The Night Watchman: R

The Georgia Guidestones

In an isolated spot in Elbert County Georgia stands one the most mysterious monuments in American history. The Georgia Guidestones are are an arrangement of large granite slabs that are arranged in a manner that allow them to be used as an astrological calendar and clock. This would make the structures interesting enough, but the uncertainty about who built the monument and the cryptic messages written upon it make the Guidestones the object of much speculation from the conspiracy theory community.

The monument was commissioned in 1979 by R.C. Christian (an admitted pseudonym) who claimed to be representing a group of wealthy individuals who wanted to provide guidance to future generations. According to Christian, the group he represented was anticipating a global catastrophe that would wipe out most of humanity and the monument was to guide them and help them survive. The group who wanted the Guidestones built were described simply as individuals interested in an Age of Reason.

The local company hired to build the monument initially thought it was a hoax, but Christian payed a $10,000 deposit, so construction began. The monument consists of six slabs weighing 240,000 pounds.  The slabs are arranged on a lunar calendar and also have viewing slots for the North Star and the Equinoxes. However, that is not the most interesting part of the monument. The slabs contain ten principles in eight separate world languages. The precepts are:

1. Maintain humanity under 500,000,000 in perpetual balance with nature.
2. Guide reproduction wisely – improving fitness and diversity.
3. Unite humanity with a living new language.
4. Rule passion – faith – tradition – and all things with tempered reason.
5. Protect people and nations with fair laws and just courts.
6. Let all nations rule internally resolving external disputes in a world court.
7. Avoid petty laws and useless officials.
8. Balance personal rights with social duties.
9. Prize truth – beauty – love – seeking harmony with the infinite.
10. Be not a cancer on the earth – Leave room for nature – Leave room for nature.

Some of them are pretty common sense, but #1 is pretty creepy. It has also made the monument the target of conspiracy theorists who believe that the stones are evidence of a New World Order (NWO). Conspiracy theorists think the Guidestones are a directive for secret societies to reduce the world population to 500,000,000 through genocide and eugenics. The conspiracy theory has been convincing enough to some people that the site has been vandalized a few times in the last couple of years.

What makes the Guidestones so interesting is that they have a genuine mystery surrounding them. This isn’t a conspiracy theory that goes against established fact, because there is very little established fact in the construction of the monuments. The one person who knows the most (the head of the granite company that built the structures) isn’t talking. There are a number of theories as to the identity of those who commissioned for the Guidestones, including an argument that Ted Turner is responsible. However, at this point it is anybody’s guess. As long as the origin of the monument remains secret it will undoubtably be the source of speculation and will draw suspicion from conspiracy minded thinkers. Hopefully, Glenn Beck won’t find out about it.