Other Libra conspiracies
In Libra there are many conspiracy plots woven together and even some left out due to the amount of conspiracies. Some are straight up hilarious, with the evidence of these theories so sparse, but going so deep, some only including one photo or a streak across an old video.
One of the most popular conspiracy theories is that there was a second shooter. It would make sense due to the fact that Lee H. Oswald likely attempted another assasination, but missed and for a higher stakes mission, he (or whoever he was working with) would not want this to fail. The evidence for this though is shaky, with it being a streak across a recording during the 1960s where cameras at the time were not particularly sharp, and online detectives analyzing angles to a degree to an obsessive degree.
One of my favorite theories, not due to its validity, but rather absurdity, is the Umbrella Man. For some reason there is a man wearing a black suit and holding a black umbrella (image shown below.) It was 68 degrees this day and sunny, so he stands out in this scene. Entire theories about who this man might have been, have been constructed. Some think that he was another potential assassin, using his umbrella as a weapon. Straight out of science fiction. It is true that weapons like this have been theorized before this time, but would he have the accuracy or get close enough to hit RFK?
It has also been theorized that he was just giving Lee H. Oswald a signal to fire, much more possible, but with Oswald’s loner nature, I still find this unlikely.
One person has even theorized that RFK’s body was tampered with on the way to the hospital to align closer with the story that there was only one shooter. I did not find much on this, but the proposition I find humorous. It would make sense that if you want to kill the president that there might be a huge conspiracy, but having gone through enough effort to intercept who would have taken RFK to the hospital and perform undetected surgery while they are moving in a car.
Many of these theories I find humorous, impossible, and conspiratorial, nothing more than entertainment in the same way you might listen to your dumb friend ramble, to see what logical leaps they will make, but I would be ignorant if I was to ignore the very real evidence for these theories. There is a reason the average American believes in some sort of conspiracy. The many strange and weirdly convenient deaths. The number of coincidences and seemingly impossibilities or irregularities in the plot that just don’t make sense.
In the end RFK’s death will always be a mystery, no matter how many new "discoveries" are made, new facts found, the fact is that the current narrative by the government is too simplistic. Its very reason why there is mass scrutiny is why it works, it gives us an easy narrative to follow.
Where I got the "average American believes in some sort of conspiracy" https://news.gallup.com/poll/514310/decades-later-americans-doubt-lone-gunman-killed-jfk.aspx
Hi Tucker, I found your post very interesting, as it touches on many aspects of the Kennedy assassination and its conspiracies. I like that you tied in your own thoughts and feelings regarding The Umbrella Man. Nice job!
ReplyDeletePeace God, I really like how you explored the conspiracy theories in Libra—your point about the Umbrella Man made me laugh, but I also see what you mean about why these theories capture people’s attention. I agree that the official story feels too simple, and that’s part of why so many Americans are drawn to conspiracies. It’s interesting how DeLillo uses this fascination to make us question what really happened. Great Job Tuck!
ReplyDeleteFascinating. I had never seen a picture of the umbrella man before, and he certainly does look suspicious, but maybe he was just trying to get some shade?... It was really interesting to hear all these different conspiracies and I wonder why DeLillo didn't include some of these as part of the his plot. Great job Gerg!
ReplyDeleteHey Tucker! I like how you balance skepticism with openness here, you clearly don’t buy into every theory, but you also avoid dismissing them outright as nonsense.
ReplyDeleteHi Tucker! Great post! I think there's something definitely interesting about all of the different theories out there. I sort of resonate with the idea that a true, random act of violence is, in some way, scarier than some organized plot. It's also interesting how a single detail in a photo can spark decades of debate.
ReplyDeleteAh, the Umbrella Man--as if Oswald would need a guy on the ground to give such an inconspicuous signal in order to know when to fire (and the signal is given late, presumably, since he fires late). There's also a "Babushka Lady," referring to a woman wearing what looks like a babushka and she doesn't react visibly to the shooting, so therefore *she must be in on it*. Most of these theories come down in the end to the need to find and identify a second shooter--it's become almost an article of faith that Oswald could not have done this alone, despite the fairly thorough and convincing evidence that this is the case.
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