Propaganda is such a powerful and insidious force. Let me quote another warning addressed to a situation similar to the early stages of our current America:
What no one seemed to notice. . . was the ever widening gap. . .between the government and the people. . . And it became always wider. . . the whole process of its coming into being, was above all diverting, it provided an excuse not to think for people who did not want to think anyway . . . (it) gave us some dreadful, fundamental things to think about . . .and kept us so busy with continuous changes and 'crises' and so fascinated . . . by the machinations of the 'national enemies,' without and within, that we had no time to think about these dreadful things that were growing, little by little, all around us. . .
Each step was so small, so inconsequential, so well explained or, on occasion, 'regretted,' that unless one understood what the whole thing was in principle, what all these 'little measures'. . . must some day lead to, one no more saw it developing from day to day than a farmer in his field sees the corn growing. . . .Each act. . . is worse than the last, but only a little worse. You wait for the next and the next. You wait for one great shocking occasion, thinking that others, when such a shock comes, will join you in resisting somehow.
You don't want to act, or even talk, alone. . . you don't want to 'go out of your way to make trouble.' . . .But the one great shocking occasion, when tens or hundreds or thousands will join with you, never comes. That's the difficulty. The forms are all there, all untouched, all reassuring, the houses, the shops, the jobs, the mealtimes, the visits, the concerts, the cinema, the holidays. But the spirit, which you never noticed because you made the lifelong mistake of identifying it with the forms, is changed. Now you live in a world of hate and fear, and the people who hate and fear do not even know it themselves, when everyone is transformed, no one is transformed. . . .You have accepted things you would not have accepted five years ago, a year ago, things your father. . . could never have imagined." :
From Milton Mayer, They Thought They Were Free, The Germans, 1938-45 (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1955)
Thursday, August 26, 2010
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Recently Alternet published "The Politics of Fear". Bill Swiggard, an Editor of MBCIVIC, posted it. I read it twice really impressed with the importance of its points of the centuries when fear has been used to control people. Not only in America but in so many countries and times. Liars are not accountable; seems the bigger the lie, the frequency of repetition the more credible their lies are. Currently Iran is frightening to us, though many doubt its intents, knowing that it faces certain extinction using any bomb. However the world and in particular the Iranians and Israelis live in fear. Keeping us all in fear is a certain way to exert control. It is also a certain profit center for the Military Industrial Congressional Complex. In addition how many industries and groups are supported by the War on Drugs? mb
Sunday, August 15, 2010
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From most of us I don't think that there is much question that George W. Bush is the worst president in American history. He left us with two loser wars, terrible debt replacing an inherited surplus, and The Great Recession.
However we must recognize that recession was set up by the Clinton Mob; their emasculation of regulation created the platform for banksters to game the system.
Of course this was following the trend established by the philosophy of Reagan.
That is frightening that Obama has put Clinton mobsters in charge of the hen house. mb
Monday, August 9, 2010
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I know many of us are serious fans of Paul Krugman. This time he has overdone himself. What he writes is so pertinent for the coming election upon which rests the fate of our nation; as to the direction we are going. mb
Saturday, July 31, 2010
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Just read "The Killer in the Pool" from Larry Burke's 'Outside' magazine. A fascinating story which which makes one think about the pros and cons of captive animals. mb
Saturday, July 24, 2010
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MB Civic Editor Ian Alterman ran this. He suggested that it should run again. He's is right. There is an increasing disconnect between all of us. I don't despair the new technology. It is great at making much easier and faster. It is fine for short, quick messages. I miss the voice connection. Those I like and love sound so much better in person or at least by phone. My major complaint is that now I have real trouble reading my own handwriting. Kisses. mb
Sunday, July 18, 2010
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Maude Barlow has written a piece which should be taken seriously. Most of us readers have a real interest in history. We have somewhat of a comprehension of it's lessons. We are very aware that most of our politicians have little realization of the historical effects of the widening gap between the wealthy and the poor. They act if one can ignore the French and Russian Revolutions. I tell all my rich friends we have much to be concerned with. We, all of us, constitute the wealthy on a world wide basis. Yes we have poverty in this country and the middle class is on its knees. However in comparison to the majority of the world's peoples we are the wealthy. We are very outnumbered. That is why security has become such a mantra for us to be controlled by corporations, clergy, politicians. To feed the rich and starve the poor is to welcome serious problems. carpe diem mb
Saturday, July 10, 2010
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From a great friend of those HAIR days, Barry has always had something to say and in this case to sing.mb
Thursday, June 24, 2010
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From London, I apologize as I posted this just before getting on the plane-forgot to publish. This is from my great friend and mentor who taught me how to ski parrallel.mb
Monday, June 21, 2010
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For all of us in the theatre this is an important message. Even more so what he writes means much to those who watch. Who receive intellectual and spiritual inspiration from the theatre. Beginning with the period of the Greek Republics to the present we have benefitted. Even before, read "Gilgamesh" to receive a profound message. I, with my compadres, am dedicated to producing such works. HAIR emerged during a very fallow period. We are in hopes that POPE JOAN will have a similar effect nowadays. mb
Friday, June 18, 2010
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I am certain that Ian is going to post this to Civic. It is so good and to the point that I am putting it out there in the fervent hope we have 'Courage to Leave Afghanistan'. mb
Saturday, June 12, 2010
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Currently the so-called financial reform package is wending its way through Congress. It is certainly inadequate for the job of curbing the excesses of the banksters who created the problem in the first place.
A major player, in fact the major player, the 700# ape, in this scenario is the Federal Reserve. I post again a great article of clarity about the US central bank. mb
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
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In this article Arianna posits that from our young soldiers we can learn about bands of brothers/sisters. Also the importance of information and progressiveness, either of the left or the right. These kids, and most are really young, remind one of old fashioned conservatives.
I have always felt that politicians attack tribes, clans, even families-to whom they pay lip service- to promote the creed of the individual. Because singles are easier to control . mb
Monday, May 24, 2010
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Fascinating article, brings to mind so many politicians of our own and historical happenings appropriate to some current events. mb
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
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"Speed Kills", "Smaller is Better", "Long Term not Short Term" -if these terms resonate, this book reviewed by Arianna Huffington, might worth your while. I have ordered it. mb
Saturday, May 15, 2010
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Well, it was long ago, however I recall the effect of the happening as it was today. mb
Monday, May 3, 2010
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This is not only a good review of a great book, it is a digression into some of the frightening aspects of the effects of the 'manifest destiny' of the American Empire, past and present, causes and effects. mb
Thursday, April 29, 2010
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