Rumors are and always been a part of the equation in the murders of Annie Mae and Ray Robinson-I suspect it will remain so. Often they are given attribution to such ephemeral things as a grapevine or telegraph system clad in moccasins.
Better to ask what grapevine produced them and whose moccasins we’re talking about?
I have no doubt that some rumors actually have a basis in fact, and have proven to be so- but I am also aware that at least an equal number are without merit and often initiated to damage and misdirect rather than to benefit.
One needs only to look at the countless rumors authored by the AIM leadership or LPDOC to know this is true. In doing so consideration should also be given as well to how much time is lost in attempting to verify erroneous ones.
A rumor surfaces and becomes tantamount to an obligation to pursue it for those doing the legwork-and once it has been presented in all likelihood it will gain traction, make the rounds with the predictable additions and subtractions, and become part of the muddled lore.
Some are blatantly ridiculous on the mere face of it-others may contain enough known information that will create a mystique found to be enticing and possibly even lead to some discovery-others will not.
My point I suppose is that we are not children to create or foster rumors without making the individual effort to find some validation for them, or to present them as a fact we can’t assert with any certainty.
In this day and age of the internet it shoudln’t be all that difficult-there is a lot of information out there, and much that remains in limbo-our goal as advocates should not be to widen the gap between the two, and in doing so possibly obscure the trail or
unwittingly aid and abet.
Justice, a sincere desire for justice for Annie, Ray, and many others mandates that we do our best with an awareness of how and what we say or present will impact the overall picture- ascribing to that may not have any entertainment value-but then none of this is a game, and will make the difference between a picture that is blurred or one that is sharp and in focus.
Most rumors I believe for the main part have their origins in one of two places-either misunderstanding/misinterpretation or malice-better to assure as much as possible neither is the case.
In this discussion and speculation if rumors are to be offered up we should present them for discussion as what they are, not as fact, the Holy Grail, or an accusation that is beyond reproach.
Someone recently said to me that there is a lot of heresay floating around, and I completely agree with that-we should remember this is all being played out in the courts where heresay is inadmissable.
So yeah-discuss, chew on things, do the math, and speculate, but remain true to the spirit of the cause and those of Annie and Ray.
As usual I offer this as an opinion and welcome any discussion or opposing view.
There continues to be a lot of speculation, rumor, and here say, and it certainly adds to the muck that is already out there. There is also a considerable difference between those who ask questions re: information that may be, or not be, accurate, and others who posit here say and rumors as fact. To the latter: They better have their facts together, and their moccasins tied on tight, otherwise, they are just another addition into the boiling pot of lies.
Thanks for posting.