OT:Mrs. Heinz Kerry - Interesting

[Joe Acquisto]

>>> Bob >Rasmussen<ras at anzio.com> 8/4/04 2:24:14 PM >>>
> . . .
>The only traceable data in this piece was the web site listed,
>. . . 

At the risk of prolonging this thread, I'd like to relate a personal experience.

As a youth, fresh faced and naive, I was presented with a copy of a book called "None Dare Call it Treason", with the claim that it would reveal the truth about how this country was being infiltrated and secretly run by Communists.

I was incised by these revelations, infuriated, messianic.  I waylaid anyone who would listen, spreading the word.  I was now, in a word, a "SuperPatriot".  

Quite soon, a senior person in my group, gave me a "Dutch Uncle" talk.  While he did not attempt to counter any of the "facts" in this book, he did tell me he had read it and proceeded to clue me in to the crucial need for checking reference material and to a number of "journalistic" and oratorial ploys.

First chance I got, I spent some time checking the footnotes, references and "direct quotes".  I was floored at how the author had twisted and bent the supposed quotes, taking things out of context (and adding his own interpretation), and how his "quotes" changed the original meaning of statements using the infamous " . . .", which as we all know is used to indicate "not germaine" verbage.   Things like "I am not now nor have I ever been a Communist" became "I am . . . a Communist".  I paraphrase.

Properly humiliated, and now a good deal more wise, I attempted to clue in some of those who were avid consumers of my previously spewed nonsense.

Know what?  They were not interested.  They would not believe.  They did not care.  They had become addicted (IMHO) to the adreneline like rush provided by their belief and would not let it go.  Reason had given way to the emotional high of having someone to hate and blame for all your problems.

I hope my attempt at instant "group therapy" will do some good.  

joea




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