General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Octafish to attend JFK assassination conference. Do you think JFK still matters? [View all]zappaman
(20,606 posts)I went to the first assassination symposium in Dallas in 1992.
I wrote an article for a national magazine about it and the upcoming Stone movie JFK as well.
(Fun fact: you can see me on the documentary that accompanies the JFK film on DVD!)
At the time, I believed there was a conspiracy.
Many of the speakers who were there are also at the one you have linked to.
Here's what to expect...
Robert J. Groden will present blurry pictures including what he claims is a "puff of smoke" behind the fence of the grassy knoll. Apparently, he believes JFK was shot with a musket of some sort.
He will likely also trot out "Badgeman", even though that has been thoroughly debunked.
His presentation is ridiculous, but he's a nice enough guy.
He drank me under the table...
Cyril Wecht will tell you how botched the autopsy of JFK was even though he was not there. He will argue that the autopsy X-rays and photographs are forgeries.
Personally, I liked him quite a bit. While Gerald Posner was speaking, Dr. Wecht turned to me and grumbled "Who invited this asshole?"
Mark Lane will spout the same things we've all heard for 50 years. He will continue to say things we know not to be true, such as "Ruby was conspirator desperate to reveal everything he knew". And, since he is among acolytes, he will not be challenged (as will no one else).
Oliver Stone will tell you how the entire world operates under one giant interlocking conspiracy. I interviewed him for the article later (he wasn't at the symposium) and found him to be a very energetic guy. At the time, he must have been sick because he kept going to the bathroom and always came back sniffling. I think his film JFK is a great work of fiction. It's tragic that many see it as a documentary.
Robert N. McClelland will say the wounds of JFK indicate a second shooter, What he won't tell you is he has admitted not touching the head and having no idea that JFK had a back wound only centimeters below his external occipital protuberance- a wound that would have been clearly visible if he actually saw the occipital wound on JFKs head that he claimed to have seen.
Of course, Gus Russo and Gary Mack, both of whom believed in a conspiracy back then, will not be there since they have changed their views and been ostracized by the JFK CTer community. Too bad.
All in all, you will learn nothing new. The evidence has been in plain sight for 50 years. Save your money.
It's amazing that there is still enough flesh on JFK's bones for these vultures to feast on.
After attending the symposium, I experienced my first doubts of a conspiracy.
The guy who believed the CIA killed JFK and
The guy who believed the FBI killed JFK and
The guy who believed the mob killed JFK and
The guy who believed the MIC killed JFK and
The guy who believed the cubans killed JFK and
The guy who believed the secret service killed JFK and
The guy who believed the LBJ killed JFK...
can't ALL be right.