When we learn about the world wars we learn all about how the public were almost brainwashed into fighting "A wonderful war" lots of posters and things to get men to sign up. (At least thats how we are taught about it in England)

Anyway I was at the A Perfect Circle Site, and I noticed some disturbing things...










OK I know they are OTT, but isnt the last wars in recent years based on the same concept, the UK and US governements told the public we had to do it to save ourselves... there might not have been lots of posters... but to me it feels like the same sort of thing. :pups: "Brainwashing" maybe.

I always had a picture of soilders from the past being kinda thick, not able to think for themselves... but I guess in a way are we today that different from back then?


Some years later... this seems to be the main reason for the death...

I know about all those propaganda posters and things, and I can believe they said things like that. I did modern history last year and I know some of the posters and things they circulated around Australia were pretty similar.

its sad really.

For my history exam I had to analyse a propaganda poster about the Dutch in the East. There was an abundance of propaganda in the forties and fifties, we have all seen that in History classes, but like Rich said, governments still make use of propaganda, not only through posters, but mostly through other (newer) media. The concept is sickmaking for those who see through it, but unfortunately a lot of people are fooled by it.

Last night, I saw the Malcolm in the Middle-episode, in which Reese joins the army. Good eppy, especially since Reese was the stereotype-soldier who follows orders blindly, and only follows orders. Until he turned his brain back on and planned a trick on his officers.
But it does reflect how propaganda works, I think. People believe the pretty pictures the government paints, and stop thinking for themselves.

:lol: I saw that eppy too, it cracked me up big time.


War is made to be a "wonderful" thing, over here to a degree and defo in the US if you join the army its almost something to brag about. You get a lot of status to be able to say "'I'm defending my country".

People get killed in war, I suppose the real victims are the people who die on both sides *shrugs* mayb there will be times when perhaps war is needed, World War Two was about stopping someone taking over the world... if it hadnt taken place... who knows what today as we know it would have been like.

But say if the UK and the US went into Iraq to gather oil supplies for the future... the loss of life for basically money is sickning.


@ Jo, I remember Mel telling me about a movie in America where people from Iraq were made to look like psychos, they came to the US and killed loads of America people for no reason, just "pleasure", that sounds like Brainwashing doesnt it? Espically as it was made by America producers *shudders*

The army is a weird institution... Millions of euros go the the defense department yearly, and giant helicopters and fighters are bought to defend the nation. But in fact, they are only used to help NATO or the UN-peace corps... I do support peace keeping operations, but I don't support Dutch military to be send to Afghanistan and Iraq after US and UK armies have started a war there, and in fact are still fighting the war.

But back to Army-advertising. There is a huge campaign in Holland to get new cadets for the army. The advertisements focus on the difference if you "have it" or not. If you're army-material or not. The boys (haven't really seen ads with girls who are suitable!) don't bother standing under a cold shower or get up early to go to school for first period P.E.
Same with the navy and airforce (although there are more girls in those ads). Tough and proud girls and guys who will defend their nation. But why is it that I only see sad people on the news when a new taskforce is send out to Afganistan or Iraq/Kuweit?