The Battle For Hearts and Minds-Not Just For The Mideast

[Annie]

It seems some of those to the left of the board, new members for the most part, have been having some giggles on insinuating that those that 'post to other articles' don't have their own thoughts. How cute, how trite, how disingenuous. When I first started on this board, I mostly wrote on my own take on things, truth to tell, I'm not a writer. I learned quickly enough, that others articulated those events and analysis that helped me come to the conclusions that I've reached, some over a long period of time, others quickly.

For the most part, the 'critics' are those that have been banned for some period of time, by me or another mod/admin. They are for the most part those that perhaps are self-deluded to think their 'great thoughts' are their own. In fact, as has often been pointed out by links to DU, DNC site, NY Times and other newspapers, derivative of others' works. No matter, they are the shills of the left. They are 'talking pointers.'

Seldom do I just post a 'link' without some sort of my own perspective of why I think it relevant, at least to me. When I do, I think that the article speaks for itself and their is no need for my perspective.

The following from Michael Yon sort of fits in with how one's 'perspective' can color what one sees and interprets. Links at site:

http://www.michaelyon.blogspot.com/?BMIDS=17063506-1b6a7c54-97001

Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Montage Or Mirage

The election photo-montage I posted last week has a certain propagandistic feel to it. It has all the usual suspects: the waving flag, the iconic soundtrack (Fanfare for the Common Man, hardly on the Iraqi Top 40) and the sequence of photos selected to tell a story ALL IN BOLD CAPITALS. It seemed especially propagandistic given the fact that the United States government admitted to paying off media in Iraq for positive reportage. I spoke recently with a New York Times writer, Jeff Gerth, who broke parts of that story, and I came away with the impression that the matter is broader and deeper than we know at this time. Clearly, there is no doubt—-our government has admitted to it—-we are spinning “propaganda.”

I did not mention the word “propaganda” when I published the election montage here, but left it to the perception of the reader, along with what I knew about who had made it—essentially, nothing. There were three overwhelmingly successful elections in Iraq in 2005, two of which I witnessed and reported first hand. I found the montage accurate in the limited sense that it implies a majority of Iraqis are struggling for self-determination. In that sense, I found it both accurate and moving. The scenes are nothing I haven’t photographed before, a point I made in the previous dispatch (Three Times a Charm.)

Ironically, if the montage is a work of propaganda, it’s an unfortunate waste of money, like framing a guilty man. There is no reason to gild this image. The truth of what happened during this third of three voting days in Iraq is undeniably powerful all on its own.

Today, I viewed another montage. MSNBC prepared a stunning photo of the year collection, and I found it to be "true" too, but its tone is overwhelmingly gloomy, scary, and makes the world look like it's all falling apart. There were hurricanes, riots, earthquakes, war, more riots, fires… It was all true. It all happened in 2005. Many of the photos are as technically incredible as they are horrific. The MSNBC montage is the work of top media professionals. The soundtrack is a powerful assist to communicating the dramatic theme or message of the piece, which, when the last photo is reached feels like “can you believe any of us made it out alive?”

It’s interesting to compare these two montages. The first from an un-attributed source, perhaps even a work of propaganda, shows people at their best, braving terrorists to vote in Iraq, then dipping their fingers in the purple ink, and smiling with pride, strength and hope.

The second montage by MSNBC, linked below, conveys the ultra-violence of nature against man, the cruelty of man against man, and helps explain why we want the world to be more like the impression we are left with after the “propaganda” montage. And yet, as someone who was out there experiencing some of what was depicted in both slide shows, it’s important to add that both are accurate in what they portray, while each is confined in scope. The difference is subtle, perhaps purely rhetorical. But the consequent impact, and how it influences public opinion, is something closer to cataclysmic.

Montage 1 (Propaganda?)

Montage 2 (MSNBC)

posted by Michael Yon @ 7:31 AM

 

[Adam's Apple]

Seldom do I just post a 'link' without some sort of my own perspective of why I think it relevant, at least to me. When I do, I think that the article speaks for itself and their is no need for my perspective.

I think the post about "original thoughts" was quite childish myself. You don't have to post your own "original thoughts" to post something worthwhile. There are many "original thoughts" posted on this board that are the works of outstanding professional conservative writers. That's one of the reasons I "tune in". I don't know about anyone else, but the opportunity to have access to those writers' works will surely keep me hanging around. If I want "original thoughts" on a topic/issue, I will ask the poster to express his/her "original thoughts".

 

[LuvRPgrl]

Questions:

Only original thoughts are noteworthy?
If one doesnt have an original thought at the moment, they arent allowed to post?
If nobody repeated very good observations they have heard elsewhere, how are we to be informed?
Is liberalism, at its core, an original thought?

War is not the answer
Bush is evil
Tax the rich, give to the poor.
It's Bush's fault
If we execute the murderer, we are no better than him.
Bush did it
Seperation of Church and State
Bush caused the problem
Its her body
Bush is evil
Govt can cure all the social ills
Bush doesnt care for the poor
Guns kill
Bush did it
Homosexuals are born that way
Bush is an idiot
Women should get equal pay for equal work (psss, they do)
Bush is a bafoon
The repubs want child slave labor if they get their way
Bush is the root of all Americas ills
Universal medical care is a RIGHT
Bush is evil
Repubs are for the rich