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Contents on this page were published in the March/April, 1997 edition of the Washington Free Press.
WFP, 1463 E. Republican #178, Seattle, WA -USA, 98112. -- WAfreepress@gmail.com
Copyright © 1997 WFP Collective, Inc.
Selling Advertising to the World
The International Advertising Association has been bombarding over 200 countries with $300 million worth of ads touting the virtues of commercials. Many depict the consumer choices we would lose without advertisements. Typical is the following ad soon to be introduced to U.S. audiences. In it we see a woman at a grocery check out counter unloading familiar brand names. From above, a Voice tells us: "A friend is someone you know about, someone you can trust. A brand's a bit like that. You meet this friend through advertising...Without advertising, how would you recognize your friends?" How would you indeed? All I can say is..."I love you Big Brother!" (Village Voice 12/24)
Virginia Slims Does "The Woman Thing"
Phillip Morris' feminine cancer stick division is going into music. Virginia Slims will be producing a series of CD's showcasing up and coming female vocalists in what critics describe as an end run around upcoming advertising restrictions. Au contraire, says event marketer Mary Jo Gennaro, "It's all part of Virginia Slim's tradition of providing opportunities for women to showcase their talents and interests." Such venerable traditions can not be ignored. First on line to be promoted is Martha Brynes, the star of "As the World Turns." She is being sent on a nationwide tour with her new CD, "The Woman Thing", available free with the purchase of two packages of Virginia Slims. Ms. Brynes, a non-smoker, says "I don't feel I'm being used.... The goal of the label is to bring women into a positive light, period." Thank heavens there are no base materialistic motives at work here. (Wall Street Journal 1/15)
The CIA's Adventures in Pedagogy
The Baltimore Sun unearthed a fine 1983 teaching manual used by the CIA for the edification of our Latin American neighbors. The title alone, "Human Resources Exploitation Manual," would earn it a Newspeak honorable mention. The manual was used by the security forces of 5 Latin American countries in a three week course that was followed by two weeks of "practical exercises" (and I don't want to know what those were). It's actually quite enlightened, calling for the avoidance of physical torture and the cultivation of mental forms of torture (much like Orwell's 1984). However, the manual adds a unique qualification. "While we do not stress the use of coercive techniques, we do want to make you aware of them and the proper way to use them." Maybe they could have changed their title to "Human Resources Exploitation Awareness Manual." More of a New Age feel to it , don't you think? (Baltimore Sun 1/27)
Selling Arms to our Friends Dept.
Both departing Secretaries William Perry and Warren Christopher have urged the President to end the ban on the sale of arms to South America, designed to deter an arms race in this area. They feel it's time to change the policy and open up this lucrative market "because all Latin American nations except Cuba are now democracies." Having attained their maturity, these nations can now be entrusted with the indebtedness increased military spending will bring. Do we all follow? Unfortunately, someone threw a monkey wrench into this logic. When Belarus went ahead and sold two types of advanced aircraft to Peru, Washington warned, according to the NY Times, "they threatened regional stability." This left the Administration in the following bind: arms sold from foreign sources to South America are destabilizing, while arms sold by us are...? Stay tuned to see how they solve this conundrum. (Washington Post 1/16, NY Times 1/20)
The Mother Theresa Impulse
Wealthy people have been establishing charitable foundations in record numbers. What has sparked this outpouring of generosity? A small tax provision appended to last year's minimum wage bill grants the same generous tax breaks for private charities as for giving to the United Way. But a personalized foundation has that "unique appeal of legacy" according to Arthur Murray of the Bank of America. Starting up one's own charitable organization also, according to CEO Joseph Jacobs, allows one to help "those less fortunate in a productive bottom-line-oriented fashion. Most charities are run inefficiently by 'feel good' social workers." And with all their talk about social responsibility. Uggh. But act quickly for the tax "widow of opportunity" lasts only until May 31st unless Congress renews what supporters describe as "the surest way to spark this charitable impulse." (Wall Street Journal 1/27)
The New Civil Rights Movement
The Democratic National Committee decided to "Just Say No" to injections of foreign campaign donations. This has raised an outcry of discrimination from foreign owned businesses in the U.S. Apparently the DNC spaced out on just how many companies are foreign owned. A host of major corporations like Universal Studios, Seagram's Whiskey and Brown & Williamson will now be barred from contributing to the Democrats because their owners lack green cards. Unfair? Yes, says Sidney Sheinberg, one of the Dems biggest contributors. "People should have the right in a democracy to give money," Then in a classic statement, our budding protester adds, "I'm not sure I understand the logic of it; influence is influence, whether it's foreign or domestic." So true. A buck is a buck and a bought-off Senator is a bought-off Senator. What's the problem? (Wall Street Journal 1/24)
Wayne Grytting's weekly American Newspeak column was rated "The Best" on the Web in political satire by Yahoo's Internet Life. It can be found at http://www.scn.org/news/newspeak/.
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