Smoke and Mirrors

At the end of the movie, "The Wizard of OZ" we find Dorothy, her dog Toto, and the Tin Man, Scare Crow and The Lion in the presence of the great and mighty OZ. They came as a group but with individual wants or needs. Each believed the wizard could fulfil their desires. OZ was all things to all people and regardless of the wish, OZ could take care of it. ......

It was a common belief that by going to the Emerald City and seeking the Great OZ all things could be accomplished. Through out her travels, Dorothy heard over and over, follow the yellow brick road to the Emerald City and everything she wanted would come true. The Great Oz would be able to get her home without a doubt because everything was possible if one believed......

Her companions believed that if the Great Oz could find Dorothy's way home then surely he could solve for them their need for perceived completeness. After all OZ is all powerful, all knowing, all seeing and anything would be possible if only one believed.......

The moment was finally here. The Great Oz made his appearance with all the magnificence expected. While denying their requests and attempting to scare them into leaving, Oz was revealed by Toto by pulling open the curtain left of the stage.......

There was no OZ. There was however a great and powerful wizard. Through an enormous feat of promotion, PR and salesmanship the wizard had the entire world believe the illusion.......

The reality and beliefs of the land were nothing more than smoke and mirrors controlled by a little old bald fat man behind a curtain pulling levers and releasing smoke...........