To learn who rules over you

Freedom is to have real thoughts

Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If  that is granted, all else follows.

(George Orwell, 1984).

The aim of modern propaganda

Very frequently propaganda is described as a manipulation for the purpose of changing idea or opinions of making individuals 'believe' some idea or fact, and finally of making them adhere to some doctrine—all matters of the mind. It tries to convince, to bring about a decision, to create a firm adherence to some truth. This is a completely wrong line of thinking: to view propaganda as still being what it was in 1850 is to cling to an obsolete concept of man and of the means to influence him; it is to condemn oneself to understand nothing about propaganda. The aim of modern propaganda is no longer to modify ideas, but to provoke action. It is no longer to change adherence to a doctrine, but to make the individual cling irrationally to a process of action. It is no longer to transform an opinion but to arouse an active and mythical belief.

(Jacques Ellul, Propaganda: The Formation of Men’s, 1973).

Sensitivity as deviation

It is precisely his sensitivity to injustice, to stupidity, that is presented as a sick deviation: “poor adaptation to the social environment!” Once you think in any but the approved way, that means you’re abnormal! While well-adjusted people must all think alike.

(Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn)

«Il gran male di cui l'umanità va liberata è la tendenza a compiacersi delle formule consacrate, che equivale, poi, alla mancanza di fiducia nella propria coscienza. Una volta emancipata dalla credenza cieca e passiva nelle formule, la sapienza dell'uomo potrà manifestarsi liberamente. Ma allora essa lotterà ancora per innalzarsi dalla scienza imparaticcia alla saggezza animata dalle pulsazioni della vita».

(Erich Mühsam)

The American public will stand for what it has to stand for.

«The American public will stand for what it has to stand for. What is told to stand for or what is educated to stand for».

(From the movie: Revealing the JFK assassination)

Civil Disobedience

«According to some accounts, Emerson visited Thoreau in jail and asked, “Henry, what are you doing in there?” Thoreau replied, “Waldo, the question is what are you doing out there?” Emerson was “out there” because he believed it was shortsighted to protest an isolated evil; society required an entire rebirth of spirituality».