“Trust none of what you hear, And less of what you see.”Magic, Bruce Springsteen
Weapons of Mass Deception - Part 6
Media & Gov’t Elite Sleight of Hand
Human beings are natural pattern seekers. We see examples of repetition in nature, human geography studies, climate, science and so on and therefore draw conclusions. Science is born out of patterns; we observe a sequence of cause and effect and therefore draw conclusions from our inquiries. History too has its share of patterns; George Santayana once commented that “Those who fail to learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them." In North America, it would appear than that we either ignore history, have a very truncated memory or there is a pattern of smoke screens that prevent a clear view of the past. Patterns too can be obscured, or hidden by simply convincing your audience to look away or to focus on the wrong things. Illusionists and magic entertainers through slight of hand encourage viewers to pay attention to the wrong things to get the ‘right’ things to happen; all the while believing it is magic. What materializes from this immediate observation is that there just may be a PROGRAM at work; an entrenched mindset of suspicion & fear (ie usually of some enemy, menace or safety issue)…established through trust of established authorities (corporate and government sources).
Agendas…
When I speak of this “agenda” I think of something of a general over-arching plan to keep the general population busy, patriotic and “believing.” It is not a simple arrangement but one that is carefully orchestrated, tricky to manage but can produce very desired effects. Steven H. Hassan a former cult member has first hand experience with mind control now works to counsel[1] victims of mental manipulation. He has developed something called BITE (although apparently does not refer to it as such) that are components to mind control; Behavior control - Information control - Thought control - Emotional control.[2] Cultists in their social framework believe themselves to be free – yet they are unaware that they are under the spell of mental tyranny. Often we think of cults being religious but they need not be – but for frame of reference consider that they typically encompass some of these components; veneration, rites or ceremonies (i.e. special days, pledges, songs), sacred ideology (i.e. special books, articles, doctrines), symbols (i.e. iconography, signs, representations), way of life that is sacrosanct (i.e. uphold particular values and world view) and finally cults are often above criticism (i.e. Any analysis is censured and shunned). Normally most do not think of cultism or cultic tendencies to be enshrined in the nations we live in (i.e. unless it is a far off land, and considered dangerous – Soviet Union). It is virtually unthinkable to assume that closer to home that cultic tendencies can and do orbit a lot closer to the reality that we live in. Keep in mind that I am not asserting that the following are clear cut examples of a cult – but the nuances, tendencies, propensities and leanings are there. Consider that in the USA there is a very high veneration of the American Flag, and students pledge their allegiance. There is the iconic symbol of the Eagle and Statue of Liberty. Indeed there are the “sacred documents” such as the Constitution & Bill of Rights (documents that Americans should rightly respect and cherish more than they realize). Moreover, there is a distinct American way of life (that is expected to go unchallenged by other nations), and its “might make right” unquestionable (at least internally).[3] To do otherwise would be anti-American or anti-patriotic – this dissuades most from critical thought.
These tendencies spill over like many other countries (Israel, France, Germany, Imperial Japan) into something called Exceptionalism. It is the perception that a country, society, institution, movement, or time period is “exceptional.”[4] This “specialness” leads to a moralistic mind-set; an “idea of an American technology rooted in American knowhow protects good from evil, innocence from corruption, Eden from the seething lands east of Eden, appeals deeply to American’s exceptionalist core.” and “This America understands technology itself as an extension of its pragmatic nature and its marriage of progress: a nation of a can-do, fix-it yourself people motivated by a potent combination of pragmatism and religious passion. Such a people can stand uncomprehending in the face of putative evil, blind to the lessons of mere national interest, certain of its own goodness, and thus intolerant of complexity. The vivid hues of red, white, and blue make it hard to see gray.”[5]
Please hold these thoughts in mind as this essay progresses in several parts. In two previous articles [Discontentment & Dissatisfaction & Subverting your Children (and their parents) etc] I have made the assertion that media has a direct measure as our value dispenser, setting a mood and pace for our lives. We have been trained to be very successful consumers and spenders. Please consider the potential leanings a nation and corporate interest can possess on the mass mindset. Would it be at all outrageous to consider that our perceptions are being modified to suit government or corporate interests?
The Groundworks
[1] * M.Ed., Counselling Psychology, Cambridge College, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1985 * Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1992 * Certified as a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) by the National Board for Certified Counselors, 2003
[3]I want to make it clear that I see cultic tendencies in some corners of US patriotism, but this does not mean that an American cannot be patriotic. Patriotism and honoring ones country is good and healthy as long as they are willing to think critically and think through the political ideology and propaganda that is inherent and ever present.
