Hidden Persuaders

The book was named “Hidden Persuaders”. Maybe you read it, it was not “Fifty Shades of Gray” but it
was instructive. On TV, Jon Hamm starred in “Mad Men”, 2007 version of Hidden Persuaders.

Life expects much from each of us but it takes so long to understand the script we need to follow. The
script is in our history, what we learned to get to our ‘certain’ age. .

For us who listened, we learned the word “Propaganda”, one etymology implies a religious origin, a
liberal interpretation would be “preaching to the choir”. It has its route in Latin, surprise, surprise. 

Many people have heard and learned the word from stories about how it was used in WW II to
influence
the Germans. It was, no doubt. But it did not stop after the war, Propaganda changed clothes and
became Advertising. An effort to gain a respectable face.

What we grew up knowing as “advertising” is now in all forms of our lives. What was on paper, on the
radio or TV, is now everywhere but not recognized. 

Consider an expression we hear in daily conversations: “thank you for your service”, this expression
became popular in the early 2000s. Remember the route of the Iranian Army? The thank you is
deserved but is a cliche.

Contrast this expression with the “baby killers” chant offered to returning VietNam veterans. I’m
‘veteran’ but despite my reluctant service, I deserve no KUDOS. I support my contemporaries who
also served.