8/12/2019 Some Observations on Propaganda With Special Reference to %22current Affairs%22 by Joyce Harris

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S O M E O B S E R V T I O N S O N P R O P G N DW i t h s p e ci a l r e f er e n c e t o C u r r e n t A f f a i r s

by JOYCE HARRIS(-4 member of Transvaal Regional GVUHCU of the Black Sash)

P R O P A G A N D A h a s a d o u b l e a sp ec t. W h e nc o n s i d e r i n g i t s a i m s a n d o b j e c t s , i t s s u c

c e s s e s a n d f a i l u r e s , i t i s n e c e s s a r y t o r e m e m b e rt h a t t h e r e a r e t w o s i d e s t o t h e c o i n t h a t o ft h e p r o p a g a n d i s t a n d t h a t o f t h e p e r s o n o r p e r s o n s a t w h o m t h e p r o p a g a n d a i s a i m e d .

F o r p r o p a g a n d a t o s u cc e e d it i s e s s en t i a l t h a tt h e p r o p a g a n d i s t c o n d u c t h i s c a m p a i g n w i t h a b s o l u t e co n v i c t io n , ad m i t t i n g o f n o d o u b t s i n h i sob jec t ives , which are c l ear ly def ined in h i s ownmi n d . H e w il l n o t ad m i t t h e ex i s t en ce o r v a l i d i t y o f an y o t h e r p o i n t o f v i ew , an d t h e m a t e r i a lh e p r e s e n t s w i ll a l w ay s b e i n t e r m s o f h i s o w nco n v i c t i o n s , w i t h s e l ec t i o n i n p r e s en t a t i o n a n a t u r a l seqnitur*

His easy v ic t im wi l l be one who has no veryclea r conv ic t ions o f h i s ow n. Th e l es s conv incedh e i s , t h e mo re mu d d l ed h i s t h i n k i n g , t h e ea s i e rh e w i l l b e t o b r ea k d o w n . Co n v e r s e l y , a p e r s o nwi t h s t ro ng con v ic t ions o f h i s own wi l l pu t upa r e s i s t a n c e t o p r o p a g a n d a . H o w e v e r , i t c a n a n dd o es h a v e a n i n s i d i o u s , r ep e t i t i v e e ff ect w h i chg rad u a l l y u n d e rmi n es co n v i c t i o n s , an d d o es s omore ef fec t ive ly i f the conv ic t ions l ack c lar i ty o ft h o u g h t .A n i n d i v i d u a l w i l l n a t u r a l l y r e s p o n d t o p ro p a g a n d a i n t e r m s o f h i s o w n p a r t i c u l a r b i a s w i t hh i s o w n b u i l t- i n v a l u e s an d p a t t e rn s o f r ea c t i o n ,a n d i n t r y i n g t o e v a l u a t e p r o p a g a n d a t e c h n i q u e sand ef fec t iveness i t i s es sen t i a l to recognize th i s .P r o p ag an d a b eg i n s t o s u cceed w h en t h e i n d i v i dual be g ins to doubt and qu es t ion h i s own b iasan d h i s ow n valu es , and i t i s mo s t success fu l whe ni t ma n ag es t o b r e ak d o w n t h i s b i a s an d t o co n v e r t . T h e o n l y e f fec ti ve d e f en s i v e w eap o n w i t hwhich an ind iv idual can be armed i s a conv ic t iona n d a c l a r i t y a s s t r o n g a n d a s s u s t a i n e d a s t h a to f t h e p ro p ag an d i s t . T h o s e w h o l i v e i n t h i s co u n t r y , w h o d o n o t a g r e e w i t h th e G o v e r n m e n t b u tw h o h a v e b ee n b o m b a r d e d w i t h G o v e r n m e n t p r o p a g a n d a o v e r t h e y e a r s , m u s t r e a l iz e t h e t r u t hof this.

F u n d a m e n t a l A s s u m p t i o n sG o v e r n m e n t p r o p a g a n d i s t s a p p e a r t o s t a r t offw i t h c e r t a i n f u n d a m e n t a l a s s u m p t i o n s . T h e b a s i co n e i s t h a t t h e G o v e rn me n t i s a l w ay s r i g h t , t h a ti t c an d o n o w ro n g , an d , a s a n eces s a ry co ro l l a ryof th i s , t h a t no cr i t i c i sm i s va l id and th a t a l lc r i t i c i s m i s n o n s en s e . I t b eco mes w o r s e t h an n o n s en s e , i n f ac t i t b eco mes d i s t i n c t l y s u b v e r s i v e .

w h e n t h e f u r t h e r a s s u m p t i o n i s m a d e t h a t t h eG o v e r n m e n t is So u t h A f r i ca , w h en t h e i d en t i t y o ft h e s t a t e i t s e l f i s s u b merg ed i n t h a t o f t h e cu r r e n t l y r u l i n g p a r t y . T h e n c r i ti c i s m b e c o m e s u n -S o u t h A f r i c a n , u n p a t r i o t i c , t r a i t o r o u s . S o t h es eco n d a s s u m p t i o n i s t h a t t h e G o v e rn me n t i s t h ec o u n t r y . A t h i r d a s s u m p t i o n , a n d a n a t u r a l a d d en d u m t o t h e t w o p r ece d i n g o n e s , i s t h a t n o to n l y is t h e G o v e rn m en t a l w a y s r i g h t a t h o me , i ti s a l w ay s r i g h t i n i t s a s s e s s m en t o f ev en t s e l s e w h e re an d i n i t s d i p l o m a t i c r e l a t i o n s h i p s w i t ho th er coun t i ' i es . I t can , in fac t , do no wr ong .T h e s e f u n d a m e n t a l a s s u m p t i o n s t h e n b e c o m et h e e s s en t i a l o b j ec t i v e s o f i t s p r o p ag an d a ma ch

ine. I t b r i n g s a l l i t s g u n s t o b ea r u p o n b u i l d i n gu p i t s o w n p a r t i c u l a r b r a n d o f p a t r i o t i s m , a n dt h e s u p e r i o r i t y o f So u t h A f r i ca i n a l l r e s p e c t s .T h e re i s n ev e r an y s e l f -q u es t i o n i n g , o n l y self-j u s t i f i c a t io n , an d ev en t s ev e ry w h e re a r e i n t e r p r e t ed f ro m t h i s b a s i c p r emi s e i n o rd e r a l w ay sto conf i rm and conso l ida te i t .

O n e -s i d e d n e ss a n d sm e a r t e ch n iq u e sT o ach i ev e t h e s e o b j ec t i v e s ce r t a i n t e ch n i q u e sa r e u s ed . I n h i s a ccu s a t i o n s ag a i n s t s o me s ec t i o n s o f t h e P re s s , I v o r Ben s o n g a v e a v e ry c l ea rdef in i t ion o f the t echn ique o f onc-s idedness , obv i o u s l y u s ed , t o o , b y a l l p ro p ag an d i s t s . H e s a i d ,A l l t h a t i s mi s s i n g i s s o me p o r t i o n o f t h e n ew s .T h e ed i t o r o f a n ew s p a p e r , w h en h e d ec i d es w h a ti s to be pub l i sh ed an d wh at i s to be l e f t o u t , a u t o m a t i ca l l y o p e ra t e s h i s o w n s y s t em o f n ew scen s o r sh i p * '. T h i s i s t h e au t o m a t i c cen s o r s h i p o fp r o p ag an d a , an d t h e acc u s a t i o n fits t h e ac cu s e ra s ap t l y a s i t d o es t h e accu s ed .H e de f in ed fo r u s , t o o , t h e s m ea r c am p a i g n . . I ti s i n t e r e s t i n g t o n o t e t h a t h e w a s a t t a c k i n g t h o s ew h o o p p o s e t h e G o v e rn men t , b u t t h e s e s amet ech n i q u e s a r e c l ea r l y i n o p e ra t i o n i n G o v e rn m e n t p r o p a g a n d a . H e s a i d , W h e n y o u c a n n o td ea l e f fec ti v el y w i t h y o u r o p p o n e n t ' s s t a t em en t s ,t h e r e i s o n l y o n e r em ed y an d t h a t i s t o i d en

t i f y h i m w i t h s o meo n e o r s o m e t h i n g d i s g r ace fu l i n o t h e r w o r d s , t o s m e a r h i m . T h e r e a r em a n y o t h e r t e c h n i q u e s o f s m e a r i n g b y i n s i n u a t i o n , b y d r aw i n g f a l s e an a l o g i e s , b y i mp l i ca t i o n fo r i n s t an ce , i n t h e r eac t i o n t o t h e aw ar d o fa Gold Me dal to th e ed i t o r o f the Rand DailyMail, w h e r e t h e a w a r d w a s s e e n a s a p a r t o f aw o r l d -w i d e e ffo rt t o d i s c r ed i t So u t h A f r i can p o l i c i es a n d h a v e t h e m c h a n g e d , a n d w h e r e M r .G a n d a r w a s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h o t h e r l e a d e r s w h oseem so o f t en to hav e had sh i f ty fee t .The Black Sash r August/October, 1965 H Die Swart Serps Augustus/Oktober f 1965

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A n o t h e r a s p e c tof the s m e a r c a m p a i g n has b eent h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t of f a ls e p r e m i s e s , the p l u g g i n go f t h e s e p r e m i s e s as i n co n t ro v e r t i b l e f ac t , andt h e n the use of t h e m as u n d es i r ab l e l ab e l s, ' 'Co m m u n i s t ha s b een eq u a t ed w i t h L i b e r a l , a l s ow i t h C a p i t a l i s t P r e s s , and f r e e d o m w i t hl i c e n c e . L i b e r a l i s m and h u m a n i s m arew o rd s w h i ch h av e b een t a i n t ed and are now f r e q u en t l y u s ed as w e a p o n s of c r i t i c i s m. Our def en ces h av e b een b r each ed - We t e n d to fo rg e tt h a t t h e s e w o rd s h av e been g i v en f a l s e m ean i n g s .W e are a n t i - C o m m u n i s t . W h e n s o m e o n e is l ab e l led a c o m m u n i s t we t en d to c o n d e m n , and w h e ns o m e o n e has o n ce b een s mea red it is e a s y to i n t i m i d a t e him and difficult for him to r e f u t e as alldef in i t ions are so v a g u e .

T h e E n g l i s h P r e s s is s m e a r e d and d i scred i t edb y accu s a t i o n s of C o m m u n i s t p e n e t r a t i o n . T h e r eh a s b e e n C o m m u n i s t p e n e t r a t i o n of the P r e s s .B u t in m a n y c a s e s the P re s s u n co n s c i o u s l y , ag a i nl i k e o t h e r s ec t i o n s of the c o m m u n i t y , c a r r i e s theC o m m u n i s t b a l l for t h e m .Di f f e re n ce s in emphas is

Difference in e m p h a s i s u n d e r the g u i s e of f ac t si s a n o t h e r p r o p a g a n d a t e c h n i q u e , for e x a m p l ethe d i f ferences in the d es c r i p t i o n s g i v en of Mr.J o h n s o n and Mv. G o l d w a t e r d u r i n g the A m e r i c a nPre s i d en t i a l e l ec t i on cam p a i g n , w h en it was q u i t ec l e a r t h a t the p r o p a g a n d i s t s f a v o u r e d Mr. G o l d -w a t e r , t h o u g h t h i s was not a c t u a l l y s a i d in som a n y w o r d s . Thep r e s e n t a t i o n of h a l f - t r u t h s andof only one s i d e of the p i c t u r e is a n o t h e r a s p e c to f t h i s t e ch n i q u e , s u ch as in the r ev i ew of U.N.O. ,an d of ac t i v i t i e s of E q u i t y , of the I n d e p e n d e n c ei n c i d en t , of the d o n a t i o n by H o l l an d to the Def en ce and Aid F u n d . The t r u t h is t o l d , but nott h e w h o l e t r u t h , and on ly one p o i n t of v i ew isoffered. The i mp l i ca t i o n is one of c o n t e m p t foran y o t h e r p o i n t of v i ew , c i t h e r by f a i l i n g to m e n t i o n it at all or by f a i l i n g to e n l a r g e u p on it.I n d i s cu s s i n g the l a b o u r s h o r t a g e the possiblec o n t r i b u t i o n of n o n - W h i t e l a b o u r isigno red excep ti n t e r m s of th t f i r con t r ibu t ion to t h e i r own co mmu n i t i e s . G o v e rn me n t p o li cy is p r e s e n t e d as theonly poss ib le one,w i t h no r ea s o n s g i v en or n eed e d . It is s i mp l y s t a t ed as i n co n t ro v e r t i b l e f ac t ,and o f t en in such a way t h a t job r e s e r v a t i o n , fori n s t a n c e , b e g i n s to l o o k a t t r ac t i v e to the A f r i can ,

Eve n ts in A f r i c aE v e n t s in A f r i c a are used to e m p h a s i z e theT i g h t n es s of G o v e rn men t p o l i cy , as in the p r e s e n t a t i o n of the Co n g o s i t u a t i o n . The log ica l deduct i o n s are difficult to r e f u t e , but the a n a l o g i e s areo f t en i n co mp l e t e . E v en t s in T a n g a n y i k a , theP r o t e c t o r a t e e l e c ti o n s , d e v e l o p m e n t s in the T r a n s -kei are used in the s a m e way. So is the In d i anq u es t i o n w h e re In d i a ' s mo t i v e s are q u es t i o n edb u t t h i s G o v e r n m e n t ' s a c t i o n s t o w a r d s the localI n d i a n s are not m e n t i o n e d . E v e n t s in o t h e r p a r t so f the wor ld and s i g n s of r e t h i n k i n g on c e r t a i ni s s u e s t h e r e are g i v en the s a m e t r e a t m e n t , and

The Black Sash, AnfjUfitfOctoher t 1985

t h e r e is no h es i t a t i o n in m i s r e p r e s e n t i n g the s i t u a t i o n in S o u t h A f r i c a if it can be m a d e to fit n ea t ly in to the c o n t e x t . In S o u t h A f r i c a . . . t h e r eh as b een a firm belief in the poss ib i l i ty of s t e a d yp r o g r e s s , at any r a t e for the B a n t u p e o p l e . , .F o r t h i s it is h e l d t h a t two co n d i t i o n s ar e n eces s a r y . One is p o l i ti c a l ad v an ce me n t of the B a n t ua n d the o t h e r is eco n o mi c i n t e r -d e p en d en ce w i t ht h e w h i t e man which wi l l keep the mm c o n t i n u i n gt o u c h w i t h W e s t e r n s t a n d a r d s , m e t h o d s and t e c h no logy . ' '

T h e r e is no e m b a r r a s s m e n t a b o u t i n c o n s i s te n c yw h e n t h e r e is c a p i t a l to be g a i n e d f o r i n s t a n c e ,c o u r t r u l i n g s ar e q u o t ed to p ro v e a p o i n t r e g a r d i n g the n a m i n g of c o - c o n s p i r a t o r s d u r i n g the Sab o t a g e T r i a l s , and t h i s d e s p i t e the f a c t t h a t recen t l eg i s l a t ion does not h e s i t a t e to b y - p a s s thec o u r t s . T h e y can be i n co n s i s t en t in o t h e r w a y s too o t h e r c o u n t r i e s may not v o i ce t h e i r c r i t i c i s m ofSo u t h A f r i ca by i n t r o d u c i n g s a n c t i o n s , bu t So u t hA f r i c a is per fec t ly jus t i f i ed in i n t r o d u c i n g t h e mherself, for e x a m p l e a g a i n s t K . L .M . and the F o r dW o r k s . T h e y ar e u n s w e r v i n g in t h e i r e n d s butn o t p a r t i c u l a r l y f u s s y a b o u t the m ean s emp l o y ed .

Sa n c t im o n io u s nd se l f - r i g h te o u sSo u t h A f r i ca h e r s e l f is b u i l t up by d i m i n i s h i n go t h e r ach i ev emen t s e l s ew h e re in r e l a t i o n to w h a ti s ach ieved here for i n s t a n c e m i n i n g a c h i e v e m e n t s are co m p ared w i t h Sp ace d ev e l o p me n t s .C o n c r e t e e x a m p l e s are co n s t an t l y q u o t ed of w h a tt h e G o v e r n m e n t is d o i n g a b o u t s uc h m a t t e r s ash o u s i n gor the eco n o my , L D . C . ,thea i r c r a f t i n d u s t r y , S a f m a r i n e , oil o u t p u t e t c . Them ai n diff icul tyw i t h i n the co u n t ry i t se l f at p re s en t w o ul d ap p ea rto be the eco n o my , and the pub l i c is c o n s t a n t l yb e i n g ex h o r t ed to s a v e . T h e r e is a l so mu ch cons t e rn a t i o n ab o u t r o ad s a f e t y .W o r l d A f f a i r s ar e a l w ay s p r e s en t ed w i t ho r i e n t a t i o n t o w a r d s the i m p o r t a n c e of So u t h Afr i ca , such as w i t h the S i m o n s t o w n i s s u e or thep ro d u c t i o n of gold in r e l a t i o n to w o rl d m o n e t a r ydiff icul t ies , or South A fr i ca ' s so lu t ion to its difficu l t i e s in r e l a t i o n to the g r o w i n g r a c e p r o b l e m si n Br i t a i n . So u t h A f r i ca is s h o w n as well-offr e l a t i v e to the r e s t of the w o r l d and b e t t e r ab l eto cope , abltf, in f ac t , to t e a c h the r e s t of thew o r l d and show- them the way. K v e n an a r t i c l eo n Ch u rch i l l is used to i m p l y t h a t S o u t h A f r i c a nleaders fa l l i n to the s a m e s u p e r i o r c a t e g o r y . Thep r o p a g a n d a is s an c t i m o n i o u s , p i o u s and self-r i g h t e o u s , and n u m e r o u s e x a m p l e s are quo ted oft h e u n f a i r t r e a t m e n t of S o u t h A f r i c a by all ands u n d r y , s u c h as in the m a t t e r of the p r i c e ofg o l d . She r em a i n s , h o w ev e r , l o n g - s u f f e r in g .

T h e r e are e n dl e s s q u o t a t i o n s f r o m j o u r n a l s andar t i c l es tha t conf i rm the So u t h A f r i can p o i n t ofv i ew , s o me t i mes in s u ch a way t h a t a co mp l e t e l yd i f f e r en t emp h as i s is g iven in o r d e r to a l t e r thei mp l i ca t i o n of w h a t was sa id and m a k e it lookf a v o u r a b l e to r a t h e r t h a n a g a i n s t S o u t h A f r i c a .A n e x a m p l e of t h i s is the use m a d e of an a r t i c l e1 2 Die Strttrt Serp t AngtutuB/Oktober. 19 5

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Rand Daily MaiLin The Economist c a ll e d ' T h e Y e a r o f V e r w o e r d .I t i s in tere s t ing : to no te her e , in pass in g and ina l l f a i r n e s s , t h a t t h i s mi s r ep re s en t a t i o n co u l dh av e b een q u i t e u n co n s c i o u s an d m ere l y t h e r e s u l to f t h e p ro p ag an d i s t ' s o w n b i a s w h en h e r ead t h ea r t i c l e an i n t e r e s t i n g ex amp l e o f h o w an i n d i v idual t akes what seems s ign i f i can t to h im ou t o fw h a t h e s e e s a n d h e a r s .

U s e fu l k n o w l ed g e an d in fo rm a t i o n a b o u t ev en t sand cond i t ions in o ther par t s o f the wor ld i sg i v en , t h o u g h a l w ay s w i t h r e f e r en c e t o t h e So u t hA f r i can co n t ex t , s u ch a s t h e co m p ar i s o n b e t w eenFo r mo s a an d So u t h A f r i ca . T h i s m ak es i t mo reeas i l y d i g e s t i b l e t h ro u g h f ami l i a r i t y , b u t a l s o l ay si t o p en t o ab u s e . H i g h l y co mp l i ca t ed w o r l d p ro b lem s ar e a l so s impl if i ed fo r easy consu mp t ion , fo rex amp l e V i e t n am*S o u t h A f r i c a a l w a y s r i g h t

W h en l o ca l ev en t s a r e c r i t i c a l l y u s ed t o ex p o s et h e w eak n es s e s o f G o v e rn men t p o l i cy b y t h o s ew h o o p p o s e i t , t h e t e ch n i q u es o f c r i t i c i s m a r ean a l y ze d , an s w ered an d re fu t ed b y t h ro w i n gt h em b ack u p o n t h ems e l v es , a s w as d o n e w h enSew g o l u m w o n a g o lf t o u rn a me n t .The va l id i ty o f c r i t i c i sm i s d i scoun ted s implybecau se i t come s f rom per son s know n to be cr i t i cso f t h e G o v e rn men t , t h e a s s u mp t i o n b e i n g t h a tth i s log ica l ly m ake s i t i nval id . Of te n such per s o n s h av e p r ev i o u s l y b een s me a red . N o a t -t em p t w h a t s o ev e r i s ma d e t o d ea l w i t h t h e c r i t i c i sm as such , fo r ins tan ce the cr i t i c i sm s f romt h e B r i t i s h Co u n c i l of Ch u rch es , o r , mo re r ecen t l y , t h e p r i s o n s ex p o s u re .P r o p ag an d a i n So u t h A f r i ca i s s y mb o l ized b yth e m ai led f is t in th e velv et glov e. I t i s lon g-s u f f e r i n g an d g en t l y ch a s t i s i n g , a s in i t s c r i t i c i s m o f t h e U n - S o u t h A f r i c a n Sta^\ S o u t hA f r i ca i s a l w ay s r i g h t , n o -o n e can h a rm h e r , an dev en s an c t i o n s t u rn o u t t o h e r ad v a n t a g e . T h i s

i s t h e fu n d am en t a l o b j ec t i v e o f al l t h e s e t e ch n i q u es , an d p ro b ab l y m an y o t h e r s a s w e ll , b u t t h e r ea r e o t h e r t r en d s t o o .T h e p r o p a g a n d a i s a n t i - E n g l i s h P r e s s . I t i sa n t i - U . N . O . , a n t i - t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s a n d a n t i -G r e a t B r i t a i n , p r o b a b l y i n t h a t o r d e r . T h e r ew o u ld a p p e a r t o b e a g r o w i n g c a m p a i g n a g a i n s tt h e U n i t ed S t a t e s . A l l t h e s e co u n t r i e s an d o rg an i z a t i o n s a r e co n t ro l led b y t h e A f r i can S t a t e sand need to re tu rn to sa n i t y . I t i s an t i - the Af

r i can Sta tes and p lays up every d i f f i cu l ty there .I t i s an t i -C o m mu n i s t a l l t h e w ay t h ro u g h , b u to f t en muddled in i t s def in i tion o f Co mm unis m,j u s t a s i t i s an t i - l i b e r a l an d an t i - h u ma n i s m an dmuddled h ere in the sa m e way . I t i s ver y con s c i o u s o f t h e S w a r t G e v a a r .I t i s obv ious ly p ro a l l Government po l i cy whichi t p lug s con s i s t en t ly . I t i s in fa vo ur o f cons er va t i s m whe rev er i t can find i t . I t i s p r o - Fr an cean d d e G au l l e , p e rh ap s b ecau s e h e f av o u r s t h eg o ld s t a n d a rd an d i s an t a g o n i s t i c t o t h e U . S . A .I t i s p ro -Rh o d es i an i n d ep en d en ce .T h e i mp o r t an ce o f So u t h A f r i ca i n t h e ey es

o f t h e W es t e rn w o r l d i s b u i l t u p an d emp h as i zed .Sh e i s i mp o r t an t f o r h e r s t ab i l i t y , e co n o mi c an dp o l i t i c a l , a s a b u l w ark a g a i n s t C o m mu n i s m, a s as t r a t eg i c b a s e , t h e i mp l i ca t i o n h e r e b e i n g t h a t s h eneed no t worry herse l f undu ly abou t c r i t i c i sm,b ecau s e fu n d a me n t a l l y s h e m a t t e r s t o o mu ch , an din th e long run wi l l be p roven r ig h t an d the res to f t h e w o r l d w r o n g . E v en t h o u g h s h e h a s b eenignored and i l l - t rea ted , she wi l l come ou t on top .World po l i t i cs a re v iewed broad ly as a confront a t i o n b e t w een t h e U . S . A . an d C h i n a , w i t h A f r i caa s o n e o f t h e p r i ze s . So u t h A f r i ca g en e ra l l y a p p ea r s a s a d i s i n t e r e s t ed o b s e rv e r , b u t ev en t s a r ea l w ay s i n t e rp r e t ed i n h e r f av o u r .

e e t o be v ig i l an tIn a l l fa i rne ss one is ob l iged to ad m i t tha t th eb u i l d -u p o f t h e So u t h A f r i can i mag e b y t h eSo u t h A f r i can G o v e rn m en t i s j u s t if i ab l e , b u t t h ei n t e rp r e t a t i o n of n u m ero u s ev e n t s b o t h h e r e an de l s ew h e re i n o r d e r t o ach i eve t h i s i s q u es t i o n ab l e .W h e t h e r p ro p a g a n d a i s j u s t if i ed i n b u i l d i n g u pt h e So u t h A f r i can G o v e rn m en t a s p e r f ec t i o n i sa n o t h e r m a t t e r . T h e p r o p a g a n d a m a c h i n e i s u n d o u b t ed l y ach i ev i n g r e s u l t s , an d f ro m t h i s p o i n to f v i ew mu s t b e r eg a rd ed a s g o o d p ro p ag an d a .Whether o r no t you cons ider i t good wi l l dependupon what you yourse l f cons ider to be good , r igh tand jus t . I t wi l l depen d upon wh at your con

v ic t ions were when you f i r s t began to be sub jec t ed t o i t , an d w h a t h a s h ap p en e d t o t h e m. Bu tn o -o n e i s ev e r s a f e f r o m p ro p ag an d a , t h o u g ht h o s e w h o a r e in h ap p y ag r eem en t w il l n o t r eg a rdi t a s an an t a g o n i s t . Fo r t h o s e w h o d o , f o r t h o s ew h o s t i l l p l ace s o me v a l u e o n t h e i r r i g h t t o t h i n kfo r t h em s e l v es , j u d g e fo r t h em s e l v es an d r eacht h e i r o w n co n c l u s i o n s , i t w o u l d b e w e l l t o r ememb e r t h a t t h e r e i s n o l i mi t to t h e i n s i d i o u s p o w ero f t h e s p o k en an d t h e w r i t t e n w o rd . T h e re i s anev e r -p r e s en t n eed t o b e v i g i l an t .

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