“[T]hanks a lot for bursting my bubble. I enjoyed it a lot and wanted other people to enjoy it, too. Now you’ve ruined it.”

Every few months some co-worker forwards one of those urban legend emails around.  I'm the "resident bubble burster" who checks them out on Snopes.com and forwards that information to the same people.  

Okay, I'm a self-appointed bubble burster, but somebody's gotta do it.   [G]  

How many receivers of such false information know it's false, but simply appreciate the Mark Twainish entertainment value?  They aren't as hung up on the factual aspect Ms. Begley and I - at least not to the extent of checking it out and reporting on it.  Maybe it's a reporter's gene?

I'd hazard that some of the resulting unhappiness she described above may be due to the manner in which the bubble gets burst.  Sending that Snopes URL is deflating and probably comes off as a bit insulting to the original emailer.   I'm always aware of this, but not sure how to counteract that.  To me, knowing the truth carries a higher value than mere entertainment.

The fact that the American electorate chose to (marginally) re-elect George W. Bush in 2004 even after his demonstrably wretched mishandling of every major issue is likely another example of this phenomenon.  The deep and abiding need to believe the "good story" that Bush was a strong, competent, effective leader prevailed over the increasingly obvious facts to the contrary.  It took another year or so for the mythology to dissolve in the face of overwhelming evidence discrediting the fantasy.

I noticed you criticized Benson for supporting the JOHN BIRCH SOCIETY. BUT you never criticized him. Benson doctrine is what the MAJORITY of Mormons live by. I would like to see you go to your church and criticize Benson. As mentioned I back my statements up with facts.

There are many reasons Mormons will not come forth even though they know of the corruption in the Mormon church. One is due to their belief in Mormon scripture which they associate with the Mormon church. The leadership has usurped power and authority over this scripture. Thus, the members of the Mormon church think that God expects them to support their misguided leaders. This is much the - rationalization that many Americans make about our government. They all know of the corruption, but rationalize that it is unpatriotic to talk against the government or ungrateful to complain when they enjoy superficial prosperity."

THE LINK BETWEEN BUSH FAMILY AND ROMNEY IS HENRY TAFT BENSON. CO FOUNDER OF THE RUSSEL TRUST aka. SKULLS N BONES SOCIETY.

A new book shows Saddam did support al Qaeda and the Taliban:

'Both In One Trench: Saddam's Secret Terror Documents'

http://www.bothinonetrench.com

I've been aware of this problem for some time.  It first occurred to me in the context of racism:  why do people who hold racist beliefs hold them despite all evidence to the contrary?  (The only true American anti-Semite I ever met maintained his anti-Semitism despite my painstaking rebuttal of each of his factual propositions.  They didn't matter to his judgment.)  

Ditto with xenophobic beliefs, or anti-semitic beliefs--or for that matter, patriotic pro-American beliefs or pro-Israel beliefs.  What's frustrating is that people who have these hard-wired beliefs refuse to recognize them even when it's pointed out to them that they are absurd.  So here your article was posted four hours ago, and I am the first and only one to respond?  How odd.  It's as though by ignoring our prejudices we can just make them go away.

Unfortunately, our prejudices aren't just beliefs: they have practical consequences which we should see before we let them drive us.  Think 50,000 American dead in Vietnam because of a pre-judgment that the NVN were "communist."  Think 4000 American dead in Iraq, because of a pre-judgment that the Iraqis were Al-Queda-niks.  Think about all the people who will again vote their prejudices, not based on facts ... and I have to tell you, I think this Republic is in deep, deep trouble.