Loose Lips Might Sink Ships!
Politics is war. War is peace. I live in the upside down where everything is wrong and what is really wrong is somehow really right. Or, at least, that's what the merry-go-round of media is saying. At the end of the day, however, it's all spin.
Wars come with a heavy cost. Parents are killed. Spouses are widowed. Children are killed. And these losses have consequences that cascade downwards. In order to offset that cost, the US embarked upon a really interesting propaganda campaign during WWII.
Because the war was fought outside of the US, those left behind felt not only helpless but also faced skepticism over whether or not the war was necessary. To compound the problems domestically: wars were expensive. Manufacturing could only produce so many uniforms. Food had to be rationed and diverted. Energy had to be rationed and diverted. Vacations and time off were seen as helping Hitler.
The solution was simple: mass produce posters and advertisements that empowered those left behind while solving some of the resource crisis. Suddenly, growing your own vegetables was fighting Hitler. Every nut and bolt you screwed at work was in defiance of Hitler. Purchasing war bonds was a way to purchase victory against the Japanese. And, above all else, keep your mouth shut because spies were everywhere.
The racist, xenophobic, and utterly bizarre propaganda campaign worked. Folks felt like they were sacrificing for victory and the US was able to terrify Americans into proudly sacrificing their fuel, their food, and their spare income.
I have been thinking a lot about the WWII propaganda posters as I surfed social media during the 2016 presidential election and engaged in political armchair quarterbacking and found the use of political propaganda riveting.
The media-spun narrative was that, for the first time ever, a woman was to become president of the United States. She had served her country in various roles shattering glass ceiling after glass ceiling until she reached the ultimate glass ceiling. And this presidential race wasn't like any other presidential race. Out of the shadows emerged a corrupt, regressive "Orange Hitler" that was a threat to our daily lives. This presidential election wasn't merely about winning the presidency. It was about winning America. There was a war for our very souls and the Democrats were the only foot soldiers who would defeat the enemy and save our souls. But, with every war, comes a great cost. Everyone must sacrifice something to stop this Trump who was is partnering with this a nefarious foreign foe. This election - the burden is on you to sacrifice your vote - for the victory of America.
Further, voting against Hillary Clinton was seen as aiding the enemy. Sharing news stories critical of Hillary Clinton meant you were accused of spreading fake news. Journalists who dared to report on any of Hillary Clinton's liabilities were seen as Russian propagandists. Actress Susan Sarandon is still suffering fallout from championing Bernie Sanders over Hillary Clinton.
The media, voters, and even members of our government were complicit in this propaganda scheme (often unwittingly). Voters really thought they were destroying Putin when they voted for Hillary Clinton much like your grandmother or great grandmother thought she was destroying Hitler when she started to grow her own vegetables.
But we're not at war with anyone new. The Republicans have not fundamentally changed. Donald Trump is not an unprecedented threat. Putin may or may not have meddled in our election (this is what world powers do). When you tear down the posters of propaganda and look around you - you realize that we're not more fucked than we already were. We are exactly the same amount of fucked. The vote that you cast didn't win any wars. The vote I didn't cast didn't lose any wars. The narrative was designed to terrify you to sacrifice your vote much like women were told war bonds protected their children from being bombed in WWII. No more. No less. It was just propaganda.
There's an emptiness in that for those who believed that propaganda. Donald Trump is now president but the nukes haven't fallen (yet). We don't live in a post-apocalyptic society (yet). The economy doesn't seem to have noticed much (yet). Aside from activating your gag reflex anytime someone mentions the president's name, lives here haven't changed that much (yet). When you step off the merry-go-round and your head stops spinning - life is oddly normal.
No one likes to feel empty or embarrassed over being fooled so there's this desire to manufacture or justify that intense fear and paranoia. There's this desire to keep arguing about the election in terms of political duty, a sinister foreign actor, and an authoritarian regime. Folks need to justify to themselves why they voted for one of the most unpopular candidates in party history. They need the Putin-Trump connection to go far above and beyond political corruption. But, beneath all of that fear, embarrassment, and shame there's something else... rabid anger at those who haven't fallen for the propaganda.
Wars come with a heavy cost. Parents are killed. Spouses are widowed. Children are killed. And these losses have consequences that cascade downwards. In order to offset that cost, the US embarked upon a really interesting propaganda campaign during WWII.
Because the war was fought outside of the US, those left behind felt not only helpless but also faced skepticism over whether or not the war was necessary. To compound the problems domestically: wars were expensive. Manufacturing could only produce so many uniforms. Food had to be rationed and diverted. Energy had to be rationed and diverted. Vacations and time off were seen as helping Hitler.
The solution was simple: mass produce posters and advertisements that empowered those left behind while solving some of the resource crisis. Suddenly, growing your own vegetables was fighting Hitler. Every nut and bolt you screwed at work was in defiance of Hitler. Purchasing war bonds was a way to purchase victory against the Japanese. And, above all else, keep your mouth shut because spies were everywhere.
The racist, xenophobic, and utterly bizarre propaganda campaign worked. Folks felt like they were sacrificing for victory and the US was able to terrify Americans into proudly sacrificing their fuel, their food, and their spare income.
I have been thinking a lot about the WWII propaganda posters as I surfed social media during the 2016 presidential election and engaged in political armchair quarterbacking and found the use of political propaganda riveting.
The media-spun narrative was that, for the first time ever, a woman was to become president of the United States. She had served her country in various roles shattering glass ceiling after glass ceiling until she reached the ultimate glass ceiling. And this presidential race wasn't like any other presidential race. Out of the shadows emerged a corrupt, regressive "Orange Hitler" that was a threat to our daily lives. This presidential election wasn't merely about winning the presidency. It was about winning America. There was a war for our very souls and the Democrats were the only foot soldiers who would defeat the enemy and save our souls. But, with every war, comes a great cost. Everyone must sacrifice something to stop this Trump who was is partnering with this a nefarious foreign foe. This election - the burden is on you to sacrifice your vote - for the victory of America.
Further, voting against Hillary Clinton was seen as aiding the enemy. Sharing news stories critical of Hillary Clinton meant you were accused of spreading fake news. Journalists who dared to report on any of Hillary Clinton's liabilities were seen as Russian propagandists. Actress Susan Sarandon is still suffering fallout from championing Bernie Sanders over Hillary Clinton.
The media, voters, and even members of our government were complicit in this propaganda scheme (often unwittingly). Voters really thought they were destroying Putin when they voted for Hillary Clinton much like your grandmother or great grandmother thought she was destroying Hitler when she started to grow her own vegetables.
But we're not at war with anyone new. The Republicans have not fundamentally changed. Donald Trump is not an unprecedented threat. Putin may or may not have meddled in our election (this is what world powers do). When you tear down the posters of propaganda and look around you - you realize that we're not more fucked than we already were. We are exactly the same amount of fucked. The vote that you cast didn't win any wars. The vote I didn't cast didn't lose any wars. The narrative was designed to terrify you to sacrifice your vote much like women were told war bonds protected their children from being bombed in WWII. No more. No less. It was just propaganda.
There's an emptiness in that for those who believed that propaganda. Donald Trump is now president but the nukes haven't fallen (yet). We don't live in a post-apocalyptic society (yet). The economy doesn't seem to have noticed much (yet). Aside from activating your gag reflex anytime someone mentions the president's name, lives here haven't changed that much (yet). When you step off the merry-go-round and your head stops spinning - life is oddly normal.
No one likes to feel empty or embarrassed over being fooled so there's this desire to manufacture or justify that intense fear and paranoia. There's this desire to keep arguing about the election in terms of political duty, a sinister foreign actor, and an authoritarian regime. Folks need to justify to themselves why they voted for one of the most unpopular candidates in party history. They need the Putin-Trump connection to go far above and beyond political corruption. But, beneath all of that fear, embarrassment, and shame there's something else... rabid anger at those who haven't fallen for the propaganda.
I did not vote for Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump although I don't begrudge voters for their choices. It's your vote. It's your right. Vote. Or not. I'm not interested in shaming anyone over voting. However, my decision to vote for a third party candidate has caused a lot of controversy. I've been accused of aiding the enemy. I've been accused of being unpatriotic and hating the US. As one critic put it, "it was your job to stop Trump." But that's nonsense.
It was never my job or duty to stop Trump. It was my job to cast my vote ethically and to insure that my vote is earned. I did that. I don't apologize for it nor do I regret my vote. If I had to do it all over again, I would have still voted third party.
I completely and utterly rejected the propaganda campaign which means that I was not hoodwinked. I did not sacrifice for a political war that didn't exist. I never whispered with wide eyes and a pounding heart all of the horrors that awaited us if Trump were elected. And people find this sort of rational, informed, and calm analysis infuriating. Maybe there's a sense of unfairness that I didn't have to sacrifice my vote the way others did. Maybe it's just that they felt robbed of their victory after all of the media build up. The list of possibilities could go on for pages.
I am living in the upside down. A merry-go-round of spin. Politics is war. War is peace.
-----
Edited 6/11/17 to Credit pictures:
Every time you twist a nut think of Hitler
Fuel Economy 1,000 bomber raid - it takes 50,000 tons of coal to make the bombs - don't waste coal
Dig for Victory - Grow your own Vegetables
Loose Lips Sink Ships!
Trump as Hitler picture
Trump and Putin
Help us Hillary Clinton - You're our only hope
Women can stop Trump
People who wait in line 6 hours to vote and stop Trump - Ya'll the real MVP
It was never my job or duty to stop Trump. It was my job to cast my vote ethically and to insure that my vote is earned. I did that. I don't apologize for it nor do I regret my vote. If I had to do it all over again, I would have still voted third party.
I completely and utterly rejected the propaganda campaign which means that I was not hoodwinked. I did not sacrifice for a political war that didn't exist. I never whispered with wide eyes and a pounding heart all of the horrors that awaited us if Trump were elected. And people find this sort of rational, informed, and calm analysis infuriating. Maybe there's a sense of unfairness that I didn't have to sacrifice my vote the way others did. Maybe it's just that they felt robbed of their victory after all of the media build up. The list of possibilities could go on for pages.
I am living in the upside down. A merry-go-round of spin. Politics is war. War is peace.
-----
Edited 6/11/17 to Credit pictures:
Every time you twist a nut think of Hitler
Fuel Economy 1,000 bomber raid - it takes 50,000 tons of coal to make the bombs - don't waste coal
Dig for Victory - Grow your own Vegetables
Loose Lips Sink Ships!
Trump as Hitler picture
Trump and Putin
Help us Hillary Clinton - You're our only hope
Women can stop Trump
People who wait in line 6 hours to vote and stop Trump - Ya'll the real MVP
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