Have pity on the average Americans. We are the most propagandized people maybe with the possible exception of the North Koreans. It took me years of living abroad before I could really see it, and it has gotten much worse over the decades. The propaganda starts at birth and is ubiquitous.
Someone did a comparison of Newsweek covers in the US and abroad, from the 90s to a few years ago. Used to be the news was a bit different, but now news is covered completely differently domestically in the US compared to internationally by the same company!
That pity is ONLY for average Americans. The oligarchs and national level politicians know the score and they suck.
I was born and raised in the Soviet sphere of influence. West of Ukraine. I thought that Soviet propaganda had no equal - until I saw American propaganda. Nothing on this planet compares to that. American propaganda made me move to America, the land of milk and honey, where there was no crime, no racism, and the Nazis were hated.
Right.
If I knew then what I know now, I'd be a New Zealander today.
My wife was born and raised in former Czechoslovakia. All her family still lives in Czechia. She grew up learning that the "Amis" were going to come over the border and kill them all. She at least was taught to shoot and throw grenades. We just learned to sing, "duck and cover." We laugh at how similar the propaganda was when we were kids, just opposite.
After she'd been to the states a few times and gotten to know America better she also understands that US propaganda has no equivalent.
I've been to New Zealand, although it was a long time ago now. Beautiful what I saw of the country. I was only on the north island.
Have you lived in NZ? I have, and hoo boy, is that place full of racists. Better than USA, or Canada and it's Ukranian Nazi love affair, but not by much.
I haven't. But they have health care, and we don't. So, I could isolate myself (I'm a born hermit) somewhere way out there, and not be terrified of medical bills if something happens.
The animosity between the elves and the dwarves has some history, no doubt, but it is certainly nothing compared to US. If you stick to the central west of Eriador (particularly around the Shire) you'll find it is pretty much a "live and let live" kind of atmosphere. ;-)
Not so sure I pity them because there are Americans who are immune to the propaganda, my husband is one of them (and I'm German). So independent thinking is possible, even for Americans. But, my husband is a musician and artist, and he's never been part of the herd.
I've found myself (and Caitlin has written about this multiple times) that recognizing a manipulative relationship (which is what propaganda is all about) in your private life helps massively in recognizing it in your public life. I know for myself and many others this was true. Maybe your husband had early life experiences with manipulative people that helped him early on see the US propaganda for what it is.
Also important (and something Caitlin has also written about often) is that people don't like to admit that they can be fooled. To the point that they will willfully ignore obvious manipulation rather than admit that they have been manipulated.
There are people who are naturally immune to many things. I tried smoking for about six months, found it stupid and quit. I pity the people who are highly addictive to nicotine and find it nearly impossible to quit. I even pity the people who won't admit to their addiction and make up silly reasons why smoking is not unhealthy.
Have pity on the average Americans. We are the most propagandized people maybe with the possible exception of the North Koreans. It took me years of living abroad before I could really see it, and it has gotten much worse over the decades. The propaganda starts at birth and is ubiquitous.
Someone did a comparison of Newsweek covers in the US and abroad, from the 90s to a few years ago. Used to be the news was a bit different, but now news is covered completely differently domestically in the US compared to internationally by the same company!
That pity is ONLY for average Americans. The oligarchs and national level politicians know the score and they suck.
I was born and raised in the Soviet sphere of influence. West of Ukraine. I thought that Soviet propaganda had no equal - until I saw American propaganda. Nothing on this planet compares to that. American propaganda made me move to America, the land of milk and honey, where there was no crime, no racism, and the Nazis were hated.
Right.
If I knew then what I know now, I'd be a New Zealander today.
The NZ covid tyranny propaganda spell has been even more effective there than the US. Not sure that's the best comparison.
My wife was born and raised in former Czechoslovakia. All her family still lives in Czechia. She grew up learning that the "Amis" were going to come over the border and kill them all. She at least was taught to shoot and throw grenades. We just learned to sing, "duck and cover." We laugh at how similar the propaganda was when we were kids, just opposite.
After she'd been to the states a few times and gotten to know America better she also understands that US propaganda has no equivalent.
I've been to New Zealand, although it was a long time ago now. Beautiful what I saw of the country. I was only on the north island.
Have you lived in NZ? I have, and hoo boy, is that place full of racists. Better than USA, or Canada and it's Ukranian Nazi love affair, but not by much.
I haven't. But they have health care, and we don't. So, I could isolate myself (I'm a born hermit) somewhere way out there, and not be terrified of medical bills if something happens.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Healthcare_in_New_Zealand It was being crapified when I lived there, and like all things under neo-liberal rule it's only gotten worse.
The animosity between the elves and the dwarves has some history, no doubt, but it is certainly nothing compared to US. If you stick to the central west of Eriador (particularly around the Shire) you'll find it is pretty much a "live and let live" kind of atmosphere. ;-)
Not so sure I pity them because there are Americans who are immune to the propaganda, my husband is one of them (and I'm German). So independent thinking is possible, even for Americans. But, my husband is a musician and artist, and he's never been part of the herd.
I've found myself (and Caitlin has written about this multiple times) that recognizing a manipulative relationship (which is what propaganda is all about) in your private life helps massively in recognizing it in your public life. I know for myself and many others this was true. Maybe your husband had early life experiences with manipulative people that helped him early on see the US propaganda for what it is.
Also important (and something Caitlin has also written about often) is that people don't like to admit that they can be fooled. To the point that they will willfully ignore obvious manipulation rather than admit that they have been manipulated.
There are people who are naturally immune to many things. I tried smoking for about six months, found it stupid and quit. I pity the people who are highly addictive to nicotine and find it nearly impossible to quit. I even pity the people who won't admit to their addiction and make up silly reasons why smoking is not unhealthy.