Miriam,
This is my second attempt, so we'll see if it allows me to finish.
I agree with your comment on the definition of propaganda by professor
Mark Crispin Miller,
My clear memories go back to WW II when we portrayed Japanese as
Japanese Beetles, with buck teeth and thick glasses, and all Germans
looked like Zombies with bald headed men marching in goose step and
shouting, "Heil Hitler" while shoving their stiff arm salute in each
others faces.
Following the war, Nazis were replaced by Communists, Russian
Communists who sounded very much like the Nazi actors of earlier
years.
Even before we ever believed that we were morphing into another
Western Empire, our propaganda machine was busy preparing Americans to
believe that we were "taking care" of the war torn nations around the
planet. And all the while our propaganda machine was proclaiming that
we were the most advanced, the most generous people that ever lived.
I expect a government in control to use propaganda to help define who
they want their people to believe them to be. I just never understood
how so many millions of people could mindlessly accept the "Official
Line", without wondering why, if it is true, are they becoming worse
off?
Finally, it is as important to remember that propaganda is not limited
to just one side. We must be as careful when hearing the propaganda
put out by those with whom we support.
Carl Jarvis
On 1/4/21, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Carl,
I have a number of thoughts about our social fabric which I'll attempt to
state briefly. But first, I'd like to comment on the judge's decision.
There'll be panel discussions to listen to regarding this today. However, my
feeling is that this is a very narrowly drawn decision. It prevents his
immediate extradition, but supports the US appeal which will certainly
follow because it does nothing to invalidate the charges. It's a delaying
tactic.
Now for the social fabric. I listened to an NYU professor, Mark Crispin
Miller, on the Useful Idiots podcast the other day. He teaches a course on
propaganda. In his view, propaganda is not some cover story told by one of
our enemies to hide the truth about its nefarious actions. It is the set of
facts and beliefs disseminated by governments or political parties or other
groups which is spread by media and the purpose of which is control the
public and motivate action. It includes things like convincing Americans
that other nations are threats to our security so that the buildup of
military weapons will be supported, or convincing the public that Covid 19
is spread through the air so that people will wear masks in public. In fact,
Miller is having is tenure at NYU removed because a student in one of his
classes misinterpreted what he said and reported him to the administration
as telling the students not to wear masks. At any rate, this is a long
introduction to my statement that our social fabric has been messed up for a
very long time. I think that the largest destruction took place after 9/11
when our basic civil liberties were destroyed and when our country
completely abandonned international law. As I listened to Obama reading his
book and describing his satisfaction when our military murdered Bin Ladin, I
thought about how, in spite of his pretense that he was laying out all of
the facts and how the evidence made it clear that what he'd approved was the
right thing to do, he omitted the fact that before the US attacked
Afghanistan, the taliban had offered to capture Bin Ladin and deliver him to
the ICC for judgment. The US refused the offer, chose, instead, to go to
war, and then to have revenge by murdering him. The American Empire tells
its own stories about what happens in the world. Its allies support it. Its
media is complicit. Perhaps this is the social fabric that Trump screwed
up?
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Monday, January 4, 2021 10:50 AM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: In Assange Case, British Judge Rejects US
Government's Extradition Request
Once again our Corporate Word Masters have blown enough smoke up our noses
to totally fog our brains.
If we think, as do the panelists on today's broadcast of the Media Project,
that Donald Trump has done great damage to our trust in the Media, then what
do they think the Ruling Classes revengeful witch hunt of Julian Assange is
doing through the mindless attempt to so trash Assange's reputation that no
investigative reporter will dare investigate their private plans and
decisions.
I still believe that Donald Trump's irratic behavior served as a
distraction, while his appointees went about the business of tearing down
our social fabric.
Carl Jarvis
On 1/4/21, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
________________________________________Once again our Corporate Word Masters have blown enough smoke up our noses
In Assange Case, British Judge Rejects US Government's Extradition
Request "It would be oppressive to extradite [Assange] to the United
States of America," Judge Vanessa Baraitser stated Kevin Gosztola
Jan 4
Old Bailey Courthouse (Photo: It's No Game)
Citing harsh federal prison conditions in the United States, a British
district court judge rejected the United States government's
extradition request against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
Judge Vanessa Baraitser found Assange suffers from a "recurrent
depressive disorder." Although he functions at a high level, he
suffers from autism as well.
She accepted that he would likely be imprisoned at a supermax prison
in the U.S. under special administrative measures (SAMs) and would
find a way to commit suicide.
"I am satisfied that, in these harsh conditions, Mr. Assange's mental
health would deteriorate causing him to commit suicide with the
'single minded determination' of his autism spectrum disorder,"
Baraitser declared. "I find that the mental condition of Mr. Assange
is such that it would be oppressive to extradite him to the United
States of America."
The US government will submit an appeal with the High Court of
Justice, and he will have an opportunity to apply for bail from
Belmarsh high-security prison, where he has been detained since April
2019.
Assange was charged in 2019 with 17 counts of violating the Espionage
Act and one count of conspiracy to commit a computer intrusion that
contains elements of an Espionage Act offense.
A superseding indictment in 2020 contained new general allegations
that targeted his speech at conferences and the role he allegedly
played in helping NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden leave Hong Kong.
The charges criminalized common newsgathering practices, including the
receipt and publication of secret government information. Press
freedom organizations throughout the world condemned the charges.
Baraitser accepted virtually all of the allegations by the U.S.
government as reasonable, which was likely alarming to all press
freedom organizations following the case.
She even contended a U.S. court would protect Assange's due process
and free speech rights. But because of the "real risk" that he will be
held at ADX Florence in Colorado after his trial, she declined to
grant the request.
*This is breaking news and an additional report on the decision will
follow.
For live updates, as they were sent out during the decision hearing,
view this thread on Twitter.
to totally fog our brains.
If we think, as do the panelists on the Media Project, that Donald Trump has
done great damage to our trust in the Media, then what do they think the
Ruling Classes revengeful witch hunt of Julian Assange is doing through the
mindless attempt to so trash Assange's reputation that no investigative
reporter will dare investigate their private plans and decisions.
I still believe that Donald Trump's irratic behavior served as a
distraction, while his appointees went about the business of tearing down
our social fabric.
Carl Jarvis
