The Totalitarian and the Masses

[Crabtownboy]

Whether by intuition, education, experience it matters not. The following is a truth that Trump and Bannon know and are practicing.
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“In an ever-changing, incomprehensible world the masses had reached the point where they would, at the same time, believe everything and nothing, think that everything was possible and that nothing was true. ... Mass propaganda discovered that its audience was ready at all times to believe the worst, no matter how absurd, and did not particularly object to being deceived because it held every statement to be a lie anyhow. The totalitarian mass leaders based their propaganda on the correct psychological assumption that, under such conditions, one could make people believe the most fantastic statements one day, and trust that if the next day they were given irrefutable proof of their falsehood, they would take refuge in cynicism; instead of deserting the leaders who had lied to them, they would protest that they had known all along that the statement was a lie and would admire the leaders for their superior tactical cleverness.”
― Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism

 

[JonC]

There is a video of Roger Waters performing Pigs at a concert in Mexico City (this past Oct.). When I saw it I thought of you (especially the statements at the end).

 

[Crabtownboy]

There is a video of Roger Waters performing Pigs at a concert in Mexico City (this past Oct.). When I saw it I thought of you (especially the statements at the end).

I assume your post is a compliment.

 

[Happy]

Whether by intuition, education, experience it matters not. The following is a truth that Trump and Bannon know and are practicing.
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“In an ever-changing, incomprehensible world the masses had reached the point where they would, at the same time, believe everything and nothing, think that everything was possible and that nothing was true. ... Mass propaganda discovered that its audience was ready at all times to believe the worst, no matter how absurd, and did not particularly object to being deceived because it held every statement to be a lie anyhow. The totalitarian mass leaders based their propaganda on the correct psychological assumption that, under such conditions, one could make people believe the most fantastic statements one day, and trust that if the next day they were given irrefutable proof of their falsehood, they would take refuge in cynicism; instead of deserting the leaders who had lied to them, they would protest that they had known all along that the statement was a lie and would admire the leaders for their superior tactical cleverness.”
― Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism

Johanna "Hannah" Arendt was a German-born Jewish American political theorist.

If one does not know the truth, anything can be theorized as a lie.

 

[JonC]

I assume your post is a compliment.

I meant it as an observation (not an insult as I have tickets to Water's concert in a few months, but not as a complement because I disagree with the politics). I think you would have liked the video, but perhaps not the music (it's Pink Floyd).

 

[Crabtownboy]

I meant it as an observation (not an insult as I have tickets to Water's concert in a few months, but not as a complement because I disagree with the politics). I think you would have liked the video, but perhaps not the music (it's Pink Floyd).

I posted the compliment reply as a tongue-in-cheek reply. One problem with posts is the black print on the cool screen do not carry inflection or tone at all.

Carry ear protection when you go to the concert. I am indexing a 3 volume medical book on professional musicians and their clinical care. There was an entire chapter on hearing loss because of loud noise at concerts and practice.

 

[Crabtownboy]

Johanna "Hannah" Arendt was a German-born Jewish American political theorist.

If one does not know the truth, anything can be theorized as a lie.

That is correct. She was a very smart lady. I do not agree with all her ideas but do find others either very interesting and/or truthful. She was hated by many because of her writing about Eichman. I can understand why many simply could not accept her ideas on that topic. They were too emotionally involved to step back and see that she was not negating their suffering, but was showing what little men many Nazi's were and how great evil is often brought about simply because people will not take a stand for what is right.

Here is one of her quotes on this topic:


“The sad truth is that most evil is done by people who never make up their minds to be good or evil.”
― Hannah Arendt, The Life of the Mind

And here is a quote on Eichman that upset many:

“The trouble with Eichmann was precisely that so many were like him, and that the many were neither perverted nor sadistic, that they were, and still are, terribly and terrifyingly normal. From the viewpoint of our legal institutions and of our moral standards of judgment, this normality was much more terrifying than all the atrocities put together.”
― Hannah Arendt

 

[just-want-peace]

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Carry ear protection when you go to the concert. I am indexing a 3 volume medical book on professional musicians and their clinical care. There was an entire chapter on hearing loss because of loud noise at concerts and practice.

Don't go to these concerts, BUT, an aweful lot of noise can come from praise bands.
I have bad hearing, and most that I've heard (very limited) are far and away too loud for me!

 

[Crabtownboy]

Don't go to these concerts, BUT, an aweful lot of noise can come from praise bands.
I have bad hearing, and most that I've heard (very limited) are far and away too loud for me!

I totally agree. I am not sure when loud became synonymous with good.

Also, I find the theology or lack thereof of praise band music most disheartening. It is almost all egotistical God loves me, God loves me, Oh boy, hot dog God loves me.

I was in a large Baptist church recently. There was a praise band singing this banality. There was no congregational singing of hymns. There was no bulletin. The sermon was sadly lacking of anything thoughtful or educational and yet this was a large church.

Good preaching does not guarantee large congregations.

 

[JonC]

I totally agree. I am not sure when loud became synonymous with good.

It isn't synonymous. Just some things are good and loud.

You also bring out a good point about praise bands (some are good, some not so good, and some good at times). I remember complaining to our pastor (past church) about a song we sang often being unbiblical. He said something along the lines of "yea, some of the things we sing may not be exactly right"...but we sing them anyway???