"Governments that murder and jail their critics don't particularly need to worry about maintaining an attractive image among their own people."

Chapter 10 of Toxic Sludge really opened my eyes wider than anything I have read about propaganda yet. It brought to my attention that countries and governments are using propaganda to control and manipulate not only their own citizens but the international community as well. I was astounded by how detailed the authors' information was regarding the plan for the PR campagin of Colombia: from villian to victim, victim to hero, hero into leader.

It all seems so obvious and yet goes uncovered, hovering just above our level of consciousness. Not only were some remarks made in the campaign downright false and unfounded, the entire approach of the Sawyer/Miller campaign for the Colombian government was coniving and deceptive--even within the world of propagandists. They thought critically to reverse focus and redirect the finger of blame from Colombia's role as provider to the US's role of consumer/demand. They developed advertisements that claimed Escobar's prison was "like many in the US- ringed by barbed wire and electric fences." (146) This is a prime example of a concept I learned from unSpun: half-truths. The public needs to learn how to read statements like that very carefully, with a fine-tooth comb. Sure, his prison may have been guarded (by Escobar-selected officials) and surrounded by electric fences, but this statement gave no indication or mention of his actual living quarters which were much unlike prisons in the US, equipped with a jacuzzi, guest rooms, and a soccer field.

This chapter basically frightened me and challenged my perception of humanity in some ways. How can a PR person feel happy with what he/she is doing when he/she is knowingly and actively polluting information and the minds of the general public? The book identifies that some PR firms feel that they are "ethically obligated, like attorneys, to accept virtually any client who can afford to pay." (151) I see nothing ethical in helping mask corrupt governments involved in drug cartels or genocide (Guatemala). It's just wrong and unfair to use money and other resources that average people don't have to continue to pile this bullshit, misinformation on top of revealing and important truths.