The National Archives has released more than 2,800 previously classified or redacted records relating to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy. A few decades ago, back when I was immersed in the story, I met people who were living for this moment, certain that something in there would validate some grand conspiracy theory they had. Now that the day is here, I wonder how many of them care. It all seems so distant now. Once upon a time, it was possible to believe some revelation would change the world. Now, that seems pretty unlikely.
I was one of those folks who read all the books, went to lectures and even (once) attended a convention of conspiracy buffs. Meeting some of those people in person did a lot to change my mind and not in the way they intended. Most of those folks were willing to consider absolutely any theory as to how J.F.K. was murdered except the one where one lone nut named Oswald acts alone. That was the one that was off-limits. If you'd gotten up at this gathering and said Kennedy was killed by clones of the Three Stooges from the planet Beta-Blue, you would have gotten more respect than someone who thought Lee Harvey dunnit.
Why? Because that was the story fed to the masses…to the stupid people, meaning people who were not you. To some, that alone proved it could not be true. It also did not get you anywhere. The conspiracy theorists I met had fiercely declared that was a lie and would never in a zillion years consider that they might have been wrong.
I eventually came to two decisions. One was that, yes, Oswald acted alone and the Warren Commission Report was at most, only wrong on a few inconsequential details. The other decision was that it was brain-dead foolish to try debating this with anyone…so this is not a debate. It's just me saying what I believe. If you want to believe Peruvian Albinos offed Kennedy, fine. Go right on believing it but don't expect pushback from me.
A lot of these newly-released documents actually have been released before, sometimes in redacted form. I'll be surprised it there are any serious game-changers in there. If there are, I'll be surprised if anyone cares, even those who were alive on 11/22/63. If there's proof what I believe is wrong, I'll just believe what then seems to be right…but it really won't change my life or anyone's.