ranking members within the society could very well be affiliated with the group. I just find that the people who are pushing the propaganda on the Internet, saying that the Illuminati has a dark, secret agenda are promoting an agenda of their own. Propaganda is defined as "information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view". While some of the information is based simply on tangible things and occurrences (like symbolism, terminology, song lyrics, etc.), a lot of it is misleading, or at the very least, sensationalized to capture the attention of the reader, viewer or listener (perfect example here: http://gothamist.com/2014/04/06/jay_z_wears_controversial_medallion.php. These are really just a bunch of generalizations and speculative thinking). Often, these articles and videos are from well intentioned, faith based individuals trying to warn others who may be unknowingly caught up in their fandom or support of their favorite celebrity. But there are many out there who are trying to use religion, politics and fear as the basis for their campaign to discredit or malign a particular person or group.
While rumors of the Illuminati and other secret societies have always been a part of trying to expose government secrets, I feel that it is not a coincidence that the information supposedly exposing the group has flowed freely and heavily during the presidency of our country's first non-white president. While accusations of the nations previous presidents being linked to secret societies were far from flattering, theories of devil worship and Satanic influence are being levied at Barack Obama and other high profile Black individuals linked to him at an outrageous clip.Then there are videos claiming that these artists are being possessed by demons during their performances, channeling those spirits and bring the masses that listen to them or attend their concerts under Satanic influence. Again, while one cannot truly say that such events are 100% impossible, all we have to reference these allegations are YouTube videos that cannot be 100% authenticated, song lyrics and clips from interviews that can easily be twisted and placed into a context to support whatever theory exists. Yes, it is true that Beyoncé has claimed to have a "split personality" that takes over when she performs. And yes, she has said that she kind of "blacks out" during her performances and often can't recall what happens while she's in character. While this could easily be attributed to some sort of possession, it can also be easily attributed to what many artists, athletes, musicians and the like refer to as "being in the zone" or being totally focused on their craft. Michael Jordan often spoke about feeling like there was another gear that he could summon at will when he was carving out one of the greatest careers in modern day basketball. Many performance artists, myself included when I'm performing spoken word or hip-hop, often say the person that they are outside of their craft is different than their persona on stage. And you can see from an artist like Jay Z or Nas or anyone who has achieved a certain level of success in the entertainment industry get caught up in the moment when tens of thousands of individuals are screaming their name or reciting their song lyrics. Jay has said he has fallen into a trance like state during these moments out of sheer awe of the said moment. So while the theories of possession and spiritual influence can tickle the ears of those looking for something to pin on these individuals being so successful that it has to be something other worldly that is responsible for it, you can also attribute it to their ability to excel at whatever it is that they do.
I want to expound on that thought further, and I will, but I also want to circle back to point I started with the link in the last paragraph. That article is full of speculative comment in regards to what the writer deemed to be clues to Jay Z's affiliation with the Illuminati. None of these are actual concrete facts. While the symbolism (or Jay's wearing completely different symbolism to supposedly "trick" us into believing he's really not part of the Illuminati) may be real, one thing that is never really spoken on is the possibility that maybe this is a clever marketing ploy by Jay Z to keep his name and brand out front. Because regardless of why people are talking about him, his wife and his daughter (even her name, Blue Ivy, is supposedly very Illuminati), they are talking about him and he has managed to remain relevant when many of his Hip-Hop peers have long seen their glory days passed. When you look at the individuals who are linked to this secret society, particularly the Black celebrities and politicians who are said to have a heavy influence on the youth in our country, they are said to have sold their soul to the Devil so that they can achieve their status. This, too, is an irresponsible twist on a religious ideology of "being a part of this world", where if you have not given of yourself to the Lord, or to Jesus or God in general, then you are of Satan's world. The way it is being made to seem, to me at least, is that if you have gained any level of success and you are not of the typical elite class (which for a better part of human history and even now is being a white American) then you have to be part of some wicked, dark society that just happens to also be ran by white people. So not only are these individuals not given credit for their natural abilities and desire to be the very best at what they do, they are essentially sellouts to those who look like them and support them.
It is on that note that I get back to the actual hard work and success of these individuals. The word Illuminati literally means 'enlightened' when you translate the word from it's original Latin form, illuminatus. When the group was originally formed they had pretty simplistic ideals, one being to oppose religious influence over public life and abuses of state power. In the context of this information, it is no wonder why Barack Obama has been a target of not only being associated with the Illuminati in a negative and dark aspect but also being associated with the Muslim faith and to be a proponent of science when it comes to the idea of traditional Christianity and creationism. And while the inclusion of others like Jay Z is mainly due to the success these individuals have attained in the entertainment industry, the influence these individuals have on the youth to be "free thinkers" (a term associated with the Illuminati that refers to the philosophical viewpoint of Freethought, which holds the notion that ideas regarding truth should be formed on the basis of logic and reason instead of authority, tradition and dogmatic principles), can be viewed as a threat to the old ways our society was based on. Religion still has a very heavy hand in the way our government is run and many of the laws and principles our country was founded on were based on religious teaching. Christian values play a major role in the way a lot of our politicians and Supreme Court justices frame their interpretation of our Constitution. It's only logical that they would resist and look to discredit anything that would be viewed as alternative thinking on their ingrained beliefs and principles, especially if they feel like it is an attack on their way of life. While there are definitely arguments on both sides of the Obama divide, the truth of the matter is a lot of politicians and Americans opposed Obama from the very beginning, in part, because he ran on a platform that promoted a drastic change to the way politics are done in this country. The element that race brought to the equation created fodder that could be used to promote a simple yet effective smokescreen, a racial divide. This is effective, mainly, because it's an easy tool to use; most people who oppose Obama feel that Black people would typically side with him and use racism as an excuse for blind support in some cases. Throw the Satanic Illuminati cult reference out there, attach it to some high profile supporters of the President, and now you have a question of faith and spirituality that resonates deep within the Black culture. Feed that to impressionable people, either young people or faith driven older people, and you have a recipe for opposition based on a higher power, God himself. While the scriptures talk about Satan often disguising himself as 'an angel of light' so as to mislead many into following him, the Illuminati references to political and pop culture celebrities make sense here as well. Illuminati also can be interpreted as "followers of the light", or in the case of those who cast this secret society in an evil light, "followers of the false light" or Satan himself.
According to history, the Illuminati, along with other secret societies, were outlawed in 1785 by the Bavarian ruler, Charles Theodore, with the full support of the Roman Catholic Church and were permanently disbanded. There is no evidence that they survived their suppression in 1785. That is not surprising because if the group wanted to remain in secret, they would have made sure to conceal their existence. So it would also not be surprising that organized religion would spearhead the campaign of promoting the group as an evil society bent on world domination. The individuals that are often linked to the Illuminati are of the elite, operating on the highest levels of their professions. So to cast these men and women as minions of Satan isn't hard, especially in the economic and social times that we live in. Barack Obama has been given most of the blame of why our economy and government is in the fragile shape that it's in, even though it was the policies and decisions made during the George W. Bush presidency that has shaped our current state of affairs. While the Bush family's Illuminati ties were often made as jokes about how bumbling George W. Bush was, Obama's association with the group depicts him as pretty much the harbinger of an apocalypse, the end of days, and the "The Great Destroyer", according to author David Limbaugh who is also the younger brother of radio talk show personality Rush Limbaugh (no surprise there).
As my blogs often do, this one has also centered around race and for good reason. While I am not saying that Obama, Jay Z and Beyoncé are being singled out as members of the Illuminati because they are black, much of the malicious press these individuals get is related to their supposed affiliation. Jay Z and Beyoncé, along with other artists they are associated with, have been able to get to a rarefied air in the entertainment industry that very few have attained, let alone Black artists. As influential as their white contemporaries are, there is very minimal association for them with the Illuminati, aside from the occasional Justin Bieber reference (which I think comes from an American dislike of his Canadian heritage, and the fact that he's a spoiled brat who is not as American as the Lindsey Lohan's of our great country). You don't hear Justin Timberlake being associated with the dark practices of a secret society. You see LeBron James flash a "three" sign after he nails a three pointer and because he's associated with Jay Z or he's been seen throwing up the pyramid symbol in homage to Jay Z's former Roc-A-Fella record label, he's said to be flashing Illuminati signs. Both Jay Z and Beyoncé have worn jewelry, clothing and have used images that have Illuminati symbols or references and this has been said to have been tell tale signs that they are definitely affiliated with the evil Illuminati. Seemingly insignificant things like Jay Z dropping the hyphen in his stage moniker and embracing veganism has been said to be Illuminati behavior. Even when these celebrities have ventured into causes to help and support others, like when they showed their support for Trayvon Martin, there was widespread speculation that this only occurred because Trayvon's father was an Illuminati Grand Master with ties to the Free Mason organization. Again, anything is possible. I just feel that if one can look at a situation and make claims as fact, one should also examine the flip side and just ask what is behind the implications of the claims. There is truth that can be proven without a shred of doubt. Then there is propaganda, which could be true. But instead of it being based on facts, it's based on the perceptions and subsequent reactions of those who will read or hear this information.
The point of all this, really, is just to express my personal opinions on the matter of the Illuminati and all the groups supposed members. I could be 100% wrong regarding this and I know at least one person who, as soon as this is posted, will have all sorts of evidence to back the claims that are out there regarding the Illuminati. While I respect the efforts individuals go through to prove conspiracy theories and expose secret social and government agendas, I feel like sometimes that effort is consumed (and in some cases, wasted) on one line of thought when other equally or more important information gets overlooked. To me, what millionaire celebrities, personalities and politicians do in their personal lives rank very low on my list of priorities, even if they are suspected of "devil worship". If millions of other people follow their lead, so be it. But I have my own path to follow.
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