Posted on 02/12/2008 7:18:25 AM PST by Smelly_Fed
WASHINGTON — Conspiracy theorists take note: The myths surrounding one of America's oldest and most enduring national symbols are about to be debunked ... if you believe the government, that is. The keepers of the Great Seal of the United States, the emblem on the back of the US$1 bill, want you to know what it is not. It is not a sign that Freemasons run the country, it has nothing to do with the occult, and it does not contain clues to a fabulous hidden treasure. It is rather the nation's stamp of authority, sovereignty and power, gracing cash and embossing the most important of documents from its home at the State Department, which has held it since the days of Thomas Jefferson, the first secretary of state. Not that the Seal's symbols — the all-seeing eye, the unfinished pyramid, the Latin phrases, the bald eagle clutching an olive branch and arrows and the number 13 — aren't powerful. They are, historians say. Yet their meanings have been misidentified, misunderstood and misrepresented almost since the Continental Congress first commissioned the Seal in 1776. It would be another six years before the original design was approved and another 128 before it evolved into its current form. Along the way, a movement to decipher the Seal's meaning with ancient Egyptian, mystical and otherwise other worldly explanations has gained currency. The Internet age has seen an explosion in such conspiracy theories, many which have now been ingrained in public consciousness through the popular "National Treasure" movie franchise that serves up a combination of Masonic lore and historical myths in blockbuster Hollywood fashion.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
“Deny”
Exactly.
Conspiracy theorists are people of faith. They believe their pet theory, they have invested an awful lot of time and energy and sense of personal worth into that theory. Cold hard facts are not going to change any of that. Sorry, but that is Human nature. Faith trumps fact :)
LOL! Nice one!
Weird it is...
I have wondered why this photo has not stirred some interest on the part of some of the writers who would usually have something to say about this; and, did into it for an explanation from the Hillary...people?
Matter of fact, I have e-mailed a couple dozen writers whose articles are often seen posted here in cyberspace—no takers.
Wondering why there is a hands off on this topic.
I personally like the "T!ts of America" trick.
Nice of them to let freemasons off the hook after 225 years.
The ruse worked!
Silly humans. ;-)
MASONIC
LIST
Send uglybiker a FReepmail if you would like on/off The Masonic PING List
The List of Ping Lists
Which did
NOT BEGIN
to be used until about 5 years AFTER the Roswell incident.
The AirForce made itself look very stupid with their contention about the dummies.
I’m waiting for a call to boycott money.
I told you they would sucker for it! :-)
That P2 link to Masonry has been debunked so many times - I’d need a super-computer just to list all the ISBN numbers.
I can’t speak to Mexican Masonry - different organization than the one I belong to, first I’ve heard about it.
Thanks for the ping, UB!
The secret is safe. >:-}
February 12, 2008
WASHINGTON (AP)
US Reveals Secrets of National Seal
Conspiracy theorists take note: The myths surrounding one of America’s oldest and most enduring national symbols are about to be debunked ... if you believe the government, that is.
The keepers of the Great Seal of the United States, the familiar emblem on the back of the $1 bill, want you to know what it is not. It is not a sign that Freemasons run the country, it has nothing to do with the occult, and it does not contain clues to a fabulous hidden treasure.
It is rather the nation’s stamp of authority, sovereignty and power, gracing our cash and embossing the most important of documents from its home at the State Department, which has held it since the days of Thomas Jefferson, the first secretary of state.
Not that the Seal’s symbols — the all-seeing eye, the unfinished pyramid, the Latin phrases, the bald eagle clutching an olive branch and arrows and the number 13 — aren’t powerful.
They are, historians say. Yet their meanings have been misidentified, misunderstood and misrepresented almost since the Continental Congress first commissioned the Seal in 1776.
It would be another six years before the original design was approved and another 128 before it evolved into its current form. Along the way, a movement to decipher the Seal’s meaning with ancient Egyptian, mystical and otherwise other worldly explanations has gained currency.
The Internet age has seen an explosion in such conspiracy theories, many which have now been ingrained in public consciousness through the popular ‘’National Treasure’’ movie franchise that serves up a combination of Masonic lore and historical myths in blockbuster Hollywood fashion.
Among them:
—That the Seal proves the domination of the United States by a powerful, quasi-religious cult. The Ancient Scottish Rite of Freemasonry is a perennial favorite of conspiracy theorists as some Founding Fathers were Masons and the Seal uses several Masonic symbols.
—That the Seal draws on Satanism or polytheistic ritual to promote a universal new world order under which Earth would be ruled by a single omnipotent government.
—That repeated references to 13 — the number of steps in the unfinished pyramid, stars in the constellation over the eagle’s head, arrows in the eagle’s claw, stripes on the eagle’s shield, letters in the phrase ‘’Annuit Coeptis’’ — demonstrate the power of 13 American families.
—That there are two seals: one in which the eagle’s head faces the arrows for times of war and another in which the eagle’s head faces the olive branch for times of peace.
All rubbish, according to historians, who say the Seal’s symbolism is far less ominous or revelatory than many believe.
On Tuesday, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the Seal’s current custodian, will inaugurate a new exhibition to commemorate its 225th birthday and trace the history and evolution of the symbolism.
The Seal will remain at the State Department but the interactive exhibit is designed to travel and curators hope it will dispel the rumors and educate Americans about the real meaning of the symbols.
Among the highlights:
—That known Masons like the first U.S. president, George Washington, and Benjamin Franklin had no role in designing the final seal, which uses elements of traditional heraldry, such as the unfinished pyramid to symbolize a work in progress, arrows for war and an olive branch for peace. Masons share some of those symbols, but they have never been exclusively the domain of the order.
—That the phrase ‘’Novus Ordo Seculorum’’ below the Roman numerals for 1776 at the base of the pyramid translates as ‘’A New Order of the Ages’’ that began with independence and does not imply the United States will be the lynchpin of a sinister ‘’New World Order.’’
—That the words ‘’Annuit Coeptis’’ (’’Providence favors’’) and the eye of providence that hovers over the pyramid refer to unexpected interventions of fate that assisted the colonists in creating a new country.
—That the references to 13 refer to the number of colonies that formed the original United States.
‘’People are just not aware of the complexity and intent of the symbolism and what our Founding Fathers were trying to do with it,’’ said Priscilla Linn, senior curator at the U.S. Diplomacy Center. ‘’The hidden treasure in the Seal is the courage and presence of mind of the people who created it and created these values for the whole country.’’
Mexico hasn’t liked the masons since Bro. Stephen F. Austin told Santa Anna to stick his bum leg up his arse,and Bro. Sam Houston went ahead, took said leg and performed said operation for Mr. Anna.
It won’t make a bit of difference what the Feds say. There’s no way you can change the thinking of the conspiracy nuts.
be very, very quiet. There are watching us.
Tell Wikipedia.
Very true.
I know, I know.
I guess another bro. kicked Aznar out of office in 3/11.
Thank you for the links to Howard Hunt’s testament. That makes much more sense.
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