The Other Factor and Disney

Watching the propaganda that Disney releases onto the world is an eyeopener. It makes me think a lot about what I'm watching, and it makes me think critically. The last one we watched in class was about the immune system and vaccination. What it was really about was encouraging children to back up the war effort and support efforts to increase weaponry and going to war. It was very blatant to me and the class, but what about the stuff we watch today? We don't think at all about the influences it has over us.

Its not that its not propaganda anymore but that it is harder to see. I was watching the news yesterday and it was talking about the Swine Flu. I agree that the Swine Flu is a scary concept and that it could start a pandemic, but what are the news channels actually trying to do? Scare us. There is a huge debate about the borders and it just so happens that at the same time a possible pandemic breaks from Mexico. Seems intriguing. One of the news stations actually stated that that is "why we need to have strict border patrol." Its not like Mexico came up with the Swine Flu on purpose just to attack America. Is Swine Flu as scary as everyone is making it out to be, or is it a political strategy to shut down the borders?

Fear tactics seems to be the most common form of propaganda. Using fear to create an "other." Its like the defense for keeping Lesbians and Gays out of the military. The argument is that it will destroy the morale within the troops. Why you ask? Not because the troops are homophobic or because Gay people can't fight as well...no...the reason is that the troops will not feel comfortable in the showers. No joke. The main defense against Gays in the military is that they will peep at the other men or women in the shower. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1A-DLhx3Po This is a video of Elaine Donnolly, one of the most influential people in the fight to ensure that gays can't be in the military. This tactic would seem as though there is no way that it would work, but so far America has agreed. It seems as though our generation needs to start thinking critically and look past the fear tactics the media uses. We need to try and think for ourselves.