Friday, June 22, 2007

Persuasion by Propaganda

Have you seen the CNN Article entitled: Gay life: Change and Challenge?

Should one consider this news, a feature story, or propaganda?

(Note: the "family" picture along with children, the intention of the article for readers to "understand" how much gay life has changed and how challenging it remains, ...

...the statement "a typical family with soccer, brand new puppies, church, choir and not enough time in the day.", quotation of a gallup poll referencing the those who see homosexuality as morally acceptable first, etc., the list could )

Suppose for a moment this article read: "Prostitution: Progress and Problems"
...rather than "Gay life: Change and Challenges"

Suppose it read: "To understand how much prostitution life in the United States has changed -- and how challenging it remains -- consider the story of Suzie Smith, who describes herself as "a typical American teenager with soccer, brand new puppies, church, choir and not enough time in the day or night."
...rather than "To understand how much gay life in the United States has changed -- and how challenging it remains -- consider the story of the Dillards, Sharon and Tanya, who describe themselves as "a typical family with soccer, brand new puppies, church, choir and not enough time in the day."

Suppose it read: "It was only in 1992 -- the year Suzie was born -- that while many states had increased the penalties for prostitution in cases where the prostitute is knowingly HIV positive, prostituion remained legel in some counties of Nevada."
...rather than "It was only in 1974 -- the year after Tanya was born -- that the American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from its manual of mental disorders."

Suppose it read: "In 2005, the year that Suzie became a teenager, maximum sentences 10-15 years in prison were typical"
...rather than "In 2003, the year Sharon and Tanya became a couple, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the laws in states that singled out same-sex relations for criminal prosecution."

Suppose it read: "Is prostitution still viewed as a sin?"
...rather than "Is homosexuality still viewed as a sin?"

Suppose it went on to quote polls in Nevada, to speak of prostitutes whose behavior may have found acceptance in some religions, etc., to quote Suzie about the problems she encounters, the problems she has being accepted in church and/or society, to tell of her move to Nevada along with others who have made the same decision and the reasons for doing so, to tell of her desire to validate her practice and have everyone accept it, etc., ..... and suppose it closed by stating "It's a touchy subject, but America will have to come around to accepting a change in the policy," said Smith, now living in Nevada. "Each new generation has accepted more diversity. Eventually, with the new generation, it's going to change."

Would this make prostitution right, or cause YOU to embrace it as morally acceptable?

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