Bernays and Lippman articles

Like some of my peers, I'm glad that we didn't have to read Ramage!!! These articles were a bit easier and more...I'm afraid to say enjoyable to read.

Bernays: I understood a lot of the idea's that Bernays talks about. I can agree with him on the whole idea of minorities and majorities when he talks about public opinion. I think that it is ideal that "anyone may try to convince others and to assume leadership". In our society it seems like the "Has" and the "Has nots" are two very different groups of people. The "Has" usually run things and determine what the "has nots" should get. And Bernay's says this in a way when he talks about new ideas. I also liked the discussions on public persuasion. When Bernays talks abut the reasons for manipulation of public opinion it sparked my interest. He basically says that the motives of people to manipulate other's opinions is just basic human instincts, which is something I can understand. I also liked when Bernays discussed tyrannies. It clicked for me when he said " when a public learns more and more on how to express themselves they will learn more and more on how to overthrow a tyranny". I was just thinking in terms of the Civil Rights Movement (R.I.P Coretta Scott King), and how the African American community found non-violent ways to express themselves through marches, sit-ins, silent protest and they eventually overthrew the tyranny rules of this country. So it all makes sense to me, or at least this is how I read it.

Lippman: It was a huge change when reading Bernay's then Lippman. Lippman talks about citizens, and the fact that many of them are uninformed and like it that way. I understand this and see examples of it everyday. As an African American I know how important it is to be an active citizen in our democratic society. It wasn't shocking to read Lippman say that he has never met the "perfect informed citizen". Personally I don't think there is one. It would be ideal for all citizens to be informed on current events and world news, but that just isn't the way life goes. Personally I like to be as informed as possible because it's good to know what's going on in the world surrounding us. I think that times have change in the way that there is more information available but are there more people really utilizing it? Yes, but there will always be those who don't see it as benefits to be informed. Some even find information as just another worry they don't want. And I can understand that. The news can be very depressing. The past presidential elections were depressing for me, because I didn't think either candidate were "good enough" for the position. Did I still go out and exercise my right to vote? OF COURSE!


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