Listening

Mark and Alice were discussing the history of propaganda. Mark said, “Did you know that in 1916, President Wilson won with the slogan ‘Peace Without Victory’?” Alice nodded. “Yes, but I also heard his government actually wanted war.” Mark replied, “Exactly. They created a propaganda team called the Creel Commission. In just six months, they turned peaceful Americans into people who hated everything German and demanded war.” Alice frowned. “That’s shocking. Did it stop after the war?” Mark shook his head. “No, they used the same tactics to scare people about Communists, crushing unions and limiting freedoms. The media and business leaders supported it all.” Alice sighed. “So educated people even helped spread it?” Mark said, “Yes, many intellectuals were proud of convincing a reluctant population to fight. They even made up stories about German atrocities.” Alice asked, “Did these methods influence others later?” Mark nodded. “Yes. Hitler and many others studied these lessons carefully. It showed that state propaganda, supported by elites, works frighteningly well.”