There are so many things that I don’t understand in this world. And for the most part, I don’t expect to. That’s what makes the world so interesting. It also gives me all kinds of things to read and research. But there are some things that I thought were universal truths. Simple things – Mammals need air to breathe, fire is hot and ants are annoying at a picnic. Basic truths that we all accepts as fact. Except more and more often the truth is being attacked as not the truth. One such truth is the flat earth theory or conspiracy depending on your point of view.
I’ve tried ignoring this, but it keeps popping up. I’m not into social media all that much. I do have a Facebook account that I check in on every so often. Recently whenever I check my feed, there is some post referencing the flat earth theory and the great NASA conspiracy. I’ve heard of the athletes and other high profiles individuals that believe the Earth is flat and blew it off as a fringe issue. And while it is still a low percentage of the population that believes this theory, the fact that anyone believes this is disturbing.
I broke down and actually researched this theory because I couldn’t figure out how they thought it would work. How do you explain the poles? Pictures of the planet from space? The moon? Other planets? Do they believe that all of astronomy is a complete lie? And I have to say that what I read made me laugh. If you never looked up the flat earth theory (and I don’t recommend it), the primary belief is that the earth is a flat disc where the Arctic circle is at the center and Antarctica is the ice ring on the outer edge that keeps everything together. My first thought is that the flat earthers have to be freaking out seeing the ice shelf break off due to the melting ice. Any minute we could spring a leak! But I digress.
I went to the Flat Earth Society webpage and they have what they consider to be proof. My favorite is the evidence that when we travel across the Earth it always stays flat. No one has ever walked to the edge of the horizon and disappeared below the surface. Because no one drops from view due to the curve, then that must mean the planet is flat. This is where I nearly dropped my iPad because I started laughing. This constitutes evidence? Does this mean that we can prove gravity exists simply because we don’t float? It’s absurd. And then you have to consider the giant hoax that NASA and any other country’s space agencies have been perpetuating on the world. Every picture depicting the planet from outer space is fake. If that were true, it would be a bigger conspiracy than the alien landing in Roswell.
I usually agree to disagree with people that have beliefs other than my own. And I’m a firm believer that everyone has a right to their opinion. I draw the line when it comes to denying the facts. I may laugh at the flat earth theory, but there is a real danger in ignoring these fact deniers. The way things are in the world currently, we have to push back. It’s no longer funny when facts get distorted, twisted or misused. Not speaking up and arguing for the truth is just as criminal as spreading the misinformation in the first place. Bending the truth is still a lie, no matter how you try and pretty it up. We may disagree on thousands of issues, but some universal facts must be accepted. Gravity exists. Water is wet. The sky is blue. Okay, that’s not true. But darn it, the Earth is ROUND!!
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Today is the 17th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. It’s hard to remember and not see the contrast to today. Post 9/11 saw a globe united. It wasn’t just our country. It was a brief moment in time when the best of humanity came to the forefront. And today we can barely be civil to each other while standing in line at the grocery store. Sad. I still have hope for us. If we could come together once, then we can do it again.
