How to Lie With Pictures — Propaganda Game Exposed Part 2

A chain e-mail has been circulating that shows the following photo of Obama clasping his hands while everyone else on the dais either is saluting or has their hand over their heart:

Here’s the message that accompanies this photo in the e-mail that’s been circulating: "I don’t know whether the National Anthem is being played, or the Flag is going by, or WHAT, but EVERYBODY in the picture is either saluting or has his hand over the HEART."

DR. GRUDER’S INTEGRITY ANALYSIS OF THIS CHAIN E-MAIL

1. Concealed Premise: Obama is anti-American. Therefore his motives and his policies are anti-American. Therefore, true patriots should be deeply suspicious of – or actively oppose – anything and everything Obama advocates or does. (This was the strategy that Rush Limbaugh, the de facto leader of the Republican party, promised he would be dedicated to implementing after Obama was elected.)

2. “Data:” A photo that is identified as having been taken on Veterans Day at Arlington National Cemetery while the national anthem was being played.

3. Manipulative Statement Designed to Get You to Believe You’ve Reached Your Own Conclusion That Is Aligned With the Concealed Premise: "I don’t know whether the National Anthem is being played, or the Flag is going by, or WHAT, but EVERYBODY in the picture is either saluting or has his hand over the HEART."

Here’s the nonpartisan fact checked truth about this photo:

http://factcheck.org/2009/11/whats-wrong-with-this-picture/

I expect — well, actually want — each of us having our own differing opinions about Obama or anyone/anything else. I also believe that manipulating people’s opinions about a person or issue by using lies masqerading as truth, and using by those lies to propagandize people into believing a preconceived agenda, is nothing short of evil.

If the real facts aren’t strong enough on their own to support a preconception, then we SHOULD be questioning that preconception, regardless of whether doing this supports our opinions or challenges them. That’s what critical thinking is supposed to be about. That’s part of what being truly patriotic is supposed to be about.

Want to know more about this propaganda tactic that has hijacked discourse, politics, and happiness in America? Check out these links:

• www.thenewiq.com/integritywatch-blog/century-self
• www.thenewiq.com/integritywatch-blog/propaganda-game-exposed-part-1-bpa-case-study
• www.thenewiq.com/integritywatch-blog/sick-recipe-responsible-todays-crazy-public-discourse
• www.thenewiq.com/integritywatch-blog/dysfunctional-dynamic-crippling-united-states