:: but only the nazis used propaganda ::
"The point of public relations slogans like "Support our troops" is that they don't mean anything... That's the whole point of good propaganda. You want to create a slogan that nobody's going to be against, and everybody's going to be for. Nobody knows what it means, because it doesn't mean anything. Its crucial value is that it diverts your
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Support our troops, or any other slogan like that, means what you allow it to. If you look at it as an empty slogan, but still repeat it, then yes, it doesn't mean anything. It is just like any other piece of writing, you have to look into what it means and actually care about it. Empty words are always propaganda, and that goes beyond politics. Just look at the phrase, I love you. True, it is over used at times, and can be just a general phrase that doesn't have a lot of meaning, but that is not always the case. There are still those who reserve those words for someone special, or something meaningful. And everytime they say it, they think about what it means and realize what those words carry. I believe that is the case with a slogan like "support our troops". I have a yellow magnet on my fridge that says it, and when I see it I think about my friends who have been to Iraq and those who are still there risking their lives for a cause they may or may not agree with. Beyond my freedom or anything else, they are risking their lives and I respect that.
I'm not sure if I was able to get that out correctly or if my train of thought actually made sense..... I've been studying too long today.
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I completely agree with that. I support our troops, there is no question about that. There shouldn't be any question at all about that. It goes without saying that we ALL support our troops and we want them safe.
But what Mr. Chomsky is speaking about, and the point I'm trying to make, is the best way to support our troops is to not send them to a war unless we ABSOLUTELY have to.
However, the phrase "support our troops" quickly becomes a tool for silencing dissent. All too often, those who question a war or the leaders who got us into it, are told that they don't support the troops. That, regardless of whether we agree with the war or not, we should support it, because that's how you support the troops.
I don't agree with that.
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But I guess the hard situation is the appearance it gives to the troops. I just had a few friends get back from Iraq, one of whom was there working in intelligence for 13 months and he told me how hard it was for the troops to see people in the U.S. speaking out against the war in such a negative way. Not because they didn?t have that right, or what they were saying is untrue, but rather, the troops are already there. You and I both know we can?t instantly pull them out of there. So we?re in a sticky situation. If you believe the war was unjustified and want to speak out against it to try and ensure something like this doesn?t happen again, how do we do it in a way that still makes those who are fighting feel like they are there for a reason... like people appreciate it. Does that make sense?
It?s a really tough situation, because I agree that the best way to support them is to? not send them to a war unless we ABSOLUTELY have to.? It?s just hard a place to be in. Speaking your mind, which is justifiable and should be welcomed, and doing it in a way that doesn?t reflect negatively on those who are fighting.
Who knows...
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