A review by kevin_shepherd
Propaganda and the Public Mind by Noam Chomsky, David Barsamian

4.0

On the Shaping of Information

It is always enlightening to seek out what is omitted in propaganda campaigns. Take, for example, the Gulf War (1990/1991). When queried as to why the U.S. and Britain were bombing Iraq the most frequently given answer was that Saddam Hussein was a monster, that he committed heinous atrocities against his own people. It was a reply that was doled out in near unanimity and one that was quite impossible to refute.

Chomsky warns that any answer that is given equivocally and unanimously is worthy of a red flag.

Case in point: a quick Google search shows that yes, Saddam did indeed gas his own people. This “ultimate horror” occurred in March of 1988 and then again in August of 1988. The next logical question is: ‘how did the U.S. and Britain react?’

Answer: they reacted by continuing, nay, they reacted by ACCELERATING their support for Saddam. Therefore, the pat answer as to why the U.S. and Britain were bombing Iraq couldn’t possibly be true. Every news story and press conference that pointed out that “Saddam was a monster who committed atrocities against his own people” omitted three very important words: “with our support.” Yes he was a monster and yes he committed atrocities but he was a monster WITH OUR SUPPORT. He committed atrocities WITH OUR SUPPORT.

“If we choose, we can live in a world of comforting illusion.”

Joseph Goebbels is credited, rightly or wrongly, with pointing out that people will believe that a square is in fact a circle IF the misinformation is repeated often and with conviction. “They are mere words, and words can be molded until they clothe and disguise ideas.”

At the end of almost every lecture, Chomsky closes with an open mic Q&A. Quite often someone in his audience will say that they can't believe anything he says because it is in total conflict with everything they were told from the media, from their parents, or from their peers; and they don't have time to go look at all the footnotes. Chomsky’s response is simple and clear. The internet is a lethal weapon. Make time to look at the footnotes. Check your sources. Think for yourself.

“These are not laws of nature. They can be changed; they can be changed right here. Unless they're changed in the United States it's not gonna matter much what changes elsewhere.” ~Noam Chomsky
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