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近來美國極右翼份子──瓊斯（Alex Jones）因桑迪·胡克小學（Sandy Hook Elementary School）的校內槍擊案，被判毀謗罪而名聲大噪。法官下令瓊斯賠償近5千萬美元的額外損失給當天被槍殺孩子的家庭。原因是瓊斯散佈一個殘忍的謊言：他說這樁校園大屠殺是受害者之父母偽造出來的一齣戲，而且這些父母都是裏面的演員，想利用這齣戲來宣導槍枝管制。
這則新聞的背景是一位名叫藍紮（Adam Lanza）的20歲美國年輕男子，他於2012年12月14日先在家中用槍射死自己的母親，繼而前往桑迪·胡克小學掃射校園，造成28人死亡──包括6名學校職員和20名6至7歲的孩童，行兇後自殺。
這宗慘案發生後，除了引起美國槍械管制政策的討論之外，「陰謀論」囂張渲染的程度也開始引起大眾的注意。主張陰謀論的團體經常肆意宣傳，他們說這些層出不窮的槍擊事件其實是都政府捏造出來的騙局為了縮緊槍械管制。雖然瓊斯的職業是電台主播、電影製作人和作家，但讓他最出名的卻是他的陰謀論。每日全球都有上百萬人瀏覽他的虛假新聞網站──《資訊戰》（InfoWars.com）和 YouTube。透過這些媒體，瓊斯向民眾傳播各式各樣美國政府的“陰謀計劃”，如：政府刻意製造金融危機以大規模監控民眾；政府組織了恐怖襲擊事件來引起民眾恐慌，但其宗旨卻是為了實現「世界新秩序」（New World Order）──建立一個威權主義的世界政府以取代現今的國家體制來統治世界。
陰謀論涉及的範圍相當廣泛，在此先舉幾個他們散播的內容：
-2013年奪走24個人命的奧克荷馬州莫爾（Moore）龍捲風，是政府用天氣武器（weather weapon）製造“人工”天災的結果。
-2013年波士頓馬拉松爆炸案是聯邦調查局演出來的一齣戲。
-2011 年亞利桑那州女議員 Gabby Giffords 被槍殺是政府精神控制的行動
-美國媒體和金融部門皆被撒旦教戀童癖者操控，而且這些撒旦教徒仍持續在全球各地開展兒童的性交易活動。
-美國從未登陸月球，「阿波羅號」登陸月球的消息是美國太空總署（NASA) 為了履行甘迺迪總統的承諾，要贏得太空競賽以對付蘇聯而偽造出來的戲。
-政府將氟添加到飲用水中不是為了防止民眾蛀牙，而是為了控制人民思想
-富豪蓋茨（Bill Gates）想透過大規模新冠肺炎疫苗的接種將微晶片植入人體，以便以數碼方式做跟踪，他幕後的大黑手──IBM，在秘密贊助他建立一個極權主義政權。
等等......。
陰謀論者有一個共同的傾向，就是他們覺得他們看到了那些根本不存在、不實際的東西。即使真的看到了證據，他們也會將所有的事實都拋諸於腦後。相信陰謀論的人覺得這個世界的惡毒到處泛濫、無法預測，這些令人百思不解的天災人禍全其實都被一些人掌控著。心理學家針對為什麼會有人相信陰謀論做了以下幾點的分析 ：
1. 陰論者覺得這個世界很複雜，令人恐慌。當他們用自己發明出來的那一套理論，至少可以用簡單的敘述方式來解釋這個世界的謎題，也可以幫助自己在懼怕及焦慮中得到安定感 、感覺到自己至少有一些掌控權。
2. 陰論者認為，既然這麼多囂張的惡者都是在自己控制之外，那他們就可以放心地相信自己在生活中所經歷的一切失敗都不是他們的錯，因此大可將之歸咎於本身以外的因素，堂皇的讓自己在失敗中繼續存活下去。這可算是逃避、不負責任的心態。
3. 陰謀論者需要歸屬感。歸屬在一個與他們信念相符的團體裡讓他覺得被接納。
4. 陰謀論者覺得自己很特別，比別人知道得多。他們自認為他們能夠理解玄奧的事物、透析隱藏的秘密，是超乎常人的特殊能力。這是一種自我中心、自我膨脹、近乎自戀狂的傾向。
並非所有陰謀論都具危險性，因為有些理論對社會並不會構成任何威脅； 然而，有一些陰謀論危險性相當高，除了對政府機構產生不信任之外，也造成不少種族仇恨，宗教排斥、非傳統性傾向刻板印象，甚至暴力及死亡。
在陰謀論被害者的名單裡，猶太人也被列在其中，“血腥誹謗罪”（Blood Libel Charge）就是一個例子。“血腥誹謗罪”的故事可以追溯到第12 世紀。 在 1100 年代，許多基督徒因為猶太人拒絕皈依基督教而感到非常憤怒（參閱部落格： 披羊皮的狼）。於是他們惡意地指控猶太人，用謊言傳播說猶太人會殺害基督徒兒童，然後把他們的血添加在猶太教逾越節（參部落格：逾越節）的無酵餅（參部落格：無酵餅）裡來烤。他們還說猶太人謀殺無辜的小孩就是象徵他們謀殺無辜的耶穌，猶太人應為耶穌之死負責。
“血腥誹謗” 的由來如下：公元1144年，一位住在英國諾里奇市（Norwich）的樵夫於耶穌受難日當天在他家附近的森林裡發現了一具兒童的屍體── 一名叫做威廉（William）失蹤男孩的屍體。樵夫一口咬定這位男孩之死肯定是猶太人的傑作，因為他認為基督徒不可能會做出如此殘忍的事。威廉的家人竟然同意樵夫的說詞，但警政當局堅決定表示，沒有證據不能憑空誣告猶太人，因此沒有採取行動對任何人施加懲治。
事過五年後，一位名叫托馬斯的修道士（Thomas of Monmouth）來到了諾里奇市。他聽到了這則傳言後就斷定小威廉之死絕對不是一個普通的謀殺案， 而是一場儀式謀殺（ritual murder）──他相信猶太人會一年一度借用謀殺孩童來重演一次「耶穌受難」的儀式，也就是說，他們利用殺害孩童的手段把耶穌重釘十字架。儘管許多國家領導和教皇不斷地呼籲民眾不要隨便誣告指控，這個陰謀論卻仍在短短的幾10年內就蔓延到歐洲各個角落，而且一傳就傳了好幾個世紀。甚至有一些基督徒故意把自己的孩子藏起來，然後利用血腥誹謗的名義向猶太人勒索錢財。舉捷克共和國波納市（Polná）為例，1899年耶穌受難節翌日，有人發覺19歲 Anezka Hruzova的屍體。雖然犯罪現場只有少量鮮血，但受害者頸部的傷口很深，看起來是失血過多而死亡的。 立即就有人說這又是一場儀式殺戮。而且那年的複活節恰巧和猶太人的逾越節同一天，所以 “血腥誹謗” 的謠言再次轟動一時。像這種沒有證據的陰謀論在社會上引起了反猶太意識而且導致對猶太人和他們社區的暴力、破壞、迫害，甚至屠殺。在 1930 年代和 1940 年代，希特勒還以血腥誹謗為宣傳，繼第二次世界大戰納粹黨對猶太人的血腥大屠殺結束之後，血腥誹謗仍在持續煽動暴力。1946 年有一名9歲的波蘭男孩謊稱猶太人將他扔進麻袋，然後將他帶到地下室。在那裡他目睹了 15 名基督徒兒童被猶太人謀殺取血。這件事情一傳開馬上就有上千個波蘭人憤怒的包圍住猶太社區，之後隨即進行襲擊導致約50人受傷，42 人死亡，其中還包括一些嬰兒（註：摘自「猶太人大屠殺百科全書」）。
“血腥誹謗”這種故事聽起來像古老荒謬的傳說，許多人會認為到了21世紀一定沒人會相信這種蠻荒的胡言。但很不幸，這個陰謀論至今仍深具影響力。當恐怖組織哈馬斯（Hamas 註一）領導人於2015年11月26日接受當地電視台採訪時，仍然堅持現今以色列人還繼續承襲一千年前之傳統，殺害巴勒斯坦兒童，用他們的血犯“血誹謗罪”（註：摘自2015年11月30日「以色列時報」“The Times of Israel”）。
對荒誕離奇的傳說有好奇心是人類的天性，也是一種人類創意發揮的本性；但當它被使用在負面的前提下，產生的結果是仇恨、暴力與死亡。當然，反猶太主義之持續存在原因非常多，“血腥誹謗” 除了揭示了謊言是如何融入社會之外，也給世人一個警惕，在今天媒體氾濫的時代，更應小心求證，以客觀的態度分析辨別真假，不要給陰謀論及謊言創作更多機會醜化、傷害到更多的種族、組織、宗教團體和無辜者。
註一：前身為“伊斯蘭聯合會”，是巴勒斯坦的一個反以色列伊斯蘭運動組織和政黨。
Blood Libel
Recently, in the United States, far-right figure Alex Jones gained notoriety for being found guilty of defamation in relation to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. A judge ordered Jones to pay nearly $50 million in additional damages to the families of children who were killed that day. The reason for this judgment is that Jones spread a cruel falsehood: he claimed that the school massacre was a hoax staged by the parents of the victims, alleging that these parents were all actors seeking to promote gun control.
The background of this news story involves a 20-year-old American man named Adam Lanza, who, on December 14, 2012, first shot and killed his mother at home, then went to Sandy Hook Elementary School and carried out a shooting spree, resulting in the deaths of 28 people, including 6 school staff members and 20 children aged 6 to 7, before taking his own life.
Following this tragic incident, besides sparking discussions on gun control policies in the United States, there has also been a growing awareness of the extent to which conspiracy theories have flourished. Groups advocating conspiracy theories often engage in their propaganda, claiming that these frequent shooting incidents are actually hoaxes fabricated by the government to tighten gun control. While Alex Jones' profession includes being a radio host, filmmaker, and writer, he is best known for his conspiracy theories. Every day, millions of people worldwide visit his false news website, "InfoWars.com," and YouTube channel. Through these media outlets, Jones spread various conspiracy plans of the U.S. government to the public, such as the government deliberately creating financial crises for mass surveillance of the population, or organizing terror attacks to induce panic among the people while secretly aiming to establish a "New World Order" – an authoritarian world government to replace the current nation-state system and rule the world.
Conspiracy theories encompass a wide range of content. Here are a few examples of what they propagate:
-The 2013 Moore tornado in Oklahoma, which claimed 24 lives, is believed to be the result of the government using weather weapons to create “artificial natural disasters”. -The 2013 Boston Marathon bombing is seen as a staged event by the FBI.
-The shooting of Arizona Congresswoman Gabby Giffords in 2011 is attributed to government mind control.
-Satan-worshiping pedophiles manipulate American media and the financial sector while engaging in global child trafficking.
-The U.S. never landed on the moon, suggesting the Apollo moon landing was a fabricated event by NASA to fulfill President Kennedy's commitments during the space race against the Soviet Union.
-The addition of fluoride to drinking water, according to conspiracy theorists, isn't for preventing dental issues but for controlling people's thoughts.
-There are also conspiracy theories involving Bill Gates and the alleged implantation of microchips through mass COVID-19 vaccination to digitally track individuals, with IBM secretly backing this plan to establish an authoritarian regime, and more.
And on and on…
Conspiracy theorists tend to share a common inclination: they believe they see things that simply do not exist or are not based in reality. Even when presented with evidence, they often dismiss facts. Believers in conspiracy theories perceive a world filled with malevolence, unpredictability, and a belief that inexplicable disasters and tragedies are orchestrated by a select few. Psychologists have analyzed several factors contributing to why people believe in conspiracy theories:
1. Conspiracy theorists find comfort in simplifying the complexities of the world using their own invented theories. This provides them with a sense of control and stability amid fear and anxiety.
2. Conspiracy theorists often shift blame away from themselves for life's failures, attributing them to external factors, allowing them to evade responsibility.
3. Belonging to a group that shares their beliefs gives conspiracy theorists a sense of identity and acceptance.
4. Conspiracy theorists perceive themselves as unique and exceptionally informed, possessing the ability to understand obscure matters and uncover hidden secrets, often displaying self-centered and narcissistic tendencies.
Not all conspiracy theories are inherently dangerous, as some may not pose a threat to society. However, certain conspiracy theories can be highly dangerous, fostering distrust in government institutions and promoting racial hatred, religious discrimination, stereotyping of non-traditional orientations, and even inciting violence and death.
In the list of victims of conspiracy theories, Jews have historically been targeted, with the "Blood Libel Charge" being one notorious example. The origins of the Blood Libel story can be traced back to the 12th century. During the 1100s, many Christians harbored resentment towards Jews who refused to convert to Christianity (Please refer to my blog post: "Wolf in Sheep's Clothing"). Out of this resentment, they maliciously accused Jews, spreading false claims that Jews would murder Christian children and use their blood to bake unleavened bread (Please refer to my blog post: Unleavened Bread )for Passover (Please refer to my blog post : Passover). They also contended that the killing of innocent children by Jews symbolized their responsibility for the death of Jesus, holding Jews accountable for Jesus' crucifixion.
The origin of the Blood Libel accusation is as follows: In the year 1144 AD, a woodcutter living near Norwich, England, discovered the body of a missing boy named William in a nearby forest on a Good Friday. The woodcutter firmly believed that the death of the boy was the work of Jews because he thought that Christians would not commit such a cruel act. Surprisingly, William's family agreed with the woodcutter's claim, but the law enforcement authorities maintained that without evidence, they couldn't base accusations against Jews, so no action was taken against anyone.
Five years later, a monk named Thomas of Monmouth arrived in Norwich. After hearing the rumors, he concluded that the death of young William was not a regular murder but a ritual murder. He believed that Jews annually reenacted the "Passion of Jesus" by murdering Christian children, symbolically nailing them to the cross through these killings. Despite numerous appeals from leaders and popes in many countries, discouraging people from making baseless accusations, this conspiracy theory spread across various corners of Europe within a few decades and endured for centuries.
There were even cases where some Christians intentionally hid their children and extorted money from Jews under the pretext of the Blood Libel. For example, in the town of Polná in the Czech Republic, in 1899, the day after Good Friday, the dead body of 19-year-old Anezka Hruzova was found. Although there was only a small amount of blood at the crime scene, the wound on the victim's neck was deep, suggesting death due to excessive bleeding. Immediately, some claimed it was another ritual killing. Since that year's Easter coincided with the Jewish Passover, rumors of the Blood Libel once again stirred up. Baseless conspiracy theories like these have fueled anti-Semitic sentiments in society and led to violence, destruction, persecution, and even massacres against Jews and their communities.
In the 1930s and 1940s, Hitler also used the Blood Libel for propaganda, and even after the end of the bloody Holocaust against Jews by the Nazi Party during World War II, the Blood Libel continued to incite violence. In 1946, a 9-year-old Polish boy falsely claimed that Jews had thrown him into a sack and taken him to a basement, where he witnessed 15 Christian children being murdered by Jews for their blood. This false accusation immediately led to thousands of angry Poles surrounding the Jewish community and launching attacks, resulting in approximately 50 injuries and 42 deaths, including some infants (source: "Encyclopedia of the Holocaust").
The persistence of the Blood Libel conspiracy theory into the 21st century, as described, may indeed seem like an ancient and absurd legend. Many would assume that such outrageous falsehoods would have no place in the modern world. Unfortunately, this conspiracy theory still holds sway in some circles. Even as recently as November 26, 2015, when a leader of the Hamas terrorist organization ( See note 1) was interviewed by a local television station, he continued to perpetuate the unfounded belief that modern-day Israelis were continuing a thousand-year-old tradition of killing Palestinian children and using their blood in ritual crimes (Notes: From "The Times of Israel," November 30, 2015).
Human curiosity about bizarre and fantastical legends is a natural trait, and it's an aspect of human creativity. However, when used in a negative context, it can lead to hatred, violence, and death. Of course, there are numerous reasons for the persistence of anti-Semitism, and the Blood Libel is just one example. It not only reveals how lies can infiltrate society but also serves as a warning. In today's era of rampant media, it's essential to exercise caution, seek verification, and analyze with an objective mindset to distinguish fact from fiction. We should not give conspiracy theories and falsehoods more opportunities to vilify and harm various ethnicities, organizations, religious groups, and innocent individuals.
Note 1: Hamas, formerly known as the "Islamic Resistance Movement," is a Palestinian Islamic militant organization and political party that opposes Israel.
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