Some INFO for my sheeple on PROPAGANDA

[Mantis Claw]

Taken from an interview with Dr. Nancy Snow.

GNN: How has propaganda changed over time? We bemoan it infiltrating the media today, but during World War II, the newsreels produced by the “press” were pretty much indistinguishable from the military’s objective.



Recall the now legendary Eisenhower outgoing speech of 1961 in which he said that our country must “guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military industrial complex.” He’s famous for providing the military industrial complex (MID) to our lexicon, but I think he might have wanted to add another M. Today’s landscape, or at least the landscape of the last 50 years or more, is a military-media industrial complex (MMID). The military and media absorb the bulk of our research sources in technology. Anything that’s invested in information technology in the U.S. is first applied in the media and military sectors and then filters down eventually to the mass consumer society. Consumers are the last to get access to new technology that will make our lives freer and easier to challenge the power establishments.



Having said that, wartime propaganda in the 20th century and beyond has always been impacted by the American motion picture industry and American press. Can you imagine the propaganda potential of film with a captive audience of hundreds of millions in the early part of the last century alone?! In Phil Taylor’s book, Munitions of the Mind, he describes the massive film operation set up by the Office of War Information just months after the Pearl Harbor attack. What we used to call the U.S. War Department (now the Department of Defense) spent annually over $50 million on film production during World War II to propagate the message of the war both here and overseas. The famous Hollywood film director Frank Capra (Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, It’s a Wonderful Life), became Major Frank Capra during the war and was asked by General George C. Marshall to make the Why We Fight documentary war series. The free press is comprised of people like you and me who are just as subject to a swell of patriotism and ultra nationalism as is anyone else. I think we like to idealize that the press will truly separate its personal feelings about a story and report objectively, but World War II was the “Good War” and was thought then to end all wars. The American press worked in tandem with the military objectives of the U.S. Government as part of their sense of duty to country in wartime.



Today propaganda infiltration of the media system is more intense than ever. You certainly cannot turn to the Internet as a source of “the absolute truth” since the Internet functions as an open media system and is subject to the same rumormongering and gossip as a National Enquirer. The Internet, as media and democracy scholar Robert McChesney notes, is also being colonized by the corporate landscape. (That’s not to say that there aren’t some good critical sites and I do use the Internet regularly to conduct research, but always with an eye toward the source of the information.)



The elite media outlets have gradually replaced the democratic pursuit of truth for undemocratic placement and distribution of planted publicity stories. As John Stauber (Toxic Sludge is Good for You) says about the U.S. public relations industry, most of what we the audience thinks is news is just publicity for some person or organization and was likely placed in the news by some publicity organization with a vested interest in seeing that person or organization promoted. I recently saw the PR guru Fraser Seitel on the Fox News Channel show, “The Factor with Bill O’Reilly.” The discussion was whether or not Rosie O’Donnell had tainted her reputation by publicly attacking the publishers of her failing Rosie magazine. Seitel was asked what first piece of advice he would give O’Donnell if she were to call on him. He said, “First, pay me.” His honest statement spoke to exactly what’s going in the media/propaganda system. It’s pay to play. The public often doesn’t know what is going on because we’re just the spectators in the crowd watching the gladiators go at it. “Will Rosie cave to the public pressure?” becomes newsworthy and functions as a propaganda technique to assign a sense of meaning to the meaningless. It filters up to the highest echelons of our government where Presidents make statements like “they hate freedom” and get away with that. As long as we continue to allow the media to function as a manipulative mind manager without fear or disfavor, we’ll continue to see the brain-numbing effects of a society ultimately incapable of critical judgment and social resistance.
Read the whole interview at guerillanews.com
Propaganda War One Year Later

[Danielle V]

I half heartedly agree on most points.

the media is bought.
its all corporate conglomerates, government, and private interests groups.
nothing is unbiased......

(what is the associated press anyway? i dont trust it one bit. if it says AP, i say no way)

but I kinda think its also up to the individual to have the common sense to decimate the information for themselves.

when I am interested in something in the news> i mean Really interested, I read a number of different sources. I take the information from different accounts and I make my own opinion.

why some people dont know or dont care, i couldnt tell you.
that movie waking life said it best.......
how come for as long as humans have been around, there hasnt been much progress since the civilizations of the greeks?
why are there more humans with primal ape-like characteristics
than say, Aristotle-types?
what- according to history- has been the downfall of man:

fear or laziness?

oh, and bill o'reilly is the devil. why the hell is anyone watching that show anyway?
-d-

[clay]

:crying

[clay]

I know I'm contradicting myself on this one, but it's really funny.

UNITED NATIONS—In an address before the U.N. General Assembly Monday, President Bush called upon the international community to support his "U.S. Does Whatever It Wants" plan, which would permit the U.S. to take any action it wishes anywhere in the world at any time.


"As a shining beacon of freedom and democracy, America has inspired the world," said Bush in his 25-minute address. "With its military might, it has kept the peace and bravely defended the unalienable [sic] rights of millions around the globe. In this spirit, I call upon the world's nations to support my proposal to give America unrestricted carte blanche to remove whatever leaders, plunder whatever resources, and impose whatever policies it deems necessary or expedient."

According to top Bush Administration officials, if the measure is passed by the U.N.—and possibly if it is not—the U.S. would immediately launch invasions of Iraq, North Korea, and Cuba; establish oil-drilling operations in Siberia; install nuclear-missile silos in Mongolia along the Chinese border; make English the official language of the planet; detain thousands of Middle Eastern nationals currently in the U.S. on temporary visas; begin each day with a moment of worldwide prayer; and prohibit Japan and Germany from manufacturing automobiles.

In addition, no demonstration against U.S. actions by any foreign nation or individual would be permitted. Any such protestation would be deemed a high crime subject to a U.N. tribunal, with those found guilty flown to Texas for execution by lethal injection.

"After the unspeakable events of last Sept. 11, the U.S. was deeply touched by the outpouring of support and condolences from our neighbors and allies the world over," Bush said. "This kindness played a vital role in our national healing process, but, more importantly, it cemented our long-standing self-image as the country, with all other nations lumped together into a vague, foreign Other Place. I call upon you now to join us in our vision of America as the only country whose wishes matter."

Bush then turned to the pressing issue of Iraq.

"Despite repeated American efforts to change the situation, Saddam Hussein defiantly continues his longtime policy of being the president of Iraq," Bush said. "The time has come for this man to step down, because we want him to."


Above: A sampling of the details of the Bush plan.
In addition to enabling the U.S. to address foreign crises, Bush said his plan will help solve many of the nation's domestic problems.

"While there exist many grave threats to America abroad, we suffer still more problems—from unemployment to a lack of quality, affordable housing—right here at home," Bush said. "After this resolution is passed, we will begin a 10-year project to clean out our nation's landfills and toxic-waste sites, transport the materials to Central American jungles, and build low-cost housing on the newly cleared land. This would solve the housing shortage, create thousands of construction jobs, and improve our nation's environment, all in one fell swoop."

As much of a boon as it would be to America, Bush stressed that his plan will also benefit the rest of the world, giving foreigners greater access than ever to American goods and entertainment.

"From the Beijing businessman who treats his family to dinner at KFC to the New Delhi textile worker who unwinds after a hard day's work by watching Friends, the world community has embraced our many wonderful cultural and commercial exports," Bush said. "As part of my plan, the U.S. will be allowed to export its products tariff-free, while other countries' goods will be subject to heavy taxes. This will help ensure that people the world over will continue to enjoy our computers, DVDs, and soft drinks, free of the clutter of competing non-American goods on their store shelves."

Bush concluded his speech by calling upon the U.N. to fly an extra-large U.S. flag outside its headquarters, high above the other member nations' flags.

"From the Monroe Doctrine to our ignoring of the Kyoto Treaty, America has always boldly defied the powers that be. Ever since its founding, this great nation has courageously asserted its will, bravely tuning out the objections of the other nations of the world," Bush said at the speech's conclusion. "I urge you today, do not let that legacy die. Allow us to continue our long-standing tradition of getting our way."

Global reaction to Bush's plan has been mixed, with 56 percent of Americans in support and 100 percent of non-Americans strongly opposed.

[Mantis Claw]

Originally posted by clay
Give it up, Assfuck!
:moon

You serious? I hope not, for your sake.

[clay]

:laughing :banana :laughing

[Polytrickster]

...and GNN is void of biases and rumormongering? Do you believe you are getting the truth, the real story or the unbias facts from GNN?

[Mantis Claw]

I am definately getting much more truth than from any other news source. I surely don't believe everything I read or see, but I do think these people are legit. Have you researched it?

[Polytrickster]

Yes. I always do my research.

[Mantis Claw]

So what did you read about on GNN.com?

[Polytrickster]

Why do you ask? I'm not trying to argue over the validity of using GNN as a news source. I was simply curious about where you stand.

[Mantis Claw]

I am not trying to argue either, just curious as to what you are reading about.

[cpud]

Originally posted by Mantis Claw
So what did you read about on GNN.com?

Well, i visited the site.. They should call it "Left Wing Journal" or something. Completely biased.

[Mantis Claw]

Ok, before you read this, understand that this is written in the spirit of common understanding in our communication and discourse. Unfortunately this does not come across easily through this medium. I am not challenging your point of view in the "dominating egoist" sense of things.

"biased", so what does that mean? What are they biased towards?.... Truth? ....Seeing through the lies we are fed on our nightly news? Help me see what you mean and point out to me specificly how they are biased. What makes it left wing? Anti government is usualy considered right wing politics. I think if we are going to use such terms lets state a clear explanation for what we mean and understand about them.

[cpud]

Originally posted by Mantis Claw
Ok, before you read this, understand that this is written in the spirit of common understanding in our communication and discourse. Unfortunately this does not come across easily through this medium. I am not challenging your point of view in the "dominating egoist" sense of things.

"biased", so what does that mean? What are they biased towards?.... Truth? ....Seeing through the lies we are fed on our nightly news? Help me see what you mean and point out to me specificly how they are biased. What makes it left wing? Anti government is usualy considered right wing politics. I think if we are going to use such terms lets state a clear explanation for what we mean and understand about them.

Well. I don't watch network news. I stick to CNN and Fox News Channel, and the internet. But I do see the bias on ALL of those mediums, whether its Liberal, Conservative, or somewhere in between.

I recommend the book, called "Bias." It was written by Bernard Goldman, a former CBS newsman. He is a true old-school liberal, but in this book he identifies the vast network television liberal bias, from a liberal point of view.

There's so much newworthy material out there that is withheld from the viewers due to the political views of those in control of those networks; thats what i mean when i talk about media bias.

[Polytrickster]

I'm going to have to agree with cpud on this. GNN is obviously left wing and biased. What makes them left wing? Well, how about the fact that they carry an extremely libral point of view. That is the definition of left wing.

Jimi, you seem to be implying that GNN is strickly truth and CNN is stricktly lies. The fact of the matter is there is truth on both sides and both are biased and both withhold information to raise support for their claims. When you fail to recognize this you become apart of a faction of this group of sheeple you rant about. You are simply part of a more "radical-free-thinking" group of sheeple. They simply subscribe to the less mainstream propaganda.

To clear up confusion, when I say propaganda, I mean: information reflecting the views and interests of those advocating such a doctrine. AKA CNN AND GNN!

Just because they have a different agendas doesn't mean they don't have one. Often people get caught up in the inevitable reaction to previously being an inactive member of society. (I don't know, I'm just guessing) Maybe you found an error in the principles your parents brought you up with, or that were taught to you in school, and now EVERYTHING must be in error!

This an extreme psychological shift in ideaologies. Like when a catholic school girl goes punk. I believe it is one in a series of phases that will eventually lead you to ACTUALLY thinking for yourself but unfortunately is one of the infant phases of this process. You'll start where you were raised, swing to one of the farthest ends that oppose those views then swing to the the opposite of those until you slowly gravity to thinking for yourself and finding the truth. This principle is similarly dipicted in the life of Siddartha Gautama.

No disrespect is intended. But hopefully you will stop insulting people into taking your stance. You should respect the fact that maybe some (or all) of us have done enough research or have enough conviction to know how to make up our own minds on the matter. I just hate seeing hypocrisy run rampant. You can't tell people to that CNN is propaganda and the expect them to read GNN reports. Propaganda is a two edged sword, man.

But as usual I expect that you will ignore THESE facts and defend GNN's one-sided viewpoints to the death. Keep in mind I haven't given my position on these subjects so please don't read into my post and try to assume you know where I stand on your claims about the media. I'm NOT defending CNN (or the like), I'm just revealing the pot calling the kettle black.

[cpud]

Originally posted by Polytrickster
I'm going to have to agree with cpud on this. GNN is obviously left wing and biased. What makes them left wing? Well, how about the fact that they carry an extremely libral point of view. That is the definition of left wing.

Jimi, you seem to be implying that GNN is strickly truth and CNN is stricktly lies. The fact of the matter is there is truth on both sides and both are biased and both withhold information to raise support for their claims. When you fail to recognize this you become apart of a faction of this group of sheeple you rant about. You are simply part of a more "radical-free-thinking" group of sheeple. They simply subscribe to the less mainstream propaganda.

To clear up confusion, when I say propaganda, I mean: information reflecting the views and interests of those advocating such a doctrine. AKA CNN AND GNN!

Just because they have a different agendas doesn't mean they don't have one. Often people get caught up in the inevitable reaction to previously being an inactive member of society. (I don't know, I'm just guessing) Maybe you found an error in the principles your parents brought you up with, or that were taught to you in school, and now EVERYTHING must be in error!

This an extreme psychological shift in ideaologies. Like when a catholic school girl goes punk. I believe it is one in a series of phases that will eventually lead you to ACTUALLY thinking for yourself but unfortunately is one of the infant phases of this process. You'll start where you were raised, swing to one of the farthest ends that oppose those views then swing to the the opposite of those until you slowly gravity to thinking for yourself and finding the truth. This principle is similarly dipicted in the life of Siddartha Gautama.

No disrespect is intended. But hopefully you will stop insulting people into taking your stance. You should respect the fact that maybe some (or all) of us have done enough research or have enough conviction to know how to make up our own minds on the matter. I just hate seeing hypocrisy run rampant. You can't tell people to that CNN is propaganda and the expect them to read GNN reports. Propaganda is a two edged sword, man.

But as usual I expect that you will ignore THESE facts and defend GNN's one-sided viewpoints to the death. Keep in mind I haven't given my position on these subjects so please don't read into my post and try to assume you know where I stand on your claims about the media. I'm NOT defending CNN (or the like), I'm just revealing the pot calling the kettle black.

nice one... well put :spliff

[Mantis Claw]

How can you say such things? Thanks for your mind shrink, but you are as off as off can be. Where do you get off assuming that I am going against how I was brought up, you have no clue about how I was raised. This is the second time you have assumed things about me and went off into your "smarter than thou" intelect. It's actualy ironic becuase you have no basis for what your assuming, which is not very intelegent. Who did I "insult into taking my stance"? So that you and everybody else that takes offense to the word "sheeple" may understand what I mean, "sheeple" is not meant as an insult. I do not believe that I am any better than a sheep (or any other animal), so I do not consider myself better than those I call "sheeple". It is an analogy to peoples' awareness of the world around them and the blind excepting of what their government and network news tells them. Just becuase I hold a certain source to be more reliable than the next only proves I that can think for myself. And this is not by anymeans my only source. You make claims that GNN is holding back information to further their agenda but do not state any specifics. At that you make a direct comparison to CNN concerning this accusation. That's a joke. There is a much greater agenda that CNN plays a role in. GNN's agenda is revealing this agenda. Now I'm not the fucking GNN spokesman and stake no claims that everything is true, but it is an alternative to what I will claim to be half truths and straight up lies. I friendly asked out of curiosity what you had read from the site and you turned it into me questioning your research and conviction to know how to make up your own mind. Jeremy get a fucking grip on reality! This fantasy world of yours is silly and most insulting.

[Wes]

http://www.theweathermen.com/acatalog/our%20gang%20darla%20queen.jpg


Directed at No One inparticular,maybe its for all of us.:laughing :crying

[Polytrickster]

Thanks for your mind shrink

Huh?

you have no clue about how I was raised.

Jimi, you are right. Hence why I stated "I don't know, I'm just guessing."

went off into your "smarter than thou" intelect. It's actualy ironic becuase you have no basis for what your assuming, which is not very intelegent.

Whether I'm intelligent or not is hardly the issue. You're trying to make me out to be a monger of sorts simply because I have an opposing viewpoint and can articulate my points. It doesn't mean I'm anymore knowledgeable but it may mean I communicate well. So I'll take that as a compliment, despite however hard it may be.

Who did I "insult into taking my stance"? So that you and everybody else that takes offense to the word "sheeple" may understand what I mean, "sheeple" is not meant as an insult. I do not believe that I am any better than a sheep (or any other animal), so I do not consider myself better than those I call "sheeple". It is an analogy to peoples' awareness of the world around them and the blind excepting of what their government and network news tells them.

Do you think publically assuming peoples' awareness is blind isn't insulting? How do you know we aren't aware? Maybe we've analyzed more data than you and simply don't care about the situation or have priorities that differ from yours. You are now guilty of assuming as well. Stop being a hypocrite.

You make claims that GNN is holding back information to further their agenda but do not state any specifics. At that you make a direct comparison to CNN concerning this accusation. That's a joke. There is a much greater agenda that CNN plays a role in. GNN's agenda is revealing this agenda. Now I'm not the fucking GNN spokesman and stake no claims that everything is true, but it is an alternative to what I will claim to be half truths and straight up lies.

This is rich.

I friendly asked out of curiosity what you had read from the site and you turned it into me questioning your research and conviction to know how to make up your own mind. Jeremy get a fucking grip on reality! This fantasy world of yours is silly and most insulting.

What's intersting is you claim your question is of simple curiousity but reaks of "let's talk about what you read and your stance on it." You also make it sound like I read one article and called it quits. I've been reading GNN for quite sometime. All the articles.

I've never said I disagreed with them or found their information to be false. Nor have I said I do agree with them (I can't believe I'm pointing this out). I simply agreed with facts about the site.

As a soldier of the truth, I would think you would appreciate our readers knowing THE WHOLE TRUTH. Including facts about the site they may visit. Facts such as it is left wing and biased. I assume (oops there I go again...) you disagree with those statements.

I'm afraid my fantasy world, Jimi, may be more attune to reality then you are able to realize. You are so caught up in conspiracies, coverups and other political garbage that you may have lost sight of the ultimate truth.

There are alot of truths out there, some of 'em just don't matter.

[Mantis Claw]

Truely a waste of energy, thanks Jeremy for making it so apparent.

[Polytrickster]

Finally you see the light.

[Polytrickster]

Here's to Jimi thinking I'm a schmuck. :beer

:slayer

[abacus]

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