Merton

Thomas Merton in the 1960s made some observations about society he lived among, the US society, but could have been talking about many western societies. 
What he said is so clear to those who somehow were not indoctrinated. See insert below: 
 
In American culture the most damaging machine is the propaganda machine; it is "a huge machine for lying;" it is "the machinery of alienation." When we were infants, we made our own "free cries." But in learning to speak, we learned to say what was expected and began to conform. We adopted the clichés of our society, and each cliché includes an automatic pattern of behavior. In learning a language the child takes on the "demands" of culture, for there comes "with words themselves a kind of servitude" . The child soon becomes involved in "public relations" and uses language to "engineer consent." Propaganda has taken over the child's mind; it will enable the child to go places. Public opinion takes care of the rest. 
 
I pasted this because it is so damn true. 
 
Mike.

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