How Do You Consume News and Information in this Age of Mass Propaganda?

I recently wrote about the power of the word propaganda, a subtle but relentless stream of messaging we often absorb without knowing we do. It shapes how we think, what we believe, and ultimately how we act. Sadly, many of us consume propaganda day and night, mistaking it for objective truth. Anybody can be a victim of this. I pray we develop an intelligent way of consuming information. 

Anyway, as I write this, America is teetering on the edge of full involvement in the ongoing Middle East conflict between Iran and Israel. Full because, Israel would not have made that move without consulting with the U.S. And if weapons used to attack Iran are assessed, chances are some of them will have their origin in the U.S.

Yes, the mainstream media narrative has been consistent: Iran cannot be allowed to have a nuclear weapon. But what about America’s role here? What about Israel’s nuclear capabilities, one often unacknowledged, yet known to exist? And why does one nuclear arsenal provoke global outrage while another is quietly approved and accepted?

Let’s consider the context. Israel, a nation founded in 1948 with a population of about 10 million, is locked in confrontation with Iran, a country with over 90 million people and a history that stretches back thousands of years, think of the Persian Empire. If Israel can possess nuclear weapons to protect themselves, why is Iran’s ambition to develop them treated as an existential threat to world peace? As the old saying goes, what’s good for the goose is good for the gander. I could be wrong but we must strive to be consistent in this world. I am supporting or condemning anyone or any nation. I have never lived there, I don't know what life means in those nations. I am just going through what we have been fed here and in my discernment realized a lot of it is nothing but a massive propaganda. Never mind the current Director of National Intelligence, Ms. Tulsi said there is no evidence of nuclear enrichment in Iran. 

And at Mass today, the Gospel reading and homily were focused on hypocrisy, saying one thing and doing another. And what is international politics if not the epitome of such double standards?

Just yesterday, former President Donald Trump declared that Iran must submit to an “unconditional surrender,” boasting that the U.S. has control of the Iranian airspace. He even made it sound as if they could assassinate the Supreme Leader if need be.This is public information. But Iran is not isolated; it has allies. When Israel attacked Iran, allegedly with U.S. support, it wasn't a solo act. Should war erupt, America will inevitably be drawn in already that have their carriers close to them in the region. Iran’s supporters will not remain idle if they are attacked. That’s why many now fear we are witnessing the early stages of World War III.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long sounded the alarm about Iran’s nuclear ambitions. A quick research will tell you he has been talking about Iran and their nuke ambition for over three decades. And despite his repeated corruption allegations, he’s clung to power for years, using the “Iran threat” as political leverage to stay relevant. But this is not just politics he's playing, it’s people’s lives, too. Israelis, Iranians, and countless others across the globe could be dragged into another endless conflict because of political theater. It's alleged that his counsels were part of the reasons the U.S. went to.war in Iraq and Afghanistan. How many lives have been lost? How much did America lose in terms of resources in those wars?

When news of the latest attacks broke, the stock market plummeted. My modest investment portfolio took a hit and yet to recover or never. That matters too, because wars affect everyone, even those thousands of miles away. Yet the same people pushing for these wars rarely suffer their consequences. Instead, they profit handsomely. It’s no secret that America plays the role of a proxy in this conflict. And there are very few dissenting voices here on U.S. soil to help prevent the support. 

Wara are serious investments. Take, for example, Miriam Adelson, the billionaire, widow of casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, also a dual citizen of Israel and America. She openly supported and donated some $100 million to the Trump's last campaign—an investment some say was aimed at pushing U.S. policy further toward confrontation with Iran should Trump end up in the White House. Her wishes came true last January. This is the business of war: donors fund campaigns, politicians start wars, and ordinary people pay the price—with their lives, their savings, and sometimes their homes.

It's disheartening to see Trump, once hailed as a "no-war" president, now turn his back on voices like Tucker Carlson and others who opposed intervention. Many of us were fooled. But not surprised. It's true that ordinary people vote alone don't elect a president, big money backed by a big agenda does. 

Meanwhile, innocent people are trapped in all this. I saw a clip today about Ghanaians living in Israel. Some want to go home, Ghana, but they can’t. The airspace is closed. No commercial flights are allowed in or out. They’re stuck in a land governed by a leader who uses war to stay relevant.

This is what unchecked ambition and lust for power can do to a person.

Iran has already rejected Trump’s call for the so-called unconditional surrender. And why wouldn’t they? Like any proud nation, they feel the need to save face. They will not simply submit. The war hawks are actually counting on this. They want the conflict to escalate. And unless something changes, it will. We must pray.

In the end, it’s not just about politics or military strategy, it’s also about people and innocent lives. Fathers, mothers, children. Families torn apart. Cities reduced to rubble. Lives lost for the greed of a few.

We must not die for their greed.

Only God can touch the hearts of these leaders and turn them toward peace. May He do so before more innocent blood is shed.

I live everyday live everyday with a goal of being Christ-like. It's hard in this world to be like our Lord but with His grace qe hope to do so. But the result of this goal is that I have no hatred in my heart for anyone or leader out there but I don't like the evils perpetrated by some pf these leaders. 

I remain your pal,

Ronnie

Please leave me your thoughts below.