"Free Propaganda"

Anyone who tries to define propaganda is going to have some difficulties. It’s probably one of the most troublesome words in the English language. To define it clearly and precisely so that it means the same thing to everyone is near impossible. When you say “policeman” or “house,” everybody has a pretty clear idea of what you mean. There is nothing vague about these terms. Even the men who have studied the origin and history of words would find marking off the exact boundaries of propaganda a daunting task. Propaganda began and is mostly based around wars. But wars have caused propaganda to have popular meanings that make defining propaganda an even more difficult task.


The general public looks upon propaganda as a person, a propagandist who uses half truths, who lies, conceals, and distorts the facts. Others think especially of techniques, or slogans and catch phrases when they talk about propaganda. Even that good old poster that says” I want you for the U.S. army” is considered propaganda . Experts agree they have plenty of trouble in agreeing upon a satisfactory definition of propaganda. The term propaganda cannot be limited to the type of propaganda that seeks to achieve bad ends or to the form that makes use of deceitful methods.


Some may believe that propaganda is present only in controversial situations. One writer that I cannot find the name of wrote “Propaganda is an instrument of conflict or controversy, deliberately used.” Another writer whom I cannot find the name of either wrote “If the report is deliberately circulated to influence attitudes on controversial issues it is propaganda.”While propaganda influences the behavior of individuals it is important to keep in mind that is also used to influence you in your everyday life. When propaganda doesn’t work employees and people in general will resort to boycotting and bribery among other things.


The greatest example of free speech would have to be Martin Luther King Jr. The famous “I have a dream” speech is most likely world renowned as is MLK. Freedom of speech is the freedom to speak without censorship and/or limitation. The synonymous term freedom of expression is sometimes used to indicate not only freedom of verbal speech but any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used. The First Amendment to the U.S. constitution establishes freedom of speech in the U.S.A. There are several major limitations on this freedom. Only the government is prohibited from restricting speech. Private corporations are free to censor speech of their employees. Since 1977, the U.S. Supreme Court has retreated from protecting freedom of speech even for government employees. Free speech and propaganda are not far apart, propaganda is mostly used to gain something while being deceitful.