I can’t wait for ‘Conspiracy Theory’, Jesse Ventura’s new show on Tru TV (formerly Court TV) to air. I hope that the show, scheduled to premiere on December 2, 2009, will be as addictive as my other guilty pleasures on that network – ‘Forensics Files’ and ‘Masterminds.’ Ventura is the ex-Navy Seal, ex-governor of Minnesota (1999-2003), and ex-MSNBC talk show host who has advanced some very controversial conspiracy theories himself. Chief among those theories is that the World Trade Center Towers in New York were brought down by a controlled demolition during the 9/11 attacks. Now don’t get me wrong I don’t support this theory. Whether or not the events of 9/11 came about as the result of a conspiracy is not an open question. A conspiracy did lead to the events of September 11, 2001 since 19 al Quaeda terrorist, acting on the orders of Osama Bin Laden, did plan and execute the destruction of the World Trade Center buildings. Ventura, Charlie Sheen et al, do win the argument on the grounds of semantics. However, I doubt that they would be satisfied with just claiming victory with that kind of argument. Both men, and many others, argue that the government either helped plan the catastrophic events of 9/11 or that at the very least they knew in advance the specifics of the imminent attack and/or covered up details of it to the public. I agree with them that 9/11 was a governmental conspiracy too - a conspiracy of incompetence, miscommunication and following that tragedy, a further conspiracy to exploit the raw emotions still reverberating inside the minds of all American afterwards for political and geo-global advantage.

 Now, during Ventura’s new show which reportedly has him traveling the country testing other supposed theories and cover-ups, 9/11 will certainly be revisited. I don’t mind Ventura doing so. Whether one agrees with his theories or not, his ideas don’t seem to come from a place of bitterness and malice as do people like the ‘birthers’ and ‘Guy Fawkers’ as Stephen Colbert calls them. Ventura seems to genuinely believe the things he says which doesn’t make them right but does make him sincere. It’s my impression that the ‘birthers’ and ‘Guy Fawkers’ are not even dumb enough to believe what they say just bitter enough. (Then again I may be giving them too much credit - they may be that dumb.) They seem to advance their challenges to Obama’s citizenship status only as a means of de-legitimizing his presidency. They are stuck between the first two stages of grief – denial and anger.

So the reason I look forward to Ventura’s new show is that I don’t think we should be shielded from these outrageous conspiracy theories and theorists. It doesn’t matter how insane or objectionable some of them may be. I’ve watched shows in the past about conspiracy theories on The Discovery and National Geographic Channels. Often, these shows promise to objectively look at both or all sides of a particular conspiracy theory – say the Kennedy Assassination for example – only to have the host voice drip with skepticism towards the unofficial view. I think this insults the viewer. I think it assumes that weak arguments will stand tall even when they are only supported by the shaky foundation of false logic. Showing respect for the listeners of such ideas is not the same as giving credence to the theorist who propose these opinions. Let people contend that we did not land on the Moon or that Obama is the anti-Christ. We should let these putrid thoughts collapse of their own weight. Even though some people are gullible and/or deranged enough to be set off by this information, the rest of society should be trusted to be able to distinguish fact from fiction; proof from disinformation. The price of shielding society from these ideas would be too great. The price of shielding us from these ideas would be censorship. So I say to the ‘birthers’ and ‘Guy Fawkers’ prattle on. Keep producing your hastily made, phony birth certificates. People like myself will be waiting to debunk you. I say to Ventura raise any issue you like. We can take it. I hope your show will allow us viewers the dignity of making up our own minds.