Propaganda Isn't Necessarily a Dirty Word! Truth vs. Deception!

John Steinbeck wrote The Moon Is Down as a propaganda novel during World War II. (See my original post about it here.) The book was almost immediately made into a film which was released in 1943. I watched the movie last night and in the credits was a note that war bonds could be purchased in the theater. Interesting bit of trivia. 

As is typical, the book is much better than the film although much of the dialogue is lifted verbatim from the book. The German colonel is much less human in the movie. One of the criticisms of Steinbeck's novel was that he was "naive" and "too sympathetic" to the enemy whose nationality was unnamed in the book. Playwright James Thurber didn't like the novel having that opinion, but those in the occupied countries showed their enthusiastic support by copying and disseminating it widely. In fact, to be caught with the book could get one shot. Obviously, the Axis powers didn't consider the book sympathetic to their cause.

The movie is worth watching, if for no other reason than to consider the propaganda element. The word propaganda has developed a pejorative sense, but that wasn't true of its original meaning and context described by Merriam Webster:

Propaganda is today most often used in reference to political statements, but the word comes to our language through its use in a religious context. The Congregatio de propaganda fide (“Congregation for propagating the faith”) was an organization established in 1622 by Pope Gregory XV as a means of furthering Catholic missionary activity. The word propaganda is from the ablative singular feminine of propogandus, which is the gerundive of the Latin propagare, meaning “to propagate.” The first use of the word propaganda (without the rest of the Latin title) in English was in reference to this Catholic organization. It was not until the beginning of the 19th century that it began to be used as a term denoting ideas or information that are of questionable accuracy as a means of advancing a cause.

Not all "propaganda" promotes information of "questionable accuracy" like all the COVID propaganda coming from those with plenty to gain from fooling as many people as possible. For example, one can consider the information and teaching of many groups as "propaganda" in its original sense -- propagating a belief, e.g. the value of human life. Pro-lifers use accurate medical information and photographs to defend little ones in the womb. That is propaganda in its original and positive sense. The Frontline Doctors expose the lies of Anthony Fauci and Big Pharma -- that's positive propaganda to help the public make intelligent health decisions and expose the liars.

Let's return the word propaganda to its original positive meaning. We should all work to propagandize people with the truth! We also need to recognize when we are being "fooled" (made fools of) by lying propagandizers. As an aside, I'll mention two homosexual propaganda movies: Philadelphia and Brokeback Mountain. The left has always recognized the power of propaganda. Parents need to be especially aware and make sure to shelter their children from evil propaganda!

Enjoy the movie, but read the book. You'll love the mayor and the doctor and the story behind how the little parachutes with dynamite get dropped over the town. And always propagandize with the truth!