It used to be called The Big Lie Technique: Say something often enough, loud enough and long enough, and eventually people will start to believe it, especially if one political faction dominates or controls information media and bans criticism of the government and its leaders. It was true in parts of Europe 80 years ago, and it is true in Thailand today. Witness the jailing of a two students who dared to insult the monarchy -- even a fictional monarchy -- in a university play.
Almost as dangerous is the tendency to listen only to one side of an issue. If you listen only to one side, your own opinion -- already biased -- will be reinforced. This is not to say you should listen closely to opposition radicals. But you should be aware of their views and slants, so you know how far opposing opinions can diverge from the center. Rather, read and listen to those who critique both sides.
There are media professionals, whose job it is to monitor the views, opinions and activities of all elements of society, including the radicals and wackos all along the belief spectrum, and report the gist of what they say and do to the Great Middle.
Rarely can the opinions of the True Believers be swayed. They are often infected by the Riley Virus, which proclaims: "My head's made up. You can't confuse me with the facts."
The cure for this epidemic is, and always has been, vigilance, and that's where an independent, neutral news media becomes crucial. When reporters do their jobs right, the public becomes informed on both sides of any issue, even to the extent of monitoring the radical fringe (both fringes) and exposing their efforts to bend Truth to their agendas.
True, there are times when skilled manipulators can mislead the media, phrasing their message so it sounds better than it really is. That, however, is where vigilance by both reporters and readers is essential.
That is also the time when a good memory is important, since radicals can and often do change their messaging and phrasing, hoping that the general public doesn't pay close attention to what was said in the past.
Example: Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani challenged the media to find a time when President Barack Obama ever did say he loved America. It took perhaps an hour for reporters to dig up half a dozen recent occasions when he did say just that.
Example two: Cartoonist Bob Tornoe noted that the Radical Right praised President George W. Bush when he criticized acts of violence against innocents because they "undermine the basic tenets of the Islamic faith." War, therefore, is against evil, not Islam. This declaration, according to the Radical Righteous depicted in the cartoon, makes Bush "a true American hero and a devout Christian."
But when Obama points out that America is "not at war with Islam. We are at war with terrorists who have perverted Islam," the facing cartoon panel shows the same Right Winger shrieking that Obama is "an Islam-backing Christian hater who doesn't love America."
By the way, the Constitution specifies in Article VI that "no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any office." In addition, the First Amendment makes it even more clear: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."
So much for all the noise about a politician's religion, no matter which, whether on none. The hint, suggestion, assertion or implication that a President or anyone holding an office or position of public trust must be a member of a certain specified church or follow the precepts of any spiritual practice is not only irrelevant, such a demand is unconstitutional.
And as for the Fox News slogan, "We report, you decide," don't get me started.
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