Propaganda and Promoganda

Siegen, Germany (photo from trekearth.com)

And now for something completely different…

Propaganda:

‘Selected information, true or false, which is promoted with the aim of persuading people to adopt a particular belief, attitude or course of action. During the 20th Century all the major political ideologies have employed propaganda and made use of modern media to reach a mass audience. It has an important role in modern warfare and by WWII separate bureaus and ministries were established to promote morale and subvert the enemy. The Nazi Ministry of Propaganda, headed by Goebbels was one of the most effective. In the West there has been an increase in professional propagandists such as people in public relations and advertising.’ Concord (1982: 995).

The above is a direct quote with quotation marks, unlike the usual quotes on my blogs, which are paraphrased as I train myself to follow the Wales dissertation standard. I have been interested in propaganda posters for many years and wanted to feature some within an article. One day a few years ago I was scanning through some propaganda posters on-line and I came up with the term promoganda which I did not see anywhere on the web, but today I see that other persons are using it. I wrote the term down in a book and kept it to myself, but others have thought of it as well. With the Concord quote, perhaps much of modern 20th and 21st Century public relations and advertising could be considered promoganda.

In regard to the propaganda posters featured, I went to what appeared to be respectable sites, which would present accurate information, but I am not a scholar concerning propaganda. As well, I in no way whatsoever, politically or militarily support totalitarian regimes. I support Western political democracy and within a fallen world it is the best system to preserve human rights. I also support Western policing and military action when it concerns maintaining law and order. Romans 13 gives the state the right to maintain law and order. Bruce writes that Romans 13:4 explains that the state is the servant of God to execute his wrath on the wrongdoer. Bruce (1987: 224). 

Cranfield notes that from 13:4, the state is God’s servant, as it is an agent of punishment for wrath to those that do evil. Cranfield (1992: 323). Cranfield does tie in the mention of the word sword to the authority of the state to use military power. Cranfield (1992: 323-324). Cranfield points out that Paul in Romans seems to overlook the possibility that a government can use its power for evil rather than good. Cranfield (1992: 322). Cranfield leans to the admittedly difficult view that Paul reasoned that the state would ultimately praise an individual it intended to punish. Cranfield (1992: 323). I prefer another Cranfield suggestion that Paul was aware of the evil a state could commit, but was speaking of a states true and natural duty to do good. Cranfield (1992: 323). I reason the state is to maintain law and order in authority from God, but anything outside of that purpose can be evil. This could include imperialistic warfare, and a disrespect for human rights. Mounce suggests than in 13:4 we have the Biblical basis that the state can use force for the maintenance of law and order. Mounce (1995: 244).
http://www.firstworldwar.com/posters/images/pp_ger_08.jpg


This German World War I poster appears to have Jesus Christ and therefore God blessing the German troops of the Central Powers. Since Romans 13 has God sanctioning each state to maintain law and order it cannot be necessarily assumed that Jesus and God sanctioned each and every German military action, as the Allied Powers too would have the divine right to maintain law and order.
http://www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/gpa/posters2.htm


The quotes provided are in italics.

A disturbing poster from Nazi Germany which supports euthanasia. A nation truly influenced by Christian thinking would tend to care for its ill.

This poster is from the 1930's, and promotes the Nazi monthly Neues Volk (New People}, the organ of the party's racial office. The text reads: "This genetically ill person will cost our people's community 60,000 marks over his lifetime. Citizens, that is your money. Read Neues Volk, the monthly of the racial policy office of the NSDAP."
http://www.oddee.com/item_66536.aspx


I would support the Allied Powers over the Axis Powers, but the Nazis attempted to demonstrate that the Americans were pro-Jewish racists, and of course the Nazis were racists themselves. Such is sinful human nature as persons often condemn others for what they are guilty of themselves.

Liberators
A 1944 Nazi propaganda poster titled "LIBERATORS", which perfectly epitomizes many perennially-recurring themes of anti-Americanism


One totalitarian state battles another, although I can grant the Soviet Union the right to defend itself from an invader.
"Mercilessly, we will humiliate and destroy the enemy!"
Soviet propaganda poster from World War II, depicting a Red Army soldier aiming a bayonet at Hitler's temple. The torn paper document is titled "The Agreement on non-Aggression between Germany and USSR".

http://www.olive-drab.com/gallery/description_0165.php



I would reason the poster was quite effective and I am glad the Allies won the war. It is interesting that the poster was produced by General Motors.

Warning! Our Homes are in Danger Now! Poster

The General Motors Corporation created this poster in 1942, early in World War II. The poster features menacing images of German leader Adolph Hitler and the Japanese Prime Minister, Hideki Tojo, scowling over the American side of the globe. Both are armed and dangerous with Hitler holding a pistol while Tojo wields a bloody knife. Small houses form a line at bottom, underscoring the message of threats to ordinary lives.

At the right, there is a small white circle with a picture of a plane inside it, and the words "Our Job: Keep'em Firing."

The message is clear in the images and colors: America is in mortal danger and you must work long and hard to counter the threat.

BRUCE, F.F. (1985)(1996) Romans, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

CRANFIELD, C.E.B. (1992) Romans: A Shorter Commentary, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

MOUNCE, ROBERT H. (1995) The New American Commentary: Romans, Nashville, Broadman & Holman Publishers.

THE CONCORD DESK ENCYCLOPEDIA (1982) New York, Concord Reference Books, Inc, Time.

http://satireandtheology.blogspot.com/2008/02/council-of-nani.html

A discussion on hell:

http://www.albertmohler.com/radio_show.php?cdate=2008-02-19