This article was originally published by Caitlin Johnstone at Medium.
Everyone’s anti-war until the war propaganda starts. Nobody thinks of themselves as a warmonger, but then the spin machine gets going and before you know it they’re spouting the slogans they’ve been programmed to spout and waving the flags they’ve been programmed to wave and consenting to whatever the imperial war machine wants in that moment.
Virtually everyone will tell you they love peace and hate war when asked; war is the very worst thing in the world, and no healthy person relishes the thought of it. But when the rubber meets the road and it’s time to oppose war and push for peace, those who’d previously proclaimed themselves “anti-war” are on the other side screaming for more weapons to be poured into a proxy war that their government deliberately provoked.
This is because the theory of being anti-war is very different from the practice. In theory, people are just opposed to the idea of exploding other people for no good reason. In practice, they’re always hit with a very intense barrage of media messaging giving them what look like very good reasons why those people need exploding.
Being truly anti-war isn’t easy. It doesn’t look like people picture in their imaginations. It looks like getting smashed with a deluge of information designed to manipulate and confuse and working through it while getting screamed at by those who’ve fallen for the brainwashing. It’s not cute. It’s not fun. It’s not the feel-good flower power time that people intuit it is when they look at the part of themselves that seeks peace. It’s standing up against the most sophisticated propaganda machine that has ever existed while being offered every reason not to.
When people think of themselves as “anti-war”, they’re usually imagining themselves as anti- another Iraq war, or anti- some theoretical Hitler-like president starting a war because he likes killing people. They’re not picturing the reality of what being anti-war actually is in practice.
Because selling the war to the public is a built-in component of all war strategy, the war will always look necessary from the mainstream perspective, and it won’t look like those other wars which we now know in retrospect were mistakes. It’s always designed to look appealing. There’s never not going to be atrocity propaganda. There’s never not going to be reasons fed to you selling this military intervention as special and completely necessary. That will be the case every single time because that’s how modern wars are packaged and presented.
This is why you’ll always see a number of self-described leftists and anti-imperialists cheering for the latest US war project. They are ideologically opposed to the idea of war in theory, but the way it actually shows up in practice is always different from what they pictured.
Our entire civilization is shaped by domestic propaganda, but the only time you ever hear that word in mainstream discourse is when it’s used to discuss the comparatively almost nonexistent influence of Russian propaganda on our society. All the mainstream alarm ringing about Russian propaganda gives the impression that it comprises close to 100 percent of the total propaganda that westerners consume when in reality it’s a tiny fraction of one percent of the total propaganda that westerners consume. Almost all of it comes from western sources.
Propaganda is the single most overlooked and underappreciated aspect of our society. It has far more influence over how the public thinks, acts and votes than any of our official mechanisms for doing so, yet it’s barely discussed, it isn’t taught in schools, and even the best political ideologies barely touch on it relative to their other areas of focus.
All the fretting about Russian propaganda from establishment narrative managers comes so close to giving away their secret: that they know it’s possible to manipulate the way the public thinks, acts, and votes using media. They just don’t admit that they’re the ones who are doing this.
It’s actually the weirdest thing in the world that there’s something that has been directly affecting our minds our entire lives, and which directly affects the way our entire society is organized, but we don’t talk about it constantly. It should be at the front and center of our attention.
But of course, that’s the whole idea. Propaganda only works on those who don’t know they’re being propagandized. The US-centralized empire’s ability to hide its propaganda machine is a foundational element of its brilliance.
Being truly anti-war is necessarily a commitment to finding out not just what’s true about all the war narratives currently promulgated by the imperial war machine, but all the narratives you’ve been fed about the world since you were young. It’s a commitment to truth that takes on an almost spiritual quality in the way it informs every aspect of your life when truly espoused.
It’s important to research and learn new things about the world, but what’s equally important and which doesn’t get emphasized nearly enough is the practice of examining the beliefs you already hold about your society, your government, your nation, and your world. Inquiring as to whether they’re really true, and who might benefit from your believing them.
Don’t make the error of assuming you’ll be aware and informed enough to spot all the lies right away. You’re dealing with the single most advanced and powerful propaganda machine that has ever existed, and you’ve been marinating in its effects your entire life. It takes some time. Even the most aware among us were indoctrinated into the mainstream worldview to some extent earlier in their lives, and to this day most of the information they get about the world has some of its roots and branches in parts of the propaganda matrix.
It takes work to see things clearly enough to form a really truth-based worldview. But unless you do this it’s impossible to be truly anti-war, because you can’t skillfully oppose something you don’t understand. To fight the imperial war machine is to fight the imperial propaganda machine.
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Humans are the worst creatures to ever live. They are greedy, selfish, earth polluting mouths to feed. As long as war, poverty and disease is happening to someone else, people really don’t give a shit what’s happening. The white people are the worst, they think “colored” people are not welcome to live on earth. The truth is, neither are whites allowed to live on earth. Look at the obituaries, everyday white people are dropping dead. White people need to get over themselves. All the money in the world doesn’t make you important.
You’re funny Marcy! We know.
The first casualty of war is the truth Marcy!
Your a brainwashed Marxist that can’t see the forest for the tress. This is a divide and conquer campaign being implemented in the USA right out of the communist manifesto! Wake up and smell what the gubermint is cooking! This is for total control and enslavement of us all!
And what justifies your existence?
Anything?
Your vomiting more rebaiting propaganda. Get over yourself. That crap is the problem.
Marcy – I was talking to a friend one day, he was echoing what you’re saying. He said humans are supposed to be the most intelligent species on the planet. Yet, we pollute and foul our own nest. We are largely motivated by hate or greed or fear. Every society or civilization that has ever existed has enslaved other human beings, and we commit the most heinous crimes against own species. Our collective human history from the beginning is little more than fighting endless horrible wars. We have a history of destroying and despoiling almost everything we touch. He said we’re not as sophisticated as we make ourselves to be. Rather, we are still quite primitive. That human nature is no more advanced than it was 10,000 years ago. I’m inclined to believe him. However, your comment against particularly whites is wrong, we are not the worst. I can fully refute your statement but frankly I don’t feel like it. If one assumes certain beliefs that are based upon unsound reasoning, proper reasoning will not change their mind.
Dear Marcy, you are a racist moron.
Meh, shes right except for the white people crap. Niqqers are pretty much worthless consumers. White people are way lower crime per capita. And a lot more productive. THATS A FACT So don’t give me your racist BS just go off and fk yourself..
Marcy, as a man of many races – I resent your statements. This ideology of everything is caused by racism is idiotic. My wife has some black ancestors and disagrees with your attitude as I do. Get a clue – most folks judge others as individuals. Does that mean we walk into certain neighborhoods at night with our best jewelry & clothes – h*ll no!! Quit listening to Joy Reid & other Demonrats – they just want to keep you on the Plantation.
youtube.com/watch?v=BMbGgdI5uQ8&ab_channel=MovieClips%26Drama
Most leftists seem to be encouraging war to help bring about the WEF Reset. This is whether they are cheering for NATO/Ukraine or Putin and Russia.
For the MSM right, especially the RINO right, Russophobia and warmongering are like so much horse whispering at the glue factory.
Leftists always love war, it let’s them get away with things they couldn’t get away with otherwise.
It’s one of the tools in their bag, one of their political weapons to use against those that stand in the way of their goals..
When I was young pretty well every woman was anti-war (this was the early 1970s). Now, pretty well every woman I know is pro-war. We have time travelled.
“Naturally, the common
people don’t want war,
neither in Russia or in
England, nor in America, nor
for that matter in Germany.
That is understood. But the
people can always be
brought to the bidding of the
leaders. That is easy. All you
have to do is tell them that
they are being attacked, and
denounce the pacifists for
lack of patriotism and for
exposing the country to
danger”.
“IT WORKS THE SAME WAY
IN EVERY COUNTRY”
~ Hermann Goering
during the Nuremberg Trials
“To be successful,
manipulation should remain
invisible. The success of
the manipulation is
guaranteed when the
manipulated believe that
everything happens
naturally and inevitably.
In short, manipulation
requires a false reality in
which its presence
will not be felt.”
G. Schiller
“World events do not occur
by accident. They are made
to happen, whether it is to do
with national issues or with
commerce; and most of them are staged and managed by those who
hold the purse strings.”
~ Denis Healey
If you don’t stick to the approved DC narrative, they will do their best to stop your voice from being heard.
Paypal just cancelled Consortium News and Mint Press News accounts with no explanation. This is CNs main funding account. They may get their account balance refunded in 180 days…or not…Paypal says they get to make that call.
I would say they didn’t stick to the “approved” narrative of Putin evil…Zelensky hero.
Soon, the only story you get will be the .gov approved story via your teevee or Langley approved social media.
Meh, if it wasn;t for the weather report and homicide shows (niqqers are killin) I would throw the tv in the trash.
Apparently, Poland is going to take control of western Ukraine. Permanently. Poland and Romania are going to enter the war through Moldova. These are some of the theories being tossed around lately. Poland is moving a lot of troops into position. We shall see,
Ukraine was never a country until after the Soviet Union fell. It had been ruled by Russia, Poland, Germany and the Austria-Hungary Empire over the centuries. In general Ukrainians hate Poland as much as they hate Russia. This could get real ugly.
If you want a feel for it, watch the Polish film Volhynia (Hatred) from 2016. These two countries are hardly allies.
This essay on “Propaganda” is important. Folks like me label the Main Stream Media (MSM) in the USA as a propaganda machine. However, human behavior like the WOKE LEFTISTS embrace push freedom-loving citizens into a corner until the freedom-lovers are forced to do something. Using WWII as an example – were Americans supposed to sit on their hands until we all had to learn Japanese or German languages? I don’t think so. Semper Fidelis
Ha no leftist has ever or will ever push me in a corner. Politically there’s not a lot I can do. But get in my face and you WILL be missing some teeth!
Not to mention a boot in your mangina. I’m old and don’t fukn care, I will use what I have left to destroy you…
Wow, you’re such a tough guy. We should all be impressed *yawn*
You handed franchises and turnkeys, amounting gold mines, over to servile cultures, which had already defeated themselves.
So will woke liberals, if this is not really the end of all things.
(No edit function, for my bad typing, but I think you get the point.)
The point is, you’re an idiot. Got it!
That’s Europhile mythology.
Germany could very well have defeated a Russia unsupported by the US. However the US changed its neutrality laws to support Western European oligarchs and Russia against Germany, first with treasure and arms, then eventually blood.
Japan’s Northern Strategy ended in defeat by Soviet forces and quagmire in China; eventual withdrawal was likely.
However, Japan’s Southern Strategy kicked European imperial powers out of Asia starting with French Indo-China. In response the US cut Japan off from iron, coal, copper, oil, and seized Japanese assets in America in response.
Rather than try and weather these sanctions and consolidate their seizure of the European colonies, Japan instead made the mistake of attacking the US. This wasn’t even a first plan; it took a soft-coup to install Japanese warmongers as Japan’s government.
Had the US honestly chosen not to enter WWII, nothing really would have changed in the world. Even today with modern tech, there’s no power on earth that can defeat the US in war.
Europe, defeats the US internally managing US domestic politics to its advantage. American’s accurate sense of being manipulated is pawned off on Russia and China, even though Russians and Chinese have no real presence in the Washington political elites. China’s deals with the Bidens, are negligible.
There is no Russian or Chinese equivalent to a Soros in US domestic politics, no champion of Russia or China like the Europhile Rothschilds, pushing Europe First over America First.
Both Japan and Germany were keen to avoid conflict with the US and did not interfere with US interests until it became obvious the US was choosing sides.
Does it matter if Sweden and Finland join the NATO European empire? Not to the US, but Europe-First guided US pressure made all the difference in their surrender of sovereignty.
Does it matter to US interests if Ukraine is a Russian or European satellite? Not at all, only Europe First.
I am going to approach this issue – Ukrainian ‘sovereignty’ – from a population and genetics perspective.
Europe needs a big infusion of white European blood. The disaster that was the migrant invasion of 2015 will take decades to reverse. The harm done to the European gene pool will never go away (the introduction of genetic failings that are rampant in Muslim populations: lower IQs, many rare diseases etc.).
Ukrainians needed to be chased out of Ukraine to spread them around Europe and give a jolt of good old fashioned whiteness to Europe again after over 4 decades of being flooded with the third world.
We also need the Nordic people to ‘re-invade’ Europe again to spread around the Viking genes. That’s what getting them into NATO is all about.
Lmfao. Just look at the obituaries. Just look. White people are becoming a minority. And they have an inferiority complex. They deny the truths. I don’t need to say anymore. The truth is right in front of us. Thank you karma.
Who is responsible for the majority of violent crime in this country Marcy? Yeah the 13 % percent that makes up our population commits half of the violent crime in USA! I would say your the one with a culture problem!