War Made Easy (Essay Sample)

War Made Easy
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War Made Easy
The symbolic interactionism theory asserts that individuals derive subjective perspectives of reality depending on their social contexts (O’Brien, 2014). Language, in its common use, plays an important role in shaping the culture, attitudes, and beliefs of society. "War made Easy: How Presidents and Pundits Keep Spinning Us to Death" is a short film based on Norman Solomon’s book that chronologically examines the use of symbolic language to push the war agenda in the United States.
Solomon (2010) reveals archival information that shows that both Democratic and Republican governments in the United States have depended on propaganda to win public support for military invasions. Before the advent of the Cold War in the mid-20th century, the US maintained a small army. Whenever war broke out, the government needed to quickly mobilize human and financial resources. The Committee on Public Information was tasked with generating propaganda that would impact on the public’s perception of the First World War. Citizens of the US were required to provide financial support by purchasing ‘liberty bonds’, emotional and physical support by enlisting to the army, and showing patriotism.
The use of symbolic language continued throughout the Second World War, Vietnam War, Cold War, and the Invasion of Iraq. The phrase "War on Terrorism" gained popularity all over the world after the infamous 9/11 attacks. Oâ€&...