Resident Scholars of the A.P.I.
Subliminal American Propaganda Paves Way For Bush's Pakistan Visit
American President George W. Bush is on his way to visit Pakistan. It is not likely that many Pakistanis will welcome the visit of America's Presiding Bully but not all is lost.
A ditty entitled "The Leader" appeared in the March '06 issue of Harper's Magazine as the subject of a small article titled, "Rhyme Scheme". The little Pollyanna-ish poem is an amusing demonstation of how the tax dollars of working class Americans are being employed to "win the hearts and minds" of Muslims in the Middle East. The irony of "Mushroom Cloud" Condi out politicking for more propaganda dollars at the same time this poem hit the newsstands in Harper's, is almost as priceless as the sing-song masterpiece itself. Here for your entertainment:
The Leader
Patient and steady with all he must bear,
Ready to meet every challenge with care,
Easy in manner, yet solid as steel,
Strong in his faith, refreshingly real.
Isn't afraid to propose what is bold,
Doesn't conform to the usual mold,
Eyes that have foresight, for hindsight won't do,
Never backs down when he sees what is true,
Tells it all straight, and means it all too.
Going forward and knowing he's right,
Even when doubted for why he would fight,
Over and over he makes his case clear,
Reaching to touch the ones who won't hear.
Growing in strength, he won't be unnerved,
Ever assuring he'll stand by his word.
Wanting the world to join his firm stand,
Bracing for war, but praying for peace.
Using his power so evil will cease,
So much a leader and worthy of trust,
Here stands a man who will do when he must.
This "anonymous poem" (It's tone is so Karen Hughes trite I'm wondering, could she be it's author?) was orginally published in 2004 in "A Textbook of English" by Pakistan's National Book Foundation. Consequently, it delivers its subliminal message to Pakistani high school eleventh graders on a daily basis.
"What subliminal message?", you ask. The rhyming list of supposed leadership traits describes a male leader who could only exist in the realm of myth. One can imagine such a poetic piece of praise being written for the masses to lovingly recite in honor of Chairman Mao, Saddam Hussein, or Kim Jung-il but that is not the case. The dandy little ditty was discovered this last December to be an acrostic spelling "President George W. Bush". Pakastani high school students have no doubt been subverted by reading this poem in the course of their studies.
Some Pakastani newspapers have claimed that the poem was inserted into the English text book on the orders of President Pervez Musharraf as a gesture to please President Bush. The little piece of poetic propaganda will be removed from future editions of the English text book by the education ministry.
Meanwhile, I wonder if it worked? Have our tax dollars done their "hearts and minds" job. Are Pakastani teenagers as undereducated, self-centered, naive, and politically unaware as American teenagers? Will starry-eyed Pakistani eleventh graders be lining the streets waving hysterically while waiting for a mere glimpse of the American leader, George W. Bush? We'll find out when Air Force One lands in Pakistan.
***NOTE - I had a great deal of fun writing about this adoring piece of fluffy propaganda.! It is such a wonderful toy. Go back to the good old days in English Lit. and analyze it line by line. I guarantee you will soon be sick from laughter.
Hey, you can even entertain friends and family with this one! Play "What Kinda Line is That?" Go through, for instance, and list all of the lines that portray "George" as tough, or all of the lines that have proven to be lies - example "Bracing for war, but praying for peace". Be creative, make up your own catagories! Bad day at work? Have a glass of wine and play. There are endless possibilities for fun!
***It has also occurred to me that some clever Pakistani penned this psalm with satirical intent.
George W. Bush exists only in the realm of myth.
........Until next time.........
.......Kitchen Window Woman...........
A ditty entitled "The Leader" appeared in the March '06 issue of Harper's Magazine as the subject of a small article titled, "Rhyme Scheme". The little Pollyanna-ish poem is an amusing demonstation of how the tax dollars of working class Americans are being employed to "win the hearts and minds" of Muslims in the Middle East. The irony of "Mushroom Cloud" Condi out politicking for more propaganda dollars at the same time this poem hit the newsstands in Harper's, is almost as priceless as the sing-song masterpiece itself. Here for your entertainment:
The Leader
Patient and steady with all he must bear,
Ready to meet every challenge with care,
Easy in manner, yet solid as steel,
Strong in his faith, refreshingly real.
Isn't afraid to propose what is bold,
Doesn't conform to the usual mold,
Eyes that have foresight, for hindsight won't do,
Never backs down when he sees what is true,
Tells it all straight, and means it all too.
Going forward and knowing he's right,
Even when doubted for why he would fight,
Over and over he makes his case clear,
Reaching to touch the ones who won't hear.
Growing in strength, he won't be unnerved,
Ever assuring he'll stand by his word.
Wanting the world to join his firm stand,
Bracing for war, but praying for peace.
Using his power so evil will cease,
So much a leader and worthy of trust,
Here stands a man who will do when he must.
This "anonymous poem" (It's tone is so Karen Hughes trite I'm wondering, could she be it's author?) was orginally published in 2004 in "A Textbook of English" by Pakistan's National Book Foundation. Consequently, it delivers its subliminal message to Pakistani high school eleventh graders on a daily basis.
"What subliminal message?", you ask. The rhyming list of supposed leadership traits describes a male leader who could only exist in the realm of myth. One can imagine such a poetic piece of praise being written for the masses to lovingly recite in honor of Chairman Mao, Saddam Hussein, or Kim Jung-il but that is not the case. The dandy little ditty was discovered this last December to be an acrostic spelling "President George W. Bush". Pakastani high school students have no doubt been subverted by reading this poem in the course of their studies.
Some Pakastani newspapers have claimed that the poem was inserted into the English text book on the orders of President Pervez Musharraf as a gesture to please President Bush. The little piece of poetic propaganda will be removed from future editions of the English text book by the education ministry.
Meanwhile, I wonder if it worked? Have our tax dollars done their "hearts and minds" job. Are Pakastani teenagers as undereducated, self-centered, naive, and politically unaware as American teenagers? Will starry-eyed Pakistani eleventh graders be lining the streets waving hysterically while waiting for a mere glimpse of the American leader, George W. Bush? We'll find out when Air Force One lands in Pakistan.
***NOTE - I had a great deal of fun writing about this adoring piece of fluffy propaganda.! It is such a wonderful toy. Go back to the good old days in English Lit. and analyze it line by line. I guarantee you will soon be sick from laughter.
Hey, you can even entertain friends and family with this one! Play "What Kinda Line is That?" Go through, for instance, and list all of the lines that portray "George" as tough, or all of the lines that have proven to be lies - example "Bracing for war, but praying for peace". Be creative, make up your own catagories! Bad day at work? Have a glass of wine and play. There are endless possibilities for fun!
***It has also occurred to me that some clever Pakistani penned this psalm with satirical intent.
George W. Bush exists only in the realm of myth.
........Until next time.........
.......Kitchen Window Woman...........
posted by Kitchen Window Woman at 12:13 PM
7 Comments:
I still find it surprising how quickly you Libs are to heap scorn upon any message with which you don't agree... content or tone. First it was Toby Keith and Neil Diamond, now an anonymous poem praising desirable virtues?
Kitchen Woman, you should seek a job in journalism!! Today's media, much like yourselves, picks and chooses which news it will air and which it won't... all based on their own bias and agenda.
Do a search on "Merrilee Carlson." Haven't heard of her? Not surprising. Her son was killed in Iraq, too. But her message is very different from that other mom who gets all the press. Like you, our media filters based on tone... bad news sells (or lets you rant and blame someone else.)
paladin, do you find it at all ironic that your description of liberals fits right-wingers far better?
no, you probably don't do irony...
there is no liberal media. the msm is owned by corporate sycophants of the right. they are doing a fine job of enabling your self-delusion.
PALADIN...
I am a progressive although I find LIBERAL to be a beautiful word...look it up in your dictionary.
Neil Diamond????? Huh???????? I never could stand his music but what has that got to do with Pakistan?
Perhaps you missed the point of my little missive. Write down the first letter of the first word in each of the lines of poem, "The Leader". Then lined them up in the order in which you copied them down and see what they spell......Geez, its an acrostic.
Virtues? Myths...they propagandized Mussolini with the same list of supposed leadership qualities. Leadership involves traits and skills that are not listed and that George W. does not possess.
Merrilee's son would not be dead if she had stood against this illegal war of choice. Parents and their eighteen year-olds need to be informed citizens, you know do their homework....the rest of us knew the background and history of the area and of the people who planned this war for twelve years (PNAC) and then lied to the American people to achieve their goal....war and its profits $$$$$$$.
SPACENEEDL...The corporate-owned media has done a very poor job of providing honest imformation to the American public. If the media had not supressed information, had done less flag-waving, and more investigative reporting, we would not be in an endlees war that has cost untold billions in dollars and spilled the blood of thousands of Iraqi and American families. War is a game played by losers - there are no winners.
There is hope...some of the media are waking up and doing actual investigations of this Administation...deliberate misuse of intelligence, Katrina, greedy Congressmen on the take, and the port situation. It is about time!
The administration exists at the behest of The American People - the people do not play "FOLLOW the Leader". The "People" can also fire elected officials. We can IMPEACH.
OMG. I knew they weren't above much, but when you stoop to doggerel it's gotten bad. Next up, Bush and Laura as (heroic) Precious Moments figures woven into a Thomas Kincaid throw.
"You libs." Giggle. As though Kitchen Woman finds the "Liberal" label insulting. If you want to insult her, call her a right winger who worships at the throne of Dubya.
ZENYENTA...
Tee Hee....That's funny. I bet such nauseating, saccharine tribute art would sell among fervent Bush supporters. It could drape over the couch above which hang the painting of Elvis on black velvet and the Margaret Keane "big-eyed, little girl clown" print circa the 60's.
PAT KIRBY...
Right winger! Choke, sputter, gag, gag....throne of Dubya! NO! NO! NOT THAT! Aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh! No, No Never! I can't breathe, cough, cough. Everything is dark. I can't see! What a nightmare! Aaaaaaaahh! The Dark Ages are upon us!!!!
giggle, giggle...I'm done now.
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