Propaganda

What is propaganda?

Is there propaganda in the USA today?

That's are very important questions today.  Why? Perhaps because we in the USA are being exposed to far more propaganda than we realize.  Propaganda about infectious diseases.  Propaganda about the economy.  Propaganda about various careers.  Propaganda about countries. Propaganda about health. Propaganda about ourselves.

What's the problem with propaganda?

It's simple. Let's first look at the purpose of propaganda. 

The spreading of ideas, information, or rumor for the purpose of helping or injuring an institution, a cause, or a person.   - Merriam-Webster Dictionary

One way to look at propaganda is this:  If what is being stated is truth, then it's not propaganda.  If it's the promotion of an idea that isn't true, but people are trying to make it seem true, then it's propaganda.

When we are inundated with propaganda, a few things start to happen.  First, we lose the ability to distinguish reality from artificial or malevolent messaging. Repetition of the message makes the audience believe it is true.  We lose our ability to witness various view points, consider each of them,  think clearly and then make our own decisions. With propaganda, pushing a message over and over leads to a non-critical thinker to believe it is true.  Voila!  Success.  The false message has become the believed "truth".

On the other hand, not all propaganda is about pushing out a message.  It can also be the deliberate suppression of information that doesn't support the narrative that is being promoted.  Elimination of truthful information that opposes the argument(s) put forth in propaganda strengthens the power of the false messaging. That elimination of truthful information - a counter-point -  creates a one-sided message that is easier to imprint on the audience and have them believe to be true.

Together the promotion of a false message and the suppression of honest information results in a very serious situation.  This is very serious if you seek the truth, because it may make it impossible to determine the truth.  But it will be a success if your goal was to normalize a false or misleading message through propaganda.  When that all happens, we stop thinking and stop making our own decisions.

We have been manipulated. Our opinions are no longer our own.

Who promotes propaganda?

Now most people, at this point, will think that I am talking about one political side or the other in just about any current society issue.  Let me say this clearly: 

There is no society benefit from propaganda. 

No side benefits from effective use of propaganda.  Why?  It's simple.  Even if propaganda allows "your side" to win, what does that mean?  It may mean that you were manipulated by those sponsoring the propaganda to agree with them and promote their position, even if fundamentally you wouldn't agree with their position if it were presented honestly.  In short, you have been deceived. You have been manipulated.  On the other hand, if "your side" loses, and your side is truthful, then the truth has lost to deception.  Either way, both sides lose. Lost due to deception. We have lost the truth, and we simply don't even know what is true any longer.

 What questions can we use to help combat propaganda?

There may be ways for an individual to fight against propaganda.  It's by simply asking questions about the data or messaging that is being presented to you.  Then critically look at the questions and data against the spectrum of information being presented to you and ask yourself Does this seem logical?

Let's look at some common scenarios that may present in the media, ripe for propaganda.

Is ANY message that is being put forth have a counterpoint provided?  If not, why not?

Is messaging about any topic ALWAYS taking one side of the argument, either for or against?  If so, why? 

What is the opposing viewpoint on a topic?  Is it visible?  Is it under attack (not rebuttal, but attack) trying to silence it? If so, why?  Shouldn't the truth be able to withstand opposing viewpoints without personal attacks?

Is there active attempts to silence a viewpoint?  If so, why?  Isn't freedom of speech and robust debate a better choice than attacks and silencing?

The world we live in now has become very polarized.  Rather than look for common ground, both sides look to bolster their positions, to allow them to "win".   But the reality is that these polarized positions and rabid propaganda promoters truly only comprise of a small percentage of the population. However their propaganda positioning is looking to win over individuals who are in the middle.  Their definition of winning is having their position win, because it benefits them, and not necessarily society in general, nor even those who have been duped into supporting it.

We in the middle need to fight back with the most powerful weapon available: We need to THINK and MAKE OUR OWN DECISIONS, then support the position(s) we choose. We must resist the false narrative of propaganda and make decisions which are best for us individually and society as a whole.

We cannot  let propaganda win.

I challenge you to start critically analyzing the messaging you receive and make your own decisions that impact your life.