American Propaganda

Propaganda is normally defined as a concerted set of messages aimed at influencing the opinions or behaviors of large groups of people. It is usually deliberate, and an attempt to shape perceptions, manipulate cognitive thought, and direct behavior towards the goals of the propagandist. It is particularly a powerful tool in war, and governments have taken full advantage of its powers to win support, demoralize enemies, and energize domestic populations. During a time of war, you will see more language manipulation that at any other time in society, when people are the least likely to negotiate, think rationally, and are the easiest to deceive as fear and anger has flooded their thoughts.

Although Americans have largely thought of themselves as above the influence of propaganda, they themselves have been herded, manipulated, and lied to by a mainstream media that is laden with symbols, slogans, and diversions. While many Americans seem to believe that the media is persuading, informing, or educating, or that the actions of their elected leaders, despite the results, are always backed by true altruistic intentions, this is a sign that the propaganda itself has worked. Effective propaganda when executed correctly is such that the people being influenced can never recognize it for what it is.

In fact, the American populace has not only been propagandized heavily in the last century, American propaganda could be called double propaganda where propaganda is used to cover up the ugly truth that it is propaganda. The media in America uses a lot of euphemisms such as "spin doctors", and "image advisers" when it comes to describing political propaganda.

Many historians believe that Americans were tricked into perhaps their most wasteful and horrific wars ever, World War I, by a British telegram that claimed Germany had asked Mexico to help invade the United States. It effectively brought the U.S. into a war the public didn't support and onto the side of the British. A play on words, such as the urging of Americans to buy "Liberty Bonds" as a direct order at the beginning of World War I gave the investor little choice but to buy, not wanting to be accused of not supporting liberty. Propaganda leaves few choices, and eliminates grey areas.

The use of propaganda as psychological warfare could describe the entire Cold War, which was a euphemism to excuse and even encourage covert operations and the justification of the threat of force. In fact, in 1950 President Truman was able to lobby Congress to create what he called a "Campaign of Truth" to use psychological warfare against the Soviets. He employed the Department of State and Defense as well as the CIA and the Joint Chiefs of Staff to aid in this endeavor.

It seems that Americans have still failed to recognize propaganda for what it is, and its harmful effects. I remember feeling personally disturbed right after 911 when I saw on mainstream television an image of firefighters hoisting an American flag and than seeing computer enhancement used to morph it into an image of the Marines at Iwo Jima in World War II. Remembering the haunting words of the neocon created document the Project for A New American Century, which mentioned the need for a "new Pearl Harbor" to persuade the public to endorse a policy of imperialism in the Middle East, I shuddered at the possibility of a world war being waged over the actions of 19 men. Sure enough, it worked. President Bush's ratings shot up to the 90's, and no one dared question his decision to attack Iraq, a country lead by a former American government ally and enemy of Osama Bin Laden. Journalists who questioned the decision were demonized, or even fired. Networks risked losing corporate sponsorship if they didn't flood their programs with patriotic symbolism and militiristic slogans and jargon.

Also, the use of Pat Tillman, the millionaire pro football player who gave up a lucrative career to enlist in the Army Rangers, and then was killed in a possible act of fratricide, was used as a poster boy for the perfect patriotic American. Little did the public know that he was in fact a "beach bum" type who was a fan of the far leftist writer and social critic Noam Chomsky. Tillman's own brother claimed that the first words that came from Pat Tillman's mouth when the bombs were dropped on Iraq were "this is f**ing illegal." The Tillman brothers were only interested in enlisting in regards to pursuing the Taliban in Afghanistan.

As recently as a few years ago, numerous polls showed that approximately a half of Americans still believed that weapons of mass destruction existed in Iraq when none were ever found. Facts and opinions have become confused; any action can be justified with the right narration in the American mind. Do we want to be manipulated, or do we want to hang onto a myth that everything that our government does is noble and good?

As the political conventions are winding down, I find myself wincing at political ads or images of flags and fluke terrorist events being used to try and paint a bigger picture. Thankfully, it appears that more and more Americans are turning to alternative forms of media, and are offended by propaganda. If we can become a populous of free, rational thinkers, instead of reactionaries, and rely on our natural instincts rather than just believe what we're told, we can one day become immune to the dangerous effects of propaganda.

Sources-
PBS.org Now with David Brancaccio. Politics and Economy. Selling War.
biblioteca.universia.net