Rumors are Out of Control

Just when I thought social-media-driven rumors had gotten out of hand, the current presidential campaign ratcheted them up to a new level.

Those who are buying into the notion that Springfield, Ohio has been overrun by immigrants allowed in by President Biden need to read this article by freelancer Steve Rabey, a native of the Midwestern city.

In it, Rabey points out that many Haitians working in the area were in fact recruited to come there by city and business leaders. The immigrants were needed to fill jobs going vacant.

With their country devolving into anarchy, these middle- and upper-class Haitians were only too happy to migrate to a more peaceful area.

Sadly, their wellbeing is being threatened by those exploiting a situation for political gain.

Road to Nowhere

While one could go on and on about the distasteful nature of the Springfield madness, the truth is rumors have taken on a life of their own in today’s 24/7, interconnected world.

The month before Springfield gained national notoriety, our county government officials contacted state highway authorities. They were asking for updates about “rumored” road projects around the Marshall University campus.

The commissioners also wanted to be informed of all public meetings concerning the projects.

The highway division replied, in effect: “Wasn’t us.”

Who started the Facebook rumors is up to question. But the issue points out the multiple problems that arise from unfettered, unfiltered, and poorly fact-checked information hurtling around cyberspace.

Serious Consequences

It isn’t just political rumor-mongering that affects our nation’s well-being. Six months before Springfield became the center of attention, a national magazine spotlighted problems affecting a community further north (and east).

Christianity Today dispatched a reporter to East Palestine, Ohio to follow up on conditions a year after the Norfolk Western train derailment that spilled a slew of hazardous chemicals.

In “How Doubt Derailed a Train Town,” reporter Emily Belz wrote of how a year later nerves were frayed and tempers on edge.

In what sounds like a parallel to a modern presidential campaign, opinions were split. There were those who thought things were fine and others who insisted the railroad hadn’t cleaned up enough.

Two quotes from the story were quite telling:

“‘It breaks my heart to see the town divided … This is not the town I’ve lived in for 30 years,’ said Barbara Kugler, whose home is near the tracks. … ‘We weren’t angry like this before,’ Kugler said, beginning to cry.”

The story went on to tell of First Church of Christ seeing four families move away because of the chemical fire and three others still renting outside of town six months later.

Seven months after the crash, Pastor Bob Helbeck was sitting in his office, stacked with air purifiers the church was giving out. “‘Everyone is asking, “What can we do to help?” he said. ‘If you could get rid of Facebook, everything would be okay’” (emphasis added).

Staying the Same

Wise old Solomon once observed that “there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9).

So, today’s gossip-and-rumor mill isn’t much different than half-truth shared over the back fence, in beauty salons, or at barbershops 50, 75 or100 years ago. The only difference is that now they can spring to life in an instant.