History

I find this most interesting and bears passing on to others. Something I've learned over the last two years is intellectuals, as the area in which I live is highly educated, were the first to submit (and harshly condemned those who dared disagree with them) because despite intellectual capacity, emotions were constantly manipulated. Texas A&M submitted post-haste, examples abound, not the least of which was our Fighting Texas Aggie Band pictured blowing the hell out of their instruments whilst masked.

 

Emotions were/are clearly and relentlessly attacked, around the world. Never let emotions rule.

 

"Paul Joseph Goebbels was the chief German propagandist for the Nazi Party, and then was promoted to the Reich Minister of Propaganda from 1933 to 1945. He was truly a master and arguably the creator of the concept that the State can control people by introducing propaganda into the news to enable the State-based control of entire populations. Goebbels’ wicked brilliance was to exploit racism as a tool to promote German nationalism to the point of mobilizing and motivating Germany to engage in a globalized war for political, military and economic dominance. His writings and speeches on propaganda have been studied by leaders and governments ever since, much as the writings of Niccolò Machiavelli continue to be a cornerstone of modern interstate realpolitik. Examples of Goebbels’ insights include the following:

 

“There was no point in seeking to convert the intellectuals. For intellectuals would never be converted and would anyway always yield to the stronger, and this will always be "the man in the street." Arguments must therefore be crude, clear and forcible, and appeal to emotions and instincts, not the intellect. Truth was unimportant and entirely subordinate to tactics and psychology.”

“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the state can shield the people from the political, economic, and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for The State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of The State.”

 

And this...

 

Hitler's Basic Principles

(abstracted from Jowett & O'Donnell (Propaganda and Persuasion)).

Avoid abstract ideas - appeal to the emotions.

Constantly repeat just a few ideas. Use stereotyped phrases.

Give only one side of the argument.

Continuously criticize your opponents.

Pick out one special "enemy" for special vilification.

 

Wow...paraphrased: know history or repeat history.