David Marshall

(11/2022) Conspiracy theories has always been part of the American fabric. It is the deep-seated belief that the federal government is keeping a secret of great importance from the general public. There are people who still question the findings of the Warren Commission which concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in the assassination of John F. Kennedy. People still believe alternate theories surrounding the assassination. As a result, a 2003 ABC News poll found that 70% of Americans believe Kennedy’s death was the result of a broader conspiracy. With the polarized politics of our nation as a backdrop, today’s mistrust of American institutions is partly by design.

The use of conspiracy theories and "alternative facts" in perpetuating the erosion of trust in our governmental, economic, religious, educational medical and judicial institutions has been in the making for decades. The large number of people who are easily drawn and susceptible to any type of conspiracy theory are prime targets for manipulation by those with political agendas.

For example, U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson, the former White House physician, claimed the omicron variant is a hoax that Democrats will use to impose new COVID-19 mail-in ballot rules. With the amount of accessible information at our fingertips, there should be no reason why any objective person is left confused between facts and fiction. Yet, many people believed that the COVID-19 pandemic was deliberately planned or a hoax even after the deaths of thousands of Americans.

With the pandemic being the greatest public health crisis in generations, there are not very many people who do not personally know someone impacted by sickness or death resulting from COViD-19. This includes myself. I never was one who believed in any version of the right-wing conspiracy theory. So having my mother succumb to this deadly disease was not the "proof" I needed. But her death left me confused in many ways.

Ten days after receiving the news that my mother had been infected, she passed away. She was a resident at an assisted living facility where one of the residents contracted COVID from a visiting physical therapist who unknowingly was positive. It spread like wildfire and before it was over, eight elderly residents were infected with three dying, including my mother.

Despite her death, I was one of the lucky ones. While hospitalized, her doctor literally called me each day with an update concerning her status. For a short period of time, she began showing signs of improvement. When things quickly took a turn for the worst, I was allowed to visit her. When I arrived, I was faced with the toughest decision in my life. The doctor asked how aggressive did I want them to treat her sickness.

Being 97 years old with diabetes and dementia, the doctor explained she would never be the same. Seeing her struggling to breathe was difficult for me. Knowing she was in pain when trying to breath was more difficult. Being in the hospital room with her that day was the first time in her life she didn’t recognize me. The doctor explained that the COVID was making the dementia worst. I stayed with her for an hour, and there was a brief moment she knew I was there and I was her son. I left the room and the doctor was still outside where we resumed our conversation about treatment. I asked him, if that was his mother what would he do? He responded, "I would honor her wishes." I said she would wish to be comfortable without pain. Knowing she would no longer have the quality of life she deserved, the decision was to place her on comfort care. The hospital staff would make her as comfortable as possible while giving her medication for the pain. He said she would have about five days. She passed two days later. I considered myself to be one of the lucky ones because so many people didn’t have the opportunity to be close to their love ones before they passed.

I am still confused because there are individuals like myself who have family members whose lives were taken by this disease, and yet they still believe in elaborate conspiracy theories that are politically motivated. It shows the powerful pull conspiracy theories have over a person’s life. It makes you wonder how many deaths were actually caused by sinister misinformation which kept people from vaccinations or led to the delay of effective treatments after people got sick. America is losing her values. As of October 2022, over one million Americans died from COVID. As people die, the basic compassion for others has rapidly diminished due to lies and misinformation.

When Democrat Doug Jones defeated Republican Roy Moore in a special election for the Alabama U.S. Senate seat, he stated "I have always believed that the people in Alabama have more in common than what divides us." It was a shocking upset in a solidly Republican state, but enough Republicans voted with their conscience. This is 2022 and the thirst for political power is so great that basic integrity, honesty and respect is also diminishing when it comes to the character of our elected leaders. If the Jones / Moore election was held during this year’s midterm election, would Roy Moore’s character still matter as it did several years ago?

I agree with Doug Moore. I believe as a nation we still have more in common than our differences. But many of us are unwilling to admit it. Many Democrats and Republicans agree that conspiracy theories can be deadly even to democracy. Rep. Adam Kinzinger is one of two prominent Republicans critics of former President Donald Trump who is willing to risk their political office to do what is right. Along with them, there are concerned Republican and Democrat citizens who can put their policy beliefs aside when needed. For that reason, they are supportive when Rep. Kinzinger endorsed four Democratic secretary of state candidates and Democrat Josh Shapiro for governor of Pennsylvania.

This election is critical and life will always present us with tough decisions. Let’s pray will make the right choice when faced with facts and fiction.

David W. Marshall is author of the book "God Bless Our Divided America" and member of Country First. Country First is focused on recognizing that Republicans, Democrats or Independents don’t have to be enemies just because they have different experiences and perspectives. To learn more about Country First visit www.country1st.com