Geodog

Republicans staying on message: keeping America scared

I finally watched the remixed film clip from the Republican National Convention that everyone is talking about. If you haven't seen it, please check it out. It is fascinating on many levels.

First, it is a testament to the ability of the Republicans to stay on message: "Be Scared, America." I am particularly sensitive to that after my Wellstone training, and it is very impressive just in terms of political discipline, something Democrats aren't nearly as good at. Second, the film clip shows the growing power of what Dan Gillmor calls We the Media, the citizen journalists. In this case one individual was able to remix material that had been previously aired to make a powerful point. If the copyright cartel has their way, this would be illegal.

Finally, it is disgusting message of fear, straight out of 1984. Everyone remembers part of George Orwell's vision of a totalitarian state, "If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face -- for ever," but the part where that state's power is fueled by always being at war doesn't get as much attention:

Since about that time, war had been literally continuous, though strictly speaking it had not always been the same war. For several months during his childhood there had been confused street fighting in London itself, some of which he remembered vividly. But to trace out the history of the whole period, to say who was fighting whom at any given moment, would have been utterly impossible, since no written record, and no spoken word, ever made mention of any other alignment than the existing one. At this moment, for example, in 1984 (if it was 1984), Oceania was at war with Eurasia and in alliance with Eastasia. In no public or private utterance was it ever admitted that the three powers had at any time been grouped along different lines. Actually, as Winston well knew, it was only four years since Oceania had been at war with Eastasia and in alliance with Eurasia. But that was merely a piece of furtive knowledge which he happened to possess because his memory was not satisfactorily under control. Officially the change of partners had never happened. Oceania was at war with Eurasia: therefore Oceania had always been at war with Eurasia. The enemy of the moment always represented absolute evil...

it should get more attention, because it is the Republican vision for America.