Good ex. of the effects of fear-based brainwashing

Dan155 · 11-09-2006, 01:19 PM

I work in a joint military environment. Yesterday, a sailor and a soldier were crying about the Democratic clean-sweep at the polls. The soldier is droning on and on about how al Qaida is going to "defeat us in Iraq" (despite the current situation in Iraq clearly being a civil war with opportunistic attacks against our troops) and how his family isn't safe at home with the Democrats in office. The sailor says (and this is the funny part): "Yeah, the Democrats are gonna think it's real fuckin' funny when Iraq bombs America again." The soldier agreed. Both made angry Dick Cheney faces, then the sailor waddled away.

...Did I miss something? Has Iraq attacked America? Ever? Why is it that we create our own realities to justify our political views? Wouldn't it be better to absorb reality objectively and let that reality shape our decisions come election day? I'm convinced that a number of people who voted Republican did so because they felt that if they didn't, they would be killed by al Qaida (or some other Muslim extremist faction). The truth of the matter, however, is that the single largest terrorist attack in the history of mankind was carried out on George W. Bush's watch, despite numerous ignored warnings from the intelligence community (and believe me, that's the best-case scenario, however unlikely).

So why is it that people buy into the "Vote Republican or you and your loved ones will DIE" campaign scheme? Does it strike anyone else as fantasticaly un-American? I completely understand voting Republican, but don't do it because you're afraid of an enemy that we created. What we should fear, more than anything else, is sacrificing our American way of life. Fear is only powerful if we empower those who abuse it.

AZ BJJ · 11-09-2006, 01:41 PM

Not the effects of brainwashing, but the effects of stupidity. When I was in, I came across a very similar conversation. It was just after the start of the Iraq War, and I had to educate a few people on the differences between anti-terrorism (Afganistan) and strategic interests (Iraqi and Middle Eastern oil).

When people take a position on something, the tendency is to only hear things that bolster beliefs that you already have. This is the case for many people who support the war in Iraq. Not to mention that nobody likes to admit they've been had, or were too ignorant or naive to know any better. Judging by the mid-term elections, most people are finally seeing the light.

SinisterKungFu · 11-09-2006, 01:43 PM

Your story is just proof that John Kerry was right.

Dan155 · 11-09-2006, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZ BJJ

Not the effects of brainwashing, but the effects of stupidity. When I was in, I came across a very similar conversation. It was just after the start of the Iraq War, and I had to educate a few people on the differences between anti-terrorism (Afganistan) and strategic interests (Iraqi and Middle Eastern oil).

When people take a position on something, the tendency is to only hear things that bolster beliefs that you already have. This is the case for many people who support the war in Iraq. Not to mention that nobody likes to admit they've been had, or were too ignorant or naive to know any better. Judging by the mid-term elections, most people are finally seeing the light.

Exactly; everyone lumps up our interests in the Middle East to GWOT, the most flagrant lie being that Iraqis will attack America once we leave.

A smarter man than me said it best: "Occupation is not the solution to insurgency, it's the cause of it."

I'm glad the voters, as a majority, voice their disapproval on the matter.

blindgod · 11-09-2006, 01:46 PM

After the 2004 presidential election, all I heard from those who support Republicans is,
"This was a wonderful election and it shows that the American people understand the truth. Things are going to be great from here on out."

Everyone on the Democrat side said, "This is a horrible election. It shows how brainwashed the American public is. Watch and you'll see: the end of America as a great country."

After Tuesday's election, all I'm hearing from Rebublican supporters is, "This is a horrible election. It shows how brainwashed the American public is. Watch and you'll see: the end of America as a great country."

And all I hear from Democrat supporters is, "This was a wonderful election and it shows that the American people understand the truth. Things are going to be great from here on out."