| Casting
Slurs and Throwing Stones
What happened to that new drug that was proved to cure cancer?
Someone found a flaw in the testing process.
But how can that be? It was checked and double-checked.
Probably not convenient to have a new drug.
Convenient for whom? Sufferers would certainly welcome it.
People who research cancer.
People who treat cancer.
People who make aids for cancer sufferers.
People who request funds for cancer sufferers.
People who already supply drugs for cancer.
You get the picture?
Is there any ground that the tests were flawed?
None whatever. What difference does that make?
You mean an honest man can lose his reputation,
lose his livelihood, lose his reason for living—
on the implied slur of a man of no reputation?
Of course. You must be naive not to know that.
It is not something new. Old as the hills.
All it needs is skill in manipulating language.
Today it is more effective because of modern media.
If every newspaper you read,
every radio you hear,
every television station you watch,
tell you that Joe Bloggs is a nasty piece if work—
no evidence, no proof—
and tells you often enough,
wouldn't you believe it?
I suppose the constant repetition would have an effect.
Against my better judgement, I should wonder about Joe.
Suppose a smear campaign was started against your daughter,
using the fact that she was in a certain place at a certain time,
to accuse her of a heinous crime.
What if fake documents were produced?
What if forged signatures were used to convince you?
What if people you respect, swore on oath it was so?
Would you believe it?
Of course not! Who would want to do such a thing?
You would be surprised at how many would—for
the right price.
Do you have enemies, or people who detest you
Because you are a good man, a man of integrity?
Did you step on someone's toes when you were promoted?
What about that trouble you had over your new fence?
I'd forgotten about that funny little man.
He threw rocks over the fence into my yard.
And set his dog on me when I approached his house.
But do me bodily harm? Ruin my reputation?
Ridiculous!
Murder has been committed for less than that.
That rock thrown in your yard could have been a boulder
dropped on your head.
How can language be so manipulated that it can cause such terrifying
results?
Are there ways of speaking, writing, about which I know nothing?
There are! There are!
You know some of them already.
Remember the rule about placing something important
at the beginning or end of a sentence?
Yes, I do. There was another rule about being selective.
I suppose that could be used to omit what does not hide the truth.
You are getting the idea.
Use big, bold type for what you want to misrepresent.
Use small type for telling the truth and hide it in a corner on the
back page.
Use photographs that do the subject little justice.
Exaggerate the negative!
Quote what so-called friends say about their lovers, colleagues, neighbours.
They are sure to say something that can be twisted round to mean something
else.
No, they do not intend to be unkind.
When they read the article they will gasp and say, "I
never said that."
You are saying that fact becomes fiction;
Virtue becomes vice.
Vice becomes virtue?
Blurred, as though looking through a smeared glass?
Exactly!
You can manage truth to meet your own purpose.
Just learn the rules of the game,
A game that leads to destruction.
You must admit that Hitler's propaganda machine worked well.
You have certainly opened my eyes.
I shall read more carefully in the future.
Do that! You will never regret it.
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