Propaganda is the executive arm of the invisible government
The last number of years in our little town have been pretty interesting as I'm sure most would agree, both politically and otherwise.
Someone said to me once that "Politics in Woodstock is contact sport". Now, based upon personal observation and involvement, I believe that to be a gross understatement. I guess I was just naive (not any longer), but I grew up believing in a sense of community, believing that most were in it to do the right thing amongst their fellow citizens for the betterment of a small local community that you could be proud to be a part of. I don't feel that way anymore and it makes me rather sad.
Politically we seem to have a faction that just decided one day that they are smarter than everyone else and will go to any length to impose their will upon the rest of us, which by the way, is not confined to one party, it seems to have spawned a third- politics makes strange bedfellows. One small ray of light regarding this is the recent rebuke of this faction at the polls which makes me believe there is hope, however, vigilance is needed and the energy expended to stand the post is debilitating to our citizens and our town.
Another piece of this that bothers me greatly is my perception of the denial that appears to exist among some people of both political parties and citizens in general. In speaking with various people in town, I have experienced responses of shock and disbelief (in some cases obviously feigned), when presented with irrefutable evidence of the skullduggery employed by this faction under the guise of public service. I know some would prefer to ignore what goes on and at this point I truly envy them...too late for me now. For those of us in the know it is a weight that must be carried at almost any price.
"Truth is mighty and must prevail, and if any body of men believe they have discovered a valuable truth, it is not merely their privilege but their duty to disseminate that truth. If they realize, as they quickly must, that this spreading of the truth can be done on a large scale and effectively only by organized effort, they will make use of the press and the platform as the best means to give it wide circulation. Propaganda becomes vicious and reprehensible only when its authors consciously and deliberately disseminate what they know to be lies, or when they aim at effects which they know to be prejudicial to the common good"
-The Scientific American
Or, in my opinion, to circumvent our democratic principles, no matter the cause.
The message I am attempting to convey here is that it is not so much what they were trying to accomplish, but in fact, how it was gone about. It was not necessary, it was and is entirely wrong, and it failed and continues to fail miserably. Has there been a lesson learned by those behind these actions? Time will tell, but the indicators for me do not point in that direction.
Wonderful. I am pleased that the town of Woodstock, CT has a site that disseminates "truth". I believe that truth leads to informed citizenry. Woodstock is a wonderful town and it is time that we rid it of bullies and libelous scoundrels and flip-floppers...let the truth prevail and may it guide our great town in a forward and meaningful direction. Thank you admin for forming the Woodstocktruth.com. Now, let's be good stewards and civic journalists of the news and the truths around us.
Nora Valentine
How does truth guide a town when it is in itself a matter of opinion? Such superfluous rhetoric translates to little substance. Competition, debate, struggle are the real masters that guide us in a direction, that while often tumultuous and cumbersome, is ultimately fruitful. Unipolarity breeds fascism and blind belief in a subjective truth breeds fundamentalism. You may not have agreed with certain people or opinions, but what they brought to Woodstock was debate. Rather than platitudes, what kind of debates will you challenge us with? Or will you just settle for relegating the truth to clipboard grandstanding and angry fingerpointing??
It seems that we begin with fundamental disagreement. I do not believe that truth is a matter of opinion or subjective, it simply is what it is, the conversations around it are most certainly both opininated and subjective.
Debate was brought to Woodstock and I think the polls proved that the manner in which the debate was begun and conducted by the instigating faction was thoroughly repudiated which in my opinion was the correct outcome, but at what price? It is also my opinion that the initial and continuing costs, both in pitting neighbor against neighbor and hard dollars were and are far to high to justify the means.
Frankly, I also think that you would be completely surprised by my postions regarding agreement with certain people and their opinions, however, you seem to miss the point of the post. Care to try again?
Finally, you mistake disgust for anger. Going forward, you will also learn that I don't settle in any aspect of my life, life is too short to abandon your principles. My further observation is that the folks in question have settled for the mediocre without investigation of those they defend. With regard to what debate will come, you'll just have to wait and see, but I guarantee you this- it will be conducted with integrity.
Truth is a matter of opinion until the facts are vetted. Can we agree on that? And since they have yet to be fully vetted, truth cannot prevail as Nora suggests. This is what I meant and I hope that this is a principle which you do not abandon. So I look forward to the vetting of information and may the truth then prevail. In the meantime, I would enjoy being surprised by hearing who's position you are in agreement with.