propaganda

Today in my Comm 222 theory class we watched a video about war and the propoganda that not only our government but the media feeds American citizens.  The film looked at our past presidents and clips showed that many of them used the same type of speeches including their want for peace in this country but their actions being towards war.  I understand propaganda but I was shocked at how powerful our government can be through the media.  Restrictions were placed with where journalists were allowed to go and what they could cover of the war.  The reporters and news programs always boasted about the pentagon and their technology which was all used to kill people.  I think an interesting statistic was that during World War I 10% of casualties were civilians, in WWII that number increased making those who were killed were occupied by 50% being civilians and the most shocking to me is in Iraq that number went to 90%.  Although many news programs present themselves as being liberal or anything else they are being controlled by the government and hold pro-war ideas and ways to persuade their viewers to feed into the thoughts and secrets that the war is being shown as.  I also find it interesting that the highest ranking program on MSNBC was cancelled when the main reporter expressed his anti-war opinions.  I believe that we as Americans need to not always shape our opinions and ideas by what the media presents to us but from our own investigations.The film was very interesting and if you would like the name of it ask me and I will find out the information.