I was having a chat with a couple of friends today on the political situation in the US, when I was reminded of this wonderful movie starring Dustin Hoffman and Robert De Niro.
Wag the Dog is a tragicomic political satire, with a very imaginitive storyline. Dustin Hoffman stars as a Hollywood producer who is given the task of "producing" a war in far off Albania in order to divert attention from an underage sex scandal involving the President. Driven by the immense challenge of creating a war out of thin air, Hoffman creates a frenzy amongst the media hungry public. The best part of the story is when he "creates" the story of a US marine caught behind enemy lines, Sergeant Schumacher (Woody Harrelson). Using the picture of a little known murderer, he takes the public for a royal ride. An old classic "The Old Shoe" is "created" and played on the radio, dedicating it to Sergeant Schumacher, making it a massive hit! Then he creates the story of how some people are expressing their solidarity to the war hero by throwing their old shoes onto tree tops. Soon all of America is throwing their old shoes onto tree tops!
At the end, the "war" is an immense hit, enabling the reelection of the President. Having produced the best work of fiction of his life, Hoffman is left yearning for the fame and recognition that he thinks he deserves, but can never get.
This film eerily resembled Monica Lewinsky episode, but it was made before the controversy and the subsequent restart of military action in Iraq.
This just set me thinking on the power of the media. Just by leaving out some things, and making some small additions, the media can totally change the way the Truth is remembered
by the general public. This kind of spin doctoring has been going on for a long time though...
The truth being changed, or worse, stories being created out of thin air to suit certain vested interests, has been going on since time immemorial. Just study most of world's religions and their texts as a case in point :-)