Propaganda’s ruthless manipulation of language, reducing it to mere noise, a symbol capable of triggering emotions and reflexes, epitomizes the gross undermining of intellect. The observation of renowned French philosopher Jacques Ellul, as well as Walter Lippman’s assertion that control over prevailing symbols puts one in control of present circumstances, underline this idea.
On an ordinary Tuesday, the 11th of September, 2001, a non-instructive day for me started with profound shock. “Switch on the television”, were the words she blurted. Puzzled, I queried, “What’s the reason?” Only to be answered with, “Didn’t you hear? An aircraft collided with the World Trade Tower.” Barely registering the horror, I switched on the television.
In front of my eyes played the horrendous scene of an airplane crashing into the tower. My assumption of it being a recording of the initial crash was immediately dashed when I was corrected – “That’s a different airplane.” And together, we bore witness to the gruesome spectacle, now targeting the South Tower.
A close family friend, retired but maintaining a consulting position at the Twin Towers, and based in Pennsylvania, succumbed to his fate within the North Tower that fateful Tuesday. That was how I was forced to confront the terrifying reality.
Two decades and several years later, the incident remains etched vividly as if it occurred just the day before; yet, simultaneously, that dreadful day seems extremely distant. Uncertainty and disbelief clouded my mind in the subsequent days, as the media and government pointed fingers towards Osama bin Laden and nineteen Arabs for the catastrophe.
To me, the narrative portrayed by the media and the official storyline were implausible and riddled with discrepancies. This skepticism propelled me towards a personal quest for the truth.
For me, the label ‘9/11’ no longer encapsulated the events of that horrifying day, a decision with reasons I will soon elaborate. By 2004, I had developed solid conviction that the official narrative propagated by the US government was fictional.
The complex nature of the attacks, coupled with the lack of compelling evidence beyond the government’s baseless claims, indicated a well-crafted scheme and subsequent efforts to conceal the truth. I couldn’t help but be taken aback by the apathetic dismissiveness common among many.
The event which arguably held paramount significance since JFK’s assassination was greeted with nonchalance and disinterest from individuals who failed to make independent inquiries. I acknowledged the psychological defense mechanisms at play; the dread, cognitive dissonance, and more.
Noticeably, an inexplicable form of prejudice seemed to govern people’s stance from the very beginning. This ambivalence was particularly prominent among the youth, whereas the older generation appeared hesitant to challenge the popular narrative.
Even some notable critics of American foreign policy seemed unwilling to question the accepted narrative. As we find ourselves twenty-four years later, this observation rings truer than ever.
Relaying this in a landscape where mainstream media functions as the government’s parrot, echoing the same words in the same tone, presents a considerable challenge. The persuasive force of language can be daunting, especially when it is employed to cast spells, turning it into a tool of psychological manipulation.
The potential of words to hold one under a spell, akin to sorcery, is intensified in the face of shared traumatic experiences such as the attacks on September 11th. Victims of such linguistic witchcraft tend to be rendered speechless and sightless.
Harnessing a new linguistic arsenal to articulate these horrific incidents is an urgent need. The pursuit of truth necessitates the formation of a fresh linguistic framework, capable of fostering critical retrospection of such pivotal global events.
In an era where the media echo chamber reinforces the government’s version of reality, challenging the narrative and pursuing the truth has become an urgent task. It begins with acknowledging that language can be usurped for mass manipulation, and cultivating awareness about the mechanisms behind it.
The post Questioning the 9/11 Narrative: A Personal Quest appeared first on Real News Now.
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