by SHANNON CALLAHAN
As my final days pass, before I put in my full resignation as a student journalist, I ask you to bear with me for one last moment. I ask that you look through the eyes of the seeker, inhale and embrace the forbidden air we breathe. As we walk, we stand as equals and not as adversaries. Let us empower each other by looking beyond the wall and thus read in between the lines of truth.
Even after all the death threats and hate mail I have received, I would like you journey with me into the world of manipulation and propaganda. These persuasive techniques are usually applied by politicians, advertisers, journalists, radio personalities, our parents and other people who have an interest in influencing human behavior.
Every day we are bombarded with one persuasive communication after another. These propagandist messages are used by men like George W. Bush to rev up the American population for war or for presidential elections to gain support from the American people. Most propagandists use short cuts-particularly those that cut off rational thinking. Why do we as people feed into this crap? Why do we let politics and media agitate our emotions? They do this by capitalizing on the ambiguity of language and by changing the rules of logic.
Bad names have played a powerful role in the history of the world and in our individual development. They have ruined reputations, sent people to prison and made men mad enough to go into battle and slaughter others. This is happening today in our society, even as we speak. Think of some of the words in use today. We use names like terrorist, faggot, bum, nigger and white trash. How can we be so ignorant as to use these terms in our society? How can we move forward when propaganda keeps conditioning people to believe that they are a part of these made up categories?
In a transfer device, which is a type of propaganda, symbols are constantly used. Churches use the cross to symbolize the church. The American flag is supposed to represent the nation but now it is used to represent George W. Bush and his conservative warmongers. Uncle Sam represents a consensus of public opinion. By drawing an Uncle Sam who approves the budget, the cartoonist would have us feel that the American people approve it. The Transfer device is used both for and against causes and ideas. When political activists close their speeches in a ridiculous public prayer, they are attempting to attach religious prestige to the ideas that they advocate so they can get support from religious groups. These religious fanatics buy into the propaganda because it’s what they want to hear. The political activist used the prayer to establish a rapport with the religious audience. It worked. How stupid is that? Let’s give a round of applause for the politician who out-smarted god. Every day people are manipulated by the media, churches, schools, at home, and especially by politicians. Propagandists use fear appeal and then they implement something that reduces that fear so that we remain dependent on their product or belief. By using propaganda, these people retain power and control over humanity and suppress the minds of the ignorant population.
George W. Bush spoke about regime change in Iraq but I believe the whole world, including America, is ready for a regime change.
Now I step off the Op/Ed throne with words of advice for my readers: Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Don’t let anyone ever tell you how to think. Think for yourself and be honest and up front with everyone no matter what. Laugh in the face of ignorance.
Even after all the death threats and hate mail I have received, I would like you journey with me into the world of manipulation and propaganda. These persuasive techniques are usually applied by politicians, advertisers, journalists, radio personalities, our parents and other people who have an interest in influencing human behavior.
Every day we are bombarded with one persuasive communication after another. These propagandist messages are used by men like George W. Bush to rev up the American population for war or for presidential elections to gain support from the American people. Most propagandists use short cuts-particularly those that cut off rational thinking. Why do we as people feed into this crap? Why do we let politics and media agitate our emotions? They do this by capitalizing on the ambiguity of language and by changing the rules of logic.
Bad names have played a powerful role in the history of the world and in our individual development. They have ruined reputations, sent people to prison and made men mad enough to go into battle and slaughter others. This is happening today in our society, even as we speak. Think of some of the words in use today. We use names like terrorist, faggot, bum, nigger and white trash. How can we be so ignorant as to use these terms in our society? How can we move forward when propaganda keeps conditioning people to believe that they are a part of these made up categories?
In a transfer device, which is a type of propaganda, symbols are constantly used. Churches use the cross to symbolize the church. The American flag is supposed to represent the nation but now it is used to represent George W. Bush and his conservative warmongers. Uncle Sam represents a consensus of public opinion. By drawing an Uncle Sam who approves the budget, the cartoonist would have us feel that the American people approve it. The Transfer device is used both for and against causes and ideas. When political activists close their speeches in a ridiculous public prayer, they are attempting to attach religious prestige to the ideas that they advocate so they can get support from religious groups. These religious fanatics buy into the propaganda because it’s what they want to hear. The political activist used the prayer to establish a rapport with the religious audience. It worked. How stupid is that? Let’s give a round of applause for the politician who out-smarted god. Every day people are manipulated by the media, churches, schools, at home, and especially by politicians. Propagandists use fear appeal and then they implement something that reduces that fear so that we remain dependent on their product or belief. By using propaganda, these people retain power and control over humanity and suppress the minds of the ignorant population.
George W. Bush spoke about regime change in Iraq but I believe the whole world, including America, is ready for a regime change.
Now I step off the Op/Ed throne with words of advice for my readers: Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Don’t let anyone ever tell you how to think. Think for yourself and be honest and up front with everyone no matter what. Laugh in the face of ignorance.
May 7, 2003
Opinion