Choice

I was watching a program on the History channel last night about the Nazi propaganda machine.  I did not know that from 1933 to 39 or so they were endearing the Nazi party to the German people.  In fact they loved the term “people.”  They were making a people’s car and people’s plane.  They had what was then the worlds largest travel company.  It’s aim was to direct the people on holidays to places that reinforced their ideology.  They controlled the media and the arts.
My favourite stamp relates to propaganda.  It is a photo of Hitler holding the face of a child.  It makes the regime look like peace lovers.
One of the reasons I found the program so fascinating is I see propaganda in the media today.  Every time I log on, I see how well Ukraine are doing.  I get the feeling I am being told what is wanting to be conveyed rather than the way it is or might be. I see reporters and guests report something as wrong based on a belief system only.
What I find fascinating is how readily I accept something conveyed if it fits within my belief system.  There is a general distrust of the media until it says something I believe to be right. It is then quoted as an authoritative source.
I remember reading about peer reviews.  The article was saying that sometimes they are unreliable.  The reason given was that reviewers are not paid.  The upshot was that someone may have had 99 evidences that refute their claim, and 1 that supports it.  Often when someone is pushing an agenda the 1 is highlighted as the way it is.  Because peer reviewers do not have a real interest in the matter, it can be recognised and become the accepted quoted wisdom.
It is possible I will never know all the facts relating to a matter.  To me it is a case of what rings true.   Am I accepting something because I want to, despite evidence and feelings to the contrary, or is my conclusion based on a peace I feel - not having given up, but won through?
Either way I feel I am being asked to take sides.  Remaining neutral may help determine the winner and gives the winning side breathing space to deal with me at their convenience.   To me it is as usual a choice.  My neutrality may serve me for a time, but it always serves someone else too.