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Let us be optimistic about propaganda

Reader comment on item: Winning the Propaganda War [versus Radical Islam]

Submitted by N. Bhatnagar (United States), Dec 30, 2005 at 03:03

Dear Dr. Pipes: I think that your observation "…unlike the Soviet bloc, the Muslim world lacks not access to reliable information but interest in it" is overly pessimistic. The parallel between communism and political/fundamentalist Islam is true but not entirely. For all their bad policies, the communist governments did one very good thing – they educated their population very-very well. It was easy for this highly educated population to entertain and adapt progressive ideas. Further more, communism prevailed in the communist countries only for about 70 odd years.

The fundamentalist Islam has roots that go hundreds of years in the past. Add to that the illiteracy and ignorance prevalent in these societies and the fight against fundamentalist Islam becomes enormously difficult. But it does not mean that it cannot be won by education and dissemination of progressive values. I think that is the only way to win this war.

In this exceedingly competitive world, societies that do not relentlessly pursue excellence will fail to survive. This is exactly why communism died (though some people credit Ronald Reagan for the demise of communism). In today's day and age no society can afford violence. Similarly, in our times, no society can afford to put a very high percent of their young minds to study unproductive religious dogmas for extended periods of times. Muslim kids and parents will soon realize that the years that they spent in the madarsas are better spent studying literature, philosophy or science.

Many Muslims and Muslim-apologists blame the past injustices done to Muslims as a justification for the current poverty in Muslim societies but the history of the world is full of the histories of displaced populations to whom injustice was done. The Jews around the world, the Sindhi and Punjabi Hindus, the Sikhs, the displaced Vietnamese people in many corners of the United States scream it aloud that past injustices alone are not an excuse for the present poverty. If the Palestinian people had adopted peaceful means, I think, the Middle East is big enough to accommodate both Jews and Palestinians. I wish that our planet had never seen an example of injustice, but I also see no value in fighting multi-generation bloody wars to seek revenge or retribution.

I think that the demise of communism was accelerated by the invention of VCRs and video tapes. I hypothesize that video tapes allowed common citizens of the communist states to see the progress that the West had made and their countries had not. What VCRs did for communist nations, the Internet and the satellite disks will do for the Islamic societies. So I still have faith in educational propaganda and education.

N. Bhatnagar
Submitting....

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Reader comments (87) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
1BBC's infractions [684 words]PrashantJul 13, 2022 15:25283660
Minor error [26 words]PrashantJul 13, 2022 20:19283660
Media propaganda [195 words]Nenette GrunbergAug 16, 2006 09:5253046
re:spreading democracy [38 words]Robert mooneyJan 13, 2006 15:4231578
An Outsider Looking In [3488 words]John RamptonJan 8, 2006 19:5531296
not the same [84 words]joe roseJan 8, 2006 12:5031277
More reflection is needed [710 words]John RamptonJan 6, 2006 18:2731199
1Propaganda in the Indian 'Midday.com' [398 words]SonaliJan 3, 2006 00:4230954
1Reply to Sonali [91 words]KhalidJan 3, 2006 01:0530954
1Reply to Khalid [270 words]SonaliJan 3, 2006 10:5030954
Reply to Sonali, Media [141 words]KhalidJan 8, 2006 02:0130954
1Reply to Khalid [15 words]SonaliJan 9, 2006 12:5030954
Winning the Propaganda War [versus Radical Islam] [473 words]NonBelieverMay 4, 2006 10:0830954
Malaysia's Family Law Bill that grossly violates [254 words]SumitraDec 30, 2005 11:5330785
Cultural influence modifying harsh women oppressive laws [888 words]FauziJamalMar 12, 2006 14:5330785
winning war [67 words]brooklynbobDec 30, 2005 11:0030782
Let us be optimistic about propaganda [443 words]N. BhatnagarDec 30, 2005 03:0330763
To Mr. Bhatnagar [138 words]M. Saleem AkhtarDec 30, 2005 14:4330763
Let Us Be Optimistic About Propaganda: A comment [213 words]Seamus MacNemiDec 31, 2005 00:4130763
The quickest way to lose a war. [81 words]Seamus MacNemiJan 1, 2006 23:5730763
Values plus understanding will win [96 words]Geoff Brown, Deephaven MSApr 6, 2006 10:4230763
A dire situation in the making [449 words]Seamus MacNemiDec 30, 2005 02:4130762
Reply to MacNeni [201 words]sullyDec 30, 2005 18:0930762
Reply to Sully [98 words]Seamus MacNemiDec 31, 2005 18:1230762
reply - trying to please the co-conspirators at the UN is futile [257 words]sullyJan 1, 2006 17:0430762
Reply to Mr. Sully [282 words]Seamus MacNemiJan 1, 2006 23:4530762
Failure to Thrive [185 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
DaisyDec 29, 2005 17:5630747
three equally bad choices [117 words]yuval brandstetterDec 29, 2005 16:1830743
Mullahs control the press in muslim countries [190 words]NaziaDec 29, 2005 15:2330741
The strengths of Islamic "education" [92 words]Ed BrophyDec 29, 2005 13:2530738
Der Fuerher's Face [247 words]Yehoshua ZellerDec 29, 2005 13:2430737
The Strategic Uses Of Satire [135 words]Seamus MacNemiDec 30, 2005 18:3330737
Is It Possible To Challenge The Hold Of The Religious Clergy On The Muslim Mind? [544 words]Rakshas 10 AnanDec 29, 2005 11:5430732
To Rakshas 10 Anan [273 words]M. Saleem AkhtarDec 29, 2005 15:4430732
To M S Akhtar: Madrassas are a law unto themselves [17 words]Rakshas 10 AnanDec 30, 2005 09:4530732
Reply to Saleem Akhtar [83 words]Ram KrishnaDec 30, 2005 23:4630732
5the toungue has no bone [931 words]abdelFeb 26, 2006 15:2630732
Hindus in Sindh [59 words]SindhiFeb 13, 2008 02:0230732
how can we be sure from the References ?? [54 words]Najmat AljadiJun 5, 2011 01:2730732
Winning the war [162 words]SHmuel HaLeviDec 29, 2005 05:2830722
Reply to My. HaLevi [157 words]Seamus MacNemiJan 2, 2006 00:2330722
No way you can beat faith with propaganda [235 words]BorisDec 28, 2005 21:5930715
reply: Boris [224 words]Donald ODec 30, 2005 15:3530715
MUNICH [37 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Robert ArbetmanDec 28, 2005 18:0930711
The Education of Karen Hughes [221 words]Peter JonesDec 28, 2005 13:1430700
What will be won with our "message"? [123 words]Ed BrophyDec 28, 2005 13:1230699
Winning and envy [318 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
JamesDec 28, 2005 10:2730690
response to Dr. Pipes response to my letter, 'winning'. [411 words]JamesDec 28, 2005 17:5430690
"Propaganda" still needed [138 words]Dennis MurphyDec 28, 2005 10:0330689
Completely agree with Dr. Pipes.. [116 words]M Saleem AkhtarDec 28, 2005 09:5330688
Walk Softly But Carry A Big Stick!!! [136 words]RPaineDec 28, 2005 08:4630685
Further Research [82 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Samuel SchwartzDec 28, 2005 07:5930683
What is the practical implication of your solution? [156 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
N HordesDec 28, 2005 07:4130681
Good ONLY to the last drop/line [326 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Donald YoungDec 27, 2005 20:3130664
Losing the Propaganda War [362 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Reuben HorneDec 27, 2005 20:2130663
Winning the propaganda war [181 words]steven lDec 27, 2005 20:1530662
Is The Status Quo In The West's Best Interests? [484 words]Bill NarveyDec 27, 2005 20:0230661
We just don't understand them! [124 words]Nathan RosenblattDec 27, 2005 19:4630660
Hear Hear [65 words]Richard D. CritesDec 28, 2005 15:3630660
Reply to Mr. Rosenblatt [250 words]Seamus MacNemiJan 1, 2006 19:0430660
Influencing Muslim opinion [218 words]Donald W. BalesDec 27, 2005 19:3230658
Re: Propaganda war [92 words]Nena SariDec 27, 2005 19:1630657
Ayesha and Jaladhi are right [301 words]JaneDec 27, 2005 18:4230655
Broadcasting to the Muslim World [169 words]Leonard MarkowitzDec 27, 2005 18:0730654
How to win a war? [114 words]Behrouz AzarniaDec 27, 2005 17:0130653
What Values? [591 words]ddsDec 27, 2005 16:5130651
Islam will go down in ashes, literally [188 words]George SiterDec 27, 2005 15:2930648
Propaganda War - Lies, Lies and More Lies. [88 words]JaladhiDec 27, 2005 14:4430646
"Truth in news dispensing" laws needed? [284 words]Merry WhitneyDec 27, 2005 14:1530644
Muslims don't blame their culture for worldwide Islamic terrorism! [243 words]Nonie DarwishDec 27, 2005 12:5730638
Another form of terrorism [414 words]Kenneth S. BesigDec 27, 2005 12:5230637
Counter-strategy [100 words]VijayDec 27, 2005 12:3330635
Information in the Muslim World [207 words]Paul BowmanDec 27, 2005 12:2030632
3The Qur'an says: "Disbelievers are liars" (16.39) [124 words]AyeshaDec 27, 2005 14:4430632
They use lies , selective info and cover ups [385 words]N. KhanDec 28, 2005 15:1230632
Reply to N. Khan on "They use lies , selective info and cover ups" [95 words]Rachelle AssoulineJan 2, 2006 13:4430632
Response to Racchelle Assouline [196 words]N. KhanJan 5, 2006 13:2630632
Disbelievers are liars and fool non Muslims and Muslims [119 words]Adam KhanJun 6, 2019 17:4530632
2Our dear Adam Khan and "believers" are liars and fool non Muslims aka التقية! [232 words]dhimmi no moreJun 8, 2019 06:0530632
1Guiding the perplexed our dear Adam Khan al-tablighee and the Islamic doctrine of الجهاد في سبيل الله [150 words]dhimmi no moreJun 8, 2019 07:1130632
Our dear Adam Khan صلى الله عليه وسلم knows what the Qur'an says! Dear readers: read and laugh [114 words]dhimmi no moreJun 8, 2019 09:0730632
Guiding the perplexed our dear Adam Khan al-tablighee and the Arabic for today?:ومنكم نستفيد! [354 words]dhimmi no moreJun 9, 2019 07:0030632
Our dear Adam Khan صلى الله عليه وسلم tells us that the Qur'an says ان الكفار كذابين! Mashallah [43 words]dhimmi no moreJun 9, 2019 07:0530632
Our dear Adam Khan disagrees with his Allah استغفرالله! And the Islamic doctrine of القضاء والقدر! [196 words]dhimmi no moreJun 9, 2019 11:0330632
Adequate Solution Needed [170 words]David BaschDec 27, 2005 12:0630631
حملة العداء ضد الصحافة الغربية أقوى منها [341 words]mohamed.mDec 27, 2005 12:0330630
PropAganda [45 words]Barry WolfeDec 27, 2005 11:5930629

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