Propaganda and Half Truths?

Vietnam similar to Iraq had beginnings of getting public provocation based in fear. With Vietnam it was the terror of communism spreading and how it was imperative for it to be totally stopped in all destructiveness. In the public’s eye the reason hundreds of thousands of soldiers were dispatched was to stop the domino effect of communism. When in reality after reading Zinn’s chapter on Vietnam the situation was much more intricate than revealed in the media at that time. In the minds of the majority they had every right in agitating a war with civilians they were justified in defeating the ‘evils of communism’ or something like that. Similar to the public around six years ago when weapons of mass destruction was their main motivator for supporting the war when in reality the situation was far more complicated than it was being portrayed in mainstream media. The calculated propagated fear that led the majorities at both these times to support our government’s agendas was followed by many because their televisions were feeding them terror. This connection came together for me when watching the news this evening and seeing the Swine flu reported in the scariest of ways. The report was filled with pictures of hospital beds, huge letters on the screen, and words like immediate and vicious being used. This is obviously creating fear in people as seen by my little brother who after sneezing a bit and watching the report on T.V came into my room convinced he has the Swine Flu. It makes an attention-grabbing news story and the panic in viewers wouldn’t cause them to change the channel, but all together only 150 cases have been reported world wide! When people think they are in danger they follow what they hear and think they should do such as people in down town Chicago deciding to wear face masks or starting wars with countries. The coverage of Swine Flu undoubtedly parallels the wars of our past and a proven idea: fear is the catalyst for support and an awfully helpful tool in bending citizens.

Facebook Following Gatsby

The life of Gatsby was cut short due to his untimely death, though during his life he made strides in succeeding and putting on a show. Readers learn that the way he acted was all a front and his motivation behind a lot of what he was doing was to impress people around him. The story of Gatsby rendered a familiar story in my mind of creating a facade and why many consume so much of their time creating a face book profile for themselves.
The online image we create for ourselves when constantly changing our quotes and profile pictures ultimately doesn’t amount to more than narcissism and trying hard to show the world the very best version of us.For some, the images we hoard have special meaning as memories to be re-visited and the perfect picture of your best friends and you which is amazing that we can share these memories with others. Honestly though the majority of the motivation as to why people have 41 albums plus sometimes have no meaning beyond “I look pretty from this angle”... “look at me I’m having so much fun.” Visiting and revamping the repetitive images of ourselves turn us into people who care too much about what others think that we end up spending our precious time in constructing the person we want to be seen as. We can all learn a lesson from Gatsby who put on front and was visibly unhappy at the end by not spending so much energy for the sake of others views.