Political Goebbelism: Repeat A Lie, Rely On Rhetoric And Believe The Masses To Be Perennially Credulous
By
Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
1 May 2024
The More
Often A Stupidity Is Repeated, The More It Gets The Appearance Of Wisdom.
Voltaire
Ahamaqon
Ki Baatein Bhi Sach Maaloom Hoti Hain
Kai
Ahmaq Milkar Jab Unhein Dohrane Lagte Hain
Ayaaz
Jhansvi
(Statements
of fools appear to be authentic when other fools repeat them frequently)
Voltaire's
quote and Urdu poet Ayaaz Jhansvi's couplet illuminate an essential truth about
human behaviour and the power of perception. In these astute observations,
Voltaire and Ayaaz highlight the tendency of individuals or society to accept
falsehoods as truths simply due to their constant repetition.
This idea
suggests that, over time, misinformation or illogical beliefs can gain
credibility and mask their true nature, giving them an illusory aura of wisdom.
By emphasizing the danger of blindly accepting popular opinions without
critical thinking, Voltaire and Ayaaz challenge us to question the validity and
origin of commonly repeated ideas, encouraging us to seek genuine knowledge
rather than succumb to the allure of apparent wisdom.
This
appears to be strikingly true in these times. Uneducated Baba Ramdev and his
Nepali partner kept advertising Patanjali's dubious products and people
believed. They hoodwinked the gullible masses of India for a decade just by
repeating their false claims.
Set and
fixed political narratives of the current dispensation are being repeated to
the point of convincing people that what's being claimed is true and authentic.
Every day
on your mobile, you receive a truckload of spurious messages, claims and
information regarding a certain party's stupendous 'achievements' and you think
them to be true.
Noam
Chomsky says that ' Repetition is a potent tool which works very well when
mediocrity is widespread.'
A leader
has been repeating the same lies for years and people are believing, nay, going
gaga over him. His repeated lies have become oracular truths because he has a
team of liars to repeat his hackneyed statements until they become Gospel
truths. Muslims are being repeatedly projected as traitors and infiltrators.
So, when
the PM of the biggest democracy repeats the same with nonchalance, he becomes
country's 'saviour.'
Political
Goebbelism (coined after the Nazi politician and philologist Paul Joseph
Goebbels) is disturbingly obvious: Play your cards well. Repeat a lie, rely on
rhetoric and believe the masses to be perennially credulous. Your hegemony and
invincibility will be hardly challenged.
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A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in
comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed
articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including
Persian.
New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism