Week 2 Analysis

First off I want to apologize for not having my stuff in Thursday morning. I was lying in bed with the chills, and running a rather ridiculously high fever. Probably every conflict is fought on at least two grounds: the battlefield and the minds of the people via propaganda. The latter, the war on peoples minds, is often used prior to the actual war. In many cases, war itself is not to be expected. Consequently, propaganda is often employed to get closer to war, if that is the preferred foreign policy option. Here are 4 rather simplistic views of how propaganda is passed down to its subjects (I’m sure you will be aware of them and their examples) 1. The Big Lie, adapted by Hitler and Stalin. (i.e. state-controlled Egyptian press has been spreading a Big Lie, saying the World Trade Center was attacked by Israel to embarrass Arabs) 2. The truth doesn’t matter, but give them a story that is plausible. (i.e. demonizing the “enemy” who does not fit into the picture of what is right, reinforcing reasons and motivations to act due to threats on the security of the individual) 3. Tell the truth, yet do not give the other side’s viewpoint. (using partial facts, or historical context, using a narrow range of discourse, using selective stories that come over as wide-covering and objective) 4. Tell the truth (both sides), the good and the bad. Western governments, for the most part, avoid The Big Lie, because their peoples will not allow such bold lies. However, the governments are able to manufacture consent through the creative use of the last 3 steps. I find this to be most frustrating because the ones spewing out this propaganda are more often than not, the ones who stand on the sidelines and facilitate, rather than engage in battle. Next let’s take a look at what strategy of propaganda various terrorists groups employ as cited in Identifying Religious Terrorism through Profiles of Propaganda by Roderick Hindey. He says there are 3 basic approaches repetitive formulas and self-hypnotic meditations; the targeting of youth binary thinking in simplistic terms “Although indoctrination and propaganda do not always result in terrorism, they logically precede it. And although propaganda and indoctrination do not work like weapons of physical mass destruction directly, in terms of damage to human minds and freedom they function as weapons of incredible mass destruction”(Hindey). In order to move along in the peace process, especially in regards to terrorism, there needs to be a proactive defense. First off, we must understand propaganda and accurately interpret its message. We have to be able to think critically about the herd-type of thinking and demand that others do as well (this means pointing the finger at ourselves first). We (ourselves and others) must learn to be unafraid of otherness and to interact with viewpoints opposed to our own. One of the leading structures which give rise to our problem of War, Terrorism, and Militarism are therefore the media outlets which allow for such subliminal propaganda. We are fed the news and given facts which are most likely skewed. The responsibility of people who claim Christ as their Savior is to interpret and search out the truth. We cannot be naïve to think that these things do not matter. We cannot base our knowledge of world issues on popular media. We must take a Biblically sound, intelligent view of the world. We must not align ourselves solely to patriotism and nationalism, but rather to that of Godliness and Christ-likeness, first and foremost.

Week 2 Resources

I will be periodically adding to this post. This week I want continue to look for cases regarding justifications and counter-arguments for war, but also begin looking at propaganda in the modern and post-modern age. 1. http://www.globalissues.org/HumanRights/Media/Military.asp - This site discusses how propaganda is used in various aspects of war, ie. in preparation for war, military and government control of information, news organizations, etc. There are also a few case studies towards the end of the article. 2. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1583225366/qid=1129051492/sr=1-7/ref=sr_1_7/002-2982431-3296863?v=glance&s=books - Media Control by Noam Chomsky is an incredibly informative book which begins to outline how within the last century, the development of propaganda has significantly impacted the way we view war. There is a crucial link between the pshychology and sociology of propaganda, both good and bad. 3. http://www.peacecoalition.org/facts/PDF/just_peacemaking.pdf - this article is an overview of Just Peacemaking. 4. http://www.public.asu.edu/~sheilrod/RHdenial_in_private_and_public_life.htm Denial in Private and Public Life:Emotional Anemia in Ethical Thought by Roderick Hindery. This article examines the ways in which we deny things, both in our public and private lives. 5. http://www.public.asu.edu/~sheilrod/RHIdentifyingReligiousTerrorism.htm Identifying Religious Terrorism through Profiles of Propaganda by Roderick Hindey August 4, 2004 This is yet another article that begins to interpret and weave together a coherence between religious fundemenatalism and propaganda. 6.http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/jfq_pubs/jfq1002.pdf The Peace Enforcement Dilemma by T. Frank Crigler talks of the weakness of the peace enforement theory. 7. http://www.wichurches.org/board/statements/studyguide.doc This is a study guide put out by Wisconsin Council of Churches as a means for discussion and deliberation in better understanding the role of violence in Church and society, in deepening understanding of the call to a Christian response of nonviolence, and in forming personal and congregational commitments to specific actions of nonviolence. 8. http://www.ucc.org/theology/justpeace.htm This is a general Synod pronouncement and proposal for action on the United Church of Christ as a 'Just Peace Church', gives their biblical foundaton for Just Peace. 9.http://christianteens.about.com/od/advice/a/war_4.htm A Christian Perspective on War by Brandon Hill, This article actually does try to show the various sides of War, I was suprised that it was actually what we are trying to do, in one way or another. 10. http://atheism.about.com/library/FAQs/phil/blphil_eth_warpac_xtn.htm Christianity and Pacifism by Austin Cline This article is pretty objective to the history and current state of Christianity's response to War.