Post by gregory on Nov 11, 2007 21:29:12 GMT -5
Scare Tactics: The Use of Fear as a Means of Control
(451 words)
Using fear as a means to control a society is an effective tactic that has been implemented many times throughout United States history. It was employed during the Puritan era, when the main fear was d**nation, the McCarthy era, when the main fear was Communism, and today, when the main fear is terrorism.
Jonathan Edwards utilized fear as a means of control through the speech he gave in 1741, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” Edwards needed a way to save Puritanism, which was losing popularity, and he did so, by frightening his audience into becoming Puritans. In his speech, Edwards described God as merciless and that he “holds you over the pit of Hell…abhors you and is dreadfully provoked” (Edwards 56). He then went on to state that one hangs “by a slender thread, with the flames of divine wrath flashing about it,” and how God is “ready…to singe it” (56). Edwards told his audience that they were all extremely close to eternal d**nation and that the only way they could avoid it, was to convert back to Puritanism.
Like Edwards, Senator Joseph McCarthy employed fear as a means of control to rid the United States of Communists. He believed that if he did not, the Communists would not only take over the United States, but the world. McCarthy’s approach during the “Red Scare” was two fold: First, he accused people of being Communists. Then he made the accused testify not only against themselves, but against others. If they did not comply, they would be “blacklisted.” Through these tactics, McCarthy intimidated people into giving up information about themselves and others whether it was true or not.
Today, a politician who is using fear as a means of control is Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. He is running for president on an all-fear theme, emphasizing the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Throughout most of his speeches, he has stressed his experience handling the event itself and its aftermath, implying that he is the only candidate who can prevent another attack. At a recent speech, the back drop to his podium contained many photographs pertaining to the 9/11 attacks. These included images of the World Trade Center towers on fire, dust-covered victims, and other disturbing pictures. Basically, Giuliani is scaring the American people into voting for him.
Society’s leaders have exploited peoples’ fears, in order to further their own causes for hundreds of years. Although the strategy is dangerous because it can hurt citizens in both their personal and professional lives, influential persons are still willing to use it because they are scared of what will happen if they don’t.
(451 words)
Using fear as a means to control a society is an effective tactic that has been implemented many times throughout United States history. It was employed during the Puritan era, when the main fear was d**nation, the McCarthy era, when the main fear was Communism, and today, when the main fear is terrorism.
Jonathan Edwards utilized fear as a means of control through the speech he gave in 1741, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” Edwards needed a way to save Puritanism, which was losing popularity, and he did so, by frightening his audience into becoming Puritans. In his speech, Edwards described God as merciless and that he “holds you over the pit of Hell…abhors you and is dreadfully provoked” (Edwards 56). He then went on to state that one hangs “by a slender thread, with the flames of divine wrath flashing about it,” and how God is “ready…to singe it” (56). Edwards told his audience that they were all extremely close to eternal d**nation and that the only way they could avoid it, was to convert back to Puritanism.
Like Edwards, Senator Joseph McCarthy employed fear as a means of control to rid the United States of Communists. He believed that if he did not, the Communists would not only take over the United States, but the world. McCarthy’s approach during the “Red Scare” was two fold: First, he accused people of being Communists. Then he made the accused testify not only against themselves, but against others. If they did not comply, they would be “blacklisted.” Through these tactics, McCarthy intimidated people into giving up information about themselves and others whether it was true or not.
Today, a politician who is using fear as a means of control is Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. He is running for president on an all-fear theme, emphasizing the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Throughout most of his speeches, he has stressed his experience handling the event itself and its aftermath, implying that he is the only candidate who can prevent another attack. At a recent speech, the back drop to his podium contained many photographs pertaining to the 9/11 attacks. These included images of the World Trade Center towers on fire, dust-covered victims, and other disturbing pictures. Basically, Giuliani is scaring the American people into voting for him.
Society’s leaders have exploited peoples’ fears, in order to further their own causes for hundreds of years. Although the strategy is dangerous because it can hurt citizens in both their personal and professional lives, influential persons are still willing to use it because they are scared of what will happen if they don’t.