This man is the biggest hole of a crumbled human being that has ever existed. He is a scourge upon society. A poison of self loathing that has used innocent children and adults to weave stories of deception. Stories that attract weak minded individuals by the droves. So he can make money selling viagra pills and cheap watches to line his pockets.
Scarlett Lewis is a far better person than I can ever hope to be, because it is my firm belief that the world would be a far better place if Alex Jones got hit by a bus in downtown Austin, and that there is a special circle in hell for him and his ilk. I have nothing to forgive him for, and I shall forget him as soon as said bus hits him.
Happy to see Alex Jones get his comeuppance, but for those who feel that they must subscribe to at least one conspiracy theory, may I suggest - birdsarentreal.com
Have never listened to Alex Jones, but I like a good conspiracy as much as anyone - for example Roswell, Area 51 and all of that. Never bought into faked moon landings, faked school shootings, or a pizza joint that is a front for Democrats to murder children. I'm on the fence about things like the Illuminati, the Bilderbergs and things of that ilk.
A friend of mine recently said, in regards to a local town governance issue, that most often, what many think of as "conspiracy" is often just a group of people who are passively or perhaps actively incompetent at their jobs and at their place in the world. So incompetent in fact, that they cannot even cover up their own incompetence. And we elect many of these people to local, state, federal government and they bring their incompetent friends and family with them.
That said, I don't like a guy like Bill Gates running around as the mouthpiece for global vaccinations, for example. Stay in your lane, Bill. Maybe figure out how to make an 80% reliable version of Windows finally? It's only been 40 years of an imperfect, or even a not very good operating system. I know he is not really in charge of Microsoft the last 20 years and maybe having failed at that he reinvented himself as virologist. Something like this is where reasonable people should be able to question things without being laughed at.
I truly believe that the acceptance of conspiracy theories by Americans has to do with a lack of quality education, particularly history. If you know your history you know that most conspiracies were miserable failures due to the inability of mouths to stay shut and the very human tendency to not do what you said you would. The US government is given way too much credit for competence when it comes to pulling off these crazy schemes.
I disagree. In the past, we had moronic idiots. What has changed is that with social media they can find each other and wind each other up. Alex Jones without the Internet would just another raving crazy on a small independent radio station.
Let's also be clear. Alex is a multimillionare . Crazy sells all that merch.
I think most of the 47% of pastors that claim to not hear conspiracy theories from their congregation are either lying, in denial or they insulated themselves enough from their flock that they just don't hear it. I can't speak to the 5% that are "unsure". Strong belief in conspiracies is in the church congregations as surely as oregano is in spaghetti sauce. You may not notice it all the time but, it's in there.
While I would never pretend to know or understand the complete *why* of why Alex Jones and all of his ilk are who they are and do what they do, since I can't quite wrap my head around understanding the business model of causing pain and suffering for profit - or simply for personal satisfaction, or fulfillment of some kind of personal need - beyond the fact that evil is a real and abiding feature of human existence in this world, I know and understand this:
Whether or not Scarlett Lewis has any religious beliefs or is a person of faith, that she can even openly say that she forgives Alex Jones, much less actually do it, is good enough evidence for me that the Spirit of God lives within her, whether she realizes it or not.
I'm not a particularly humble person by nature. But her words have humbled me, as they should most anyone who reads or hears them. Who among us could summon the strength to rise above all that this woman has lost, and then has had to deal with since, to not only speak the truth to her tormentor the way she did while looking him straight in the eye, but then tender him a small act of kindness as well. I know full well that I could not do it. Couldn't even come close. And I'm not a weak person by nature either.
Lord knows she'd surely never want such a job (and our society today wouldn't actually deserve her even if she did), but simply as an inadequate measure of my admiration and respect for her words and actions in that courtroom...you put Scarlett Lewis on a ballot anytime, anywhere for anything, and I'd knock people down to get to the head of the line to vote for her. Because she not only knows and speaks the truth and speaks it better and more clearly than anyone I can think of currently, but she obviously lives it as well.
To hell with Alex Jones. He more than deserves any punishment that comes his way. But God bless Scarlett Lewis. If she doesn't deserve that - if only for those moments she spent in the presence of one of the many evils of this world and the way she stood up to that evil - no one does.
In hockey, a "Gordie Howe hat trick" is when a player scores a goal, an assist, and has a fight in a single game. So now we have rogues, creeps, and colorful liars -- an "Alex Jones hat trick"???
As long as there is an audience for the lies and conspiracy theories, they’ll continue to exist. People like Jones don’t exist without an audience. And no matter what happens to Jones, even if he completely goes away, which I doubt he will, someone else will be coming up behind him willing to entertain his audience. Because entertainment is what this is all about. Bored people want to feel alive. The truth may set you free, but it’s not nearly as fun! as bringing down the deep state.
I believe some crimes such as this deserves more than just financial awards. Jones has lied and has caused pain and suffering to the families as well a spun up his listeners (followers) that if investigated would show Jones as the instigator and therefore complicit.
The Judge should be able to provide a jail sentence for helping and or driving these lies out into the airwaves.
A gut punch, Matt. The mom has to live with that every day. Wondering what her 16 year old son would've been like. Feeling that ache. And for jones to inflict more needless pain on her. To forgive? I don't know what her religious beliefs are, but she's more Christian than I'll ever be.
we need to hold jones and all of his enablers to a minimum standard of honesty. not just jones but all his producers, sponsors, networks and anyone who profited from this monstrous slime being perpetrated since sandy hook. when alternative facts are nothing but dressed up damnable lies, and all the other fake money making schemes are punished, this type behavior will decrease. no decent soul should continue to acknowledge this human scum. we tolerate these fools and morons in every walk of life, and when they find a platform the damage spills crudity throughout our lives.
This man is the biggest hole of a crumbled human being that has ever existed. He is a scourge upon society. A poison of self loathing that has used innocent children and adults to weave stories of deception. Stories that attract weak minded individuals by the droves. So he can make money selling viagra pills and cheap watches to line his pockets.
Scarlett Lewis is a far better person than I can ever hope to be, because it is my firm belief that the world would be a far better place if Alex Jones got hit by a bus in downtown Austin, and that there is a special circle in hell for him and his ilk. I have nothing to forgive him for, and I shall forget him as soon as said bus hits him.
Sigh Matt....no one will ever forgive us for the Cuyahoga will they...lol
We cleaned it up and fixed it...and it was a long time ago...lol
Good piece, thanks
Angie,
Yes! And it's really beautiful now!
Went back to my home town Aug 20
to race the Rock n Roll Olympic Duathlon
They closed the Shoreway
and I biked 25 miles on it,
high above the River and the Lake
O it was so beautiful
to see Cleveland shining in the sun!
Deborah
Yeah, it is pretty cool ..it isn't a bad place to live at all
The self delusion that is so widespread in this country truly concerns me. And people are willing to pay for it. Alex Jones Meet Karma.
Happy to see Alex Jones get his comeuppance, but for those who feel that they must subscribe to at least one conspiracy theory, may I suggest - birdsarentreal.com
A quote from JVL in his Triad at the Bulwark this morning as to Alex Jones, on news of $50M judgement against him:
"The floor should have been 10x that number. But whatever. It's a start. And anytime Alex Jones is having a bad day, it's good for civilization."
I'm raising a glass to many, many more bad days for Mr. jones.
Have never listened to Alex Jones, but I like a good conspiracy as much as anyone - for example Roswell, Area 51 and all of that. Never bought into faked moon landings, faked school shootings, or a pizza joint that is a front for Democrats to murder children. I'm on the fence about things like the Illuminati, the Bilderbergs and things of that ilk.
A friend of mine recently said, in regards to a local town governance issue, that most often, what many think of as "conspiracy" is often just a group of people who are passively or perhaps actively incompetent at their jobs and at their place in the world. So incompetent in fact, that they cannot even cover up their own incompetence. And we elect many of these people to local, state, federal government and they bring their incompetent friends and family with them.
That said, I don't like a guy like Bill Gates running around as the mouthpiece for global vaccinations, for example. Stay in your lane, Bill. Maybe figure out how to make an 80% reliable version of Windows finally? It's only been 40 years of an imperfect, or even a not very good operating system. I know he is not really in charge of Microsoft the last 20 years and maybe having failed at that he reinvented himself as virologist. Something like this is where reasonable people should be able to question things without being laughed at.
I truly believe that the acceptance of conspiracy theories by Americans has to do with a lack of quality education, particularly history. If you know your history you know that most conspiracies were miserable failures due to the inability of mouths to stay shut and the very human tendency to not do what you said you would. The US government is given way too much credit for competence when it comes to pulling off these crazy schemes.
I disagree. In the past, we had moronic idiots. What has changed is that with social media they can find each other and wind each other up. Alex Jones without the Internet would just another raving crazy on a small independent radio station.
Let's also be clear. Alex is a multimillionare . Crazy sells all that merch.
Well done my friend
I think most of the 47% of pastors that claim to not hear conspiracy theories from their congregation are either lying, in denial or they insulated themselves enough from their flock that they just don't hear it. I can't speak to the 5% that are "unsure". Strong belief in conspiracies is in the church congregations as surely as oregano is in spaghetti sauce. You may not notice it all the time but, it's in there.
While I would never pretend to know or understand the complete *why* of why Alex Jones and all of his ilk are who they are and do what they do, since I can't quite wrap my head around understanding the business model of causing pain and suffering for profit - or simply for personal satisfaction, or fulfillment of some kind of personal need - beyond the fact that evil is a real and abiding feature of human existence in this world, I know and understand this:
Whether or not Scarlett Lewis has any religious beliefs or is a person of faith, that she can even openly say that she forgives Alex Jones, much less actually do it, is good enough evidence for me that the Spirit of God lives within her, whether she realizes it or not.
I'm not a particularly humble person by nature. But her words have humbled me, as they should most anyone who reads or hears them. Who among us could summon the strength to rise above all that this woman has lost, and then has had to deal with since, to not only speak the truth to her tormentor the way she did while looking him straight in the eye, but then tender him a small act of kindness as well. I know full well that I could not do it. Couldn't even come close. And I'm not a weak person by nature either.
Lord knows she'd surely never want such a job (and our society today wouldn't actually deserve her even if she did), but simply as an inadequate measure of my admiration and respect for her words and actions in that courtroom...you put Scarlett Lewis on a ballot anytime, anywhere for anything, and I'd knock people down to get to the head of the line to vote for her. Because she not only knows and speaks the truth and speaks it better and more clearly than anyone I can think of currently, but she obviously lives it as well.
To hell with Alex Jones. He more than deserves any punishment that comes his way. But God bless Scarlett Lewis. If she doesn't deserve that - if only for those moments she spent in the presence of one of the many evils of this world and the way she stood up to that evil - no one does.
Absolutely lovely tribute to Scarlett Lewis; you speak for many readers, I'm sure. I missed this first time around; glad Matt reposted it today.
In hockey, a "Gordie Howe hat trick" is when a player scores a goal, an assist, and has a fight in a single game. So now we have rogues, creeps, and colorful liars -- an "Alex Jones hat trick"???
As long as there is an audience for the lies and conspiracy theories, they’ll continue to exist. People like Jones don’t exist without an audience. And no matter what happens to Jones, even if he completely goes away, which I doubt he will, someone else will be coming up behind him willing to entertain his audience. Because entertainment is what this is all about. Bored people want to feel alive. The truth may set you free, but it’s not nearly as fun! as bringing down the deep state.
So please tell me if I am wrong with this.
I believe some crimes such as this deserves more than just financial awards. Jones has lied and has caused pain and suffering to the families as well a spun up his listeners (followers) that if investigated would show Jones as the instigator and therefore complicit.
The Judge should be able to provide a jail sentence for helping and or driving these lies out into the airwaves.
I don't know but 5 years sounds fair.
Your thoughts?
A gut punch, Matt. The mom has to live with that every day. Wondering what her 16 year old son would've been like. Feeling that ache. And for jones to inflict more needless pain on her. To forgive? I don't know what her religious beliefs are, but she's more Christian than I'll ever be.
we need to hold jones and all of his enablers to a minimum standard of honesty. not just jones but all his producers, sponsors, networks and anyone who profited from this monstrous slime being perpetrated since sandy hook. when alternative facts are nothing but dressed up damnable lies, and all the other fake money making schemes are punished, this type behavior will decrease. no decent soul should continue to acknowledge this human scum. we tolerate these fools and morons in every walk of life, and when they find a platform the damage spills crudity throughout our lives.