The Thing That Pisses Me Off About Lee Harvey Oswald

I'm a JFK assassination buff. (How do you become a buff?) Anyway, I'm really into it. I've spent many a day getting sucked into the internet black hole of JFK conspiracies.

My take on it is that Oswald was the only shooter that day. BUT, it was a conspiracy involving the New Orleans mafia. I don't want to get us both sucked into the black hole of all of that, so let's move on to my point. 

I've seen a certain argument about the assassination many times (it's even in Stephen King's book 11/22/63) about how Oswald was just a little punk and a nobody, and the idea that he could be in some big conspiracy is ridiculous. But here's the quote I just read today that reminded me of it and pissed me off.

It's from Malcolm Gladwell, who is talking about a book Bill James wrote which includes a chapter about the JFK assassination:

In any case, one of James's best chapters is on the Kennedy assassination. James begins by systematically blowing away the conspiracy arguments. The idea that Oswald was in cahoots with the Soviets or the Mafia or that he had an accomplice somewhere or there was a second assassin or that he was under the control of some menacing force is just too complicated, James points out: It requires too many coincidences and leaps of logic and extravagant assumptions. And besides — and here is where James really shines — there's a much simpler explanation.

Really? That's too complicated?

Well, maybe if we were talking about someone like you or me, a regular working guy. But guess what? Lee Harvey Oswald wasn't a regular guy.

While he was in the marines, he decided to teach himself how to speak Russian. Eh, seems like normal stuff. He then defected to the Soviet Union. He then defected back to the United States. Who hasn't done that?

And I'm sure it would be impossible to be in cahoots with the Soviets in a place that only has Soviets. Oh yeah, and he also a married a Soviet, but how could a guy like that ever get involved with them! Such an extravagant assumption. 

He started a chapter of the Fair Play for Cuba Committee - he was the only member - in New Orleans. He began using an alias, AJ Hiddell, and put that name as the president. We all have aliases, right? Whoops, I kinda do. Okay shut up.

He handed out leaflets about Cuba on the street, then went on the radio for a debate about the subject. Normal guy, not into anything out of the ordinary. I'm sure that wouldn't catch anyone's attention or get him involved with government or anti-government types.

Later, he got on a bus and went to Mexico City and tried to get a transit visa to go to Cuba. This is a guy with a pregnant wife and young kid. But he's not in cahoots with anybody! Sounds like someone who isn't in the control of some menacing force at all.

In early November of 1963, FBI agents twice went to his house to talk to him and his wife. I can't tell you how many times the FBI swings by my place. Annoying!

I think I've done enough.

So stop saying we have tinfoil on our hats because we say maybe others were involved. He defected to Russia! Then defected back! This was during the Cold War, how many people in the world do you think pulled that off? If it's more than one, the guy who happened to assassinate the president, I'd be fucking shocked. So excuse me if I have my little theory over here, you dicks.