Conversations with my friend Ike are becoming increasingly challenging. I first met him when we were in a car pool to SFU where he was immersed in studying philosophy. Our paths diverged and I didn’t hear from him until he came across my blog and contacted me. We renewed our friendship but I quickly learned our thinking had followed radically different paths. Over the years he became disenchanted with our institutions, system of government, religion, and much more. He had become enmeshed in a variety of conspiracy theories and now embraces them passionately.

Tall, gangly and skinny, Ike lives with his partner Elaine near Williams Lake. Elaine wears granny glasses, has her hair in a bun, and is as keen as he in pursuing theories about everything wrong in our society. They each have a laptop and, sitting side by side, devote many hours to perusing websites that expound on who and what is to blame for the issues troubling our country and our planet. Their lives revolve around conspiracy theories.

It soon became clear to me that Ike considers his knowledge to be irrefutable. Initially I raised several arguments against his current favourite theory. “If you believe that it just proves you are one of them,” he responded. “It shows how crafty people with power are. They work in the shadows behind the scenes, duping the public into believing lies. If people knew what we know, they’d be worried.”

Ike has huge regard for the views of James Corbett, whose website contains innumerable accounts of individuals and corporations allegedly misleading people. Currently Microsoft founder Bill Gates is receiving a lot of Corbett’s attention, (and therefore Ike’s).

Corbett is convinced Bill Gates is manipulating the covid pandemic with lock downs and other strategies to push untested vaccines for economic benefits. He also claims Gates is seeking to establish population control with microchip implants. Some believers claim these will be in the vaccine. “He is scheming to leverage his immense wealth,” Corbett contends, “to control the fates of billions of people.”

Listening to Ike’s mini lectures, I’ve concluded he and other conspiracy theorists are suspicious of most official accounts of events. Many harbor a deep distrust of experts in all realms, including scientific and medical. Even in phone conversations, I sometimes sense that Ike’s eyes are glazing over when I raise an objection. He’s so steeped in conspiracy theory ideology, so certain he’s right, he seemingly cannot grasp the possibility that there could be an alternate perspective.

I have observed repeatedly that Ike and Elaine reinterpret random events to show they are part of a broader, insidious pattern. “People in high positions in government and corporations are conspiring to take away our freedoms and our way of life,” Ike has told me several times. “There’s a new world order and it already rules our planet.” According to a European Commission website, “there is a belief among conspiracy theorists that certain situations are secretly manipulated behind the scenes by powerful forces with negative intent.”

Ike has an answer for all contrary evidence. Not wanting him to close his mind to our friendship, I don’t ridicule his views. I do at times question the accuracy of his sources. Occasionally I agree with him concerning a particular issue. Certainly not all is well in our country or on our planet. Wealthy individuals and corporations are contaminating our environment and our values for the sake of profit and power. Governments too often develop policies that undergird destructive enterprises.

Although conspiracy theories are frequently built on speculation, conjecture, suspicion, faulty information and partial truth, they do have, in my opinion, a useful role. That role is to prod us to consider and question what is happening in our institutions, communities and nation. Those in power and authority at high levels know that most citizens are preoccupied with personal pursuits and rarely take notice of developments or conditions around them.

Conspiracy theorists have a knack for unsettling us and attracting our attention with their disturbing views. Although I prefer facts over speculation and rumour, I’ve come to realize that individuals like Ike and Elaine at times provoke me to be less complacent and trusting concerning what is being done behind the veil of government or corporate double talk and intrigue. Certainly conversations with Ike tend to be stretching, but also stimulating. They challenge me to search for truth.

Almost without exception, the Young Offenders we worked with at Camp Colonial in Hedley came from fractured, dysfunctional homes. Untrusting, minimally acquainted with the truth, devious, suspicious of almost everyone, they had gravitated to criminal activity. In spite of the negatives that had crept into their lives, most were eminently likeable. Curt, a skinny16 year old youth from Kamloops was all the above, but he really wasn’t easy to like. An aura of deep disgruntlement pervaded the space around him. His moods were erratic and people felt uneasy in his presence. Possibly he suffered from an undiagnosed mental illness. Because he had come with a reputation for being unpredictable and at times violent, an experienced staff was assigned to work with him exclusively.

In the midst of the current angry protests against police violence and calls for defunding, I was reminded of an incident involving Curt. His mother had arrived by Greyhound to visit him on a warm June day. Larry, his worker noted a good deal of agitated whispering and an underlying friction simmering between them. It was evident she too was not mentally and emotionally stable. At the end of the day, as she was about to board the bus to leave, she French kissed Curt. He seemed to accept this as part of their usual routine.

We had learned to expect that a visit from a parent could easily cause a kid to become distraught at being left behind. That evening I was Duty Officer and at about 8 pm I received an urgent call from Larry on my two way radio. “Curt has become totally unhinged,” Larry said. “He’s in the program office and has locked the door. There are crashing sounds. He’s trashing the place.”

I arrived at the site within minutes and attempted to make voice contact with Curt. He was shouting obscenities at the world and smashing furniture. Apparently he had withdrawn into some dark inner space that shut out my attempts to communicate. Suddenly he burst from the office, leaving the door hanging from its top hinge. In his haste he nearly knocked me down. Running frantically, he made his way to the highway skirting our community. Stopping in the middle of the highway, he began walking furiously along the white centre line, quite oblivious of the traffic speeding by him.

On my 2 way handset I instructed Larry to request help from the RCMP. I called on a worker to follow him at a distance and another to be ahead, signaling drivers to slow down. Cautiously I approached Curt and began walking beside him, speaking quietly. He was in his own world and seemed unaware of my presence. Fortunately drivers understood something unusual and potentially life threatening was at play. They didn’t honk horns or shout complaints. I thought of pushing Curt physically off the highway but feared in his irrational state he might pull us both into the path of a vehicle. I was waiting for his energy to dissipate and for the police to arrive.

After several miles, Curt left the highway and entered a small cafe that was popular with truckers. At the same time a single Mountie in a police cruiser arrived. I hurriedly explained the situation and he entered the cafe. I felt my presence might be a distraction so I waited outside with several workers. After a few minutes the Mountie, a well built man of about 35, emerged and we watched as he unloaded his side arm. “I’m not taking any chances there,” he said, as much to himself as to us. His tone suggested an understanding of Curt’s mental state.

He left the cafe door open and we heard Curt’s shrill voice and the officer’s calm responses. After about an hour Curt’s anger had run its course. When they emerged, he was handcuffed and meekly entered the back door of the cruiser. “We’ll look after Curt overnight,” the Mountie said. “You can pick him up in the morning.” I thanked the big man for his patience. By remaining calm he had given us another opportunity to win Curt’s trust and discover it was possible to like him.

I’m aware that our society has become vastly more complex over the years. Even so, this Mountie’s patience and willingness to dialogue suggests that with a constructive emphasis in training, more marginalized people might respect, not fear the police. Defunding seems an ineffective, knee jerk response.

Just before lunch last Tuesday I received a phone call that instantly captured my attention. “Hello,” a pleasant voice said. “My name is Donald Patterson. I’m with Publishers Clearing House. The purpose of my call is to inform you that because you shop at Walmart and Save on Foods, and pay off your credit card monthly, you’ve been selected for one of 4 prizes we give out annually. The prize consists of three million dollars and a brand new Mercedes.”

I was reminded of the saying, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” Even so, I couldn’t cavalierly blow him off. I’ve long believed it’s important to consider opportunities. Also, there are exceptions to some rules. Maybe this was such a case. Donald’s cheery personality did invite my curiosity.

Skeptical, but also wanting it to be true, I asked, “What do I need to do to receive the money?”
He had anticipated the question. “Not a thing,” he said breezily. “I have a certified cheque on my desk, made out to you. Our office is in Vancouver.” He gave me the address, then said,” I can bring the cheque to you today. Does that suit you, or is another day better?”

I knew scammers sometimes use the name of a reputable, well known company or government agency to establish credibility. Still, a little voice somewhere in the recesses of my brain whispered, “Don’t judge too quickly. What if this is one of those exceptions to the rule? Surely there can be no harm in agreeing to have him come out with a cheque for three million. If the cheque really is certified, you’ll be rich. Let’s see where this goes.”

I didn’t want to be lulled into making a bad decision, but what was the harm in letting him come? At the moment, it didn’t occur to me these thoughts were almost certainly coming from sheer greed, not sound reasoning.

“So, you’re willing to bring me a cheque for three million and I’ll also get a Mercedes?” I asked, then added, “and I don’t have to do anything?”

“That’s correct,” he replied. “Just give me your e-mail address and I’ll send you a confirmation.

Linda had been listening intently to my side of this conversation. She’s more dubious about this type of offer and would have terminated the call immediately. Concerned I’d be duped, she opened her lap top and began sleuthing on the internet.

“All you want is my email address?” I asked. “Yes, yes,” he assured me. “All you need to do is go to the Bank of Montreal and deposit $500 to register your prize. Place the money into the account of Revenue of Canada.” Another recognizable name, but I noted he didn’t have it quite right. Still, if he brought a certified cheque, how could I possibly lose?

We had talked for about ten minutes, but Donald still seemed ok with my dilly dallying. He was like a veteran hunter patiently stalking a deer. “What colour do you want the Mercedes to be?” he asked. “Sky blue,” I said. He chuckled, likely believing I was warming to his magnanimous offer. By now I had decided though this was indeed a scam. I simply wanted to know what further gimmicks he would employ.

Linda now stepped away from her computer and stood very close to me waving her arms in consternation, much like a traffic cop wanting to stop a reckless driver. She feared I would unknowingly provide Donald with personal information he could use for identity theft or some other nefarious purpose. Not wanting to upset her, I said to my new pal, “Donald, my wife is even more skeptical than me. I’ll have to discontinue this conversation.” I’m sure he had been at this juncture many times. “I’m sorry you don’t want the 3 million and the Mercedes, Mr. Martens,” he said. “Good bye.”

Successful scammers understand they’ll lose the majority of these verbal duels. They also know that greed tends to cloud our decision making and by patiently persevering day after day, they will find unsuspecting, vulnerable individuals hoping for the big win. Donald Patterson, by the way, wasn’t in Vancouver as he wanted me to believe. Linda’s sleuthing uncovered the fact he was calling from Jamaica. Apparently that age old rule still holds. “If it’s too good to be true, it is.”

I learned that Revelation was written by John, a disciple of Jesus and a leader in the early Christian church. The citizens of Rome at that time worshipped a variety of gods and the emperor Domitian claimed divine status. Roman authorities didn’t approve of John’s monotheistic teaching. They banished him to the penal colony on the inhospitable island of Patmos. Banishment of enemies and potential rivals was a common practise by emperors. Even the highly acclaimed stoic senator, Seneca was banished for a time, albeit to Corsica, a much less dreary setting. It was on Patmos that John wrote the remarkable book that makes Daphne anxious and even now at times attracts media attention. Current developments on our planet are prompting more people to take note of visions John recorded concerning future events.

At this time when health authorities across the globe are desperately calling for the development of a vaccine against COVID-19, technology already makes it possible to use smartphones to trace the spread of the virus. Apple and Google have recently released such a system to 23 countries. It does not record names or addresses but a concern exists that the technology will be used by others for more nefarious purposes. China’s system sucks up a variety of information, including citizen’s identity, location, online payments, and more. Other governments are already requesting expanded surveillance capability. Daphne fears that by using mass surveillance technology, authorities will be able to extensively track her decisions and activities. Her pulse would really leap into overdrive if she knew what Bill Gates is planning.

This is where the thinking of the Microsoft founder and the Biblical prophet come into alignment. Gates and a number of billionaire partners have founded ID 2020. According to spokesperson Peggy Johnson, the purpose is to provide every individual on the planet with “a trusted, verifiable way to prove who they are, both in the physical world and online. For the approximately one billion individuals who cannot currently prove their identity, this will certainly be a huge advantage.”

How this will all unfold is somewhat murky for me. I do know though that Gates has gone on record saying that our lives will not get back to normal until we have the ability to vaccinate the entire global population against COVID-19. To this end he is pushing hard for disease surveillance and a vaccine tracking system that might involve embedding vaccination records in our bodies. He has said that societal and financial normalcy may never return to those who refuse vaccination. The vaccination system Gates envisions might ultimately be required to go about our day to day life and business. Without this “digital immunity proof”, we may not even be allowed to travel locally or enter some public buildings.

Has Bill Gates been reading John’s “Revelation”? Writing about what has sometimes been referred to as the “End Times”, John describes a powerful, miracle working beast which sides with Satan. This beast, he writes, in Revelation chapter 13, “causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, and that no one may buy or sell, except one who has the mark or the name of the beast. His number is 666.”

Other than conspiracy theorists, most of us will welcome a vaccine when it is developed. If it includes an implanted digital immunity proof tracking technology, we may well have second thoughts. More concerning though is that some governments will utilize the technology to further control their citizens. COVID-19 has already changed our lives. Undoubtedly there is more to come. We need to be vigilant.

I was certain Mildred wouldn’t be coping well with the unrelenting barrage of news about COVID-19. At 83 she has the lined face and skimpy frame of a chronic worrier. A life long spinster, she had been our next door neighbour when we lived on the third floor of a condo in Abbotsford. I was pretty sure this morning she’d already have tied her grey hair into a bun and would be sitting before her tv, fearful the virus might slip under the entrance door. Knowing I needed to check on her, I dialed her number. As usual, Mildred answered the phone without a greeting. She just began talking, as though we were in the midst of a conversation.

“Have you heard about that thing that’s going around?” she asked. “I mean the virus. It’s killing people. I just know I’m going to get it. If there’s something going around, I always do.”

Mildred’s words immediately reminded me of Dave Gray’s thoughts concerning beliefs. In “Limminal Thinking” he said, “We construct our beliefs, mostly unconsciously, and thereafter they hold us captive. They blind us to possibilities and subject us to fog, fear and doubt.”

“If you’re following the advice of the medical authorities, you should be safe,” I suggested. “Are you washing your hands with soap under warm running water and not getting close to people?”

“Oh yes,” she replied. “I wash my hands every half hour and I’m staying inside, with my door locked. It’s just Daisy, my mini-spaniel, and me. I don’t answer the phone unless I recognize the number. I haven’t even gone down to check my mail. By now my box is probably filled with junk mail.”

This was classic Mildred, always expecting misfortune. Her parents had experienced extreme hardship in the Great Depression and they had bequeathed to her the belief that disaster was skulking about her constantly, ready to pounce. She once told me that at age 18 she had fallen in love with a young man studying to become a doctor. When he graduated they set a wedding date. Then, with the prodding of her mother, she began thinking of everything that could go wrong. She doubted she would be an adequate wife. If they had children, would she be a loving mother? Also, her fiancee had emerged from university with a debt she didn’t believe they could repay.

On the morning of the day they were to be married, apprehension overwhelmed her and she called off the wedding. “It wasn’t a wise decision,” she admitted to Linda and me one day. “I’ve been lonely all my life. Now I mostly stay in my place. Hardly anyone visits me. I guess I’m not good company.”

I had attempted before to pry loose the tentacles of fear and doubt that clung to her, never with any success. Still, I needed to try again. I knew from “Liminal Thinking” that beliefs can limit what we are able to conceive. Paraphrasing Dave Gray I said, “Mildred, believing something doesn’t make it real. Beliefs can actually create blind spots that cause us to miss good things.” Cancelling the wedding was certainly an example of this but I knew mentioning it would be painful for her.

“I’m an old woman,” she replied. “You have talked about these things before and I have thought about them.” She sighed, then said, “Maybe I’ve had too many birthdays to change.”

I sensed that Mildred’s beliefs had become her reality. Dave Gray says “it’s easy to confuse beliefs with reality. Beliefs are imperfect models for navigating a complex, unknowable reality.” This concept seemed to apply to Mildred but I decided it wouldn’t be fair to ask her to wrestle with it.

Wanting to get her mind off the virus, I suggested, “Mildred, you’ll be much happier if you turn off the news programs and read a good novel. By now Daisy must be weary of hearing politicians and doctors say we need to practise social distancing. Read her an uplifting story. You could also call some friends and have a phone visit. They’re probably as restless as you.”

“Ok,” she said, “I get your point. I’ll do something different. Maybe I’ll order in pizza for Daisy and myself.” Then, as usual, she didn’t say good-bye. There was a click and I knew the conversation was finished. I hope Daisy likes pizza.

Returning from Abbotsford to Hedley last week, Linda and I decided the weather had warmed sufficiently to buy our first ice cream cones of the season. We pulled into the McDonald’s in Hope and walked toward the restaurant. A bearded man, about age 30 and wearing a black hoodie, was sitting on the front concrete walkway. He seemed to be hiding inside the hoodie, but we were conscious he was observing us with keen interest. As we drew nearer he said, “Would you buy me some fries?” Linda has a gentle heart and immediately said “yes.” He got up and followed us inside.

He requested a “Happy Meal” and while Linda was placing the order he reached out a hand to me and said, “I’m Derek.” It was the beginning of a disquieting interaction. When Linda handed him the Happy Meal, he went to a booth by a window, seemingly having forgotten about us.

Linda felt we should sit with him. “Can we join you?” I asked. He said “sure,” then turned partially toward the window and pushed three fries into his mouth. Without our prompting he began speaking, but it was a fragmented, incomprehensible monologue. Hoping to generate a conversation, I asked if he lived in Hope. “I stayed with my uncle last night,” he responded, momentarily turning to face us. “I’m walking to Abbotsford.” He again turned partially toward the window and we once more seemed to fade from his consciousness.

Taking a bite of the burger he turned toward us again and said, “I’m a demon. You are responsible for this.” He resumed his examination of the window, apparently assuming we knew what he meant.

Derek’s jumbled, mostly unintelligible monologue greatly puzzled me. When he turned to the window he seemed unaware of our presence across the table from him. In one of his more rational moments he said he had done meth, heroin, and alcohol. Except for his mangled conversation though, there was no indication he was intoxicated. Was he under the influence of drugs? Had he caused permanent damage to his mind with substance abuse?

I scoured my memory, searching for some explanation for the seeming mayhem in Derek’s mind. I recalled that extensive research indicates that in the teen years, the brain changes more rapidly than it ever will again. Drug use can negatively impact the brain at exactly the time when it is most vulnerable.

In High: Everything you want to know about Drugs, Alcohol and Addiction, David and Nic Sheff say, “drugs offer an alternative world.” Derek’s mind certainly seemed to flit between the real present, and some other state in which he was a lonely pilgrim. The Sheffs contend that “the brain on drugs is like a highway where all the automobiles are out of control, crashing into each other.”

We listened to Derek’s mutterings for about 20 minutes, comprehending only snatches when he turned to face us. During the lengthy intervals in which he receded into a mental fog, I sensed he had, at best, a tenuous connection to the world around him The Sheffs seemed to describe him when they wrote, “young adults who used drugs in the teen years may never learn to do the stuff we normally learn as teens to navigate life. To try and fail, and try again, to have friends and a job.”

The Sheffs further state, “long term alcohol abuse can permanently damage the hippocampus, which regulates many body processes, like heart rate, hunger and thirst, breathing and much more.” They disagree with society’s growing complacency concerning marijuana. “In adolescents marijuana may affect brain structure, cognitive functioning and memory,” they say. “High doses of meth can lead to cognitive deficits, mood disturbances, violent behaviour, confusion, paranoia, delusion, stroke and heart attack.”

After Derek had eaten the burger and fries, he was ready to move on. We shook hands and I wished him well. Watching him amble away, seemingly quite purposeless, I thought of those young people in Hedley who live mostly for alcohol, marijuana, meth, cocaine and other drugs. And I wondered why we are willing to let them go down the path that seems to have impaired Derek’s mind.

Substance abuse is destroying thousands of young lives in our country. Why are we not responding to it with the same determination, vigour and resources as we are to COVID 19? Surely we can offer more to our next generation.

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