The Power of Nightmares (2019) - Adam Curtis \ stacker news ~history

The Power of Nightmares (2019) - Adam Curtis www.youtube.com/watch?v=yK3wz-OyR1U

1059 sats \ 14 comments \ @kepford 14 Feb history

@kr's post today about U.S. lawns reminded me of a great documentary about the power of fear and how it is used to gain political power. You can't go wrong with an Adam Curtis documentary but this series is especially great. The series discusses the origins of Neo-conservatism and Islamic terrorism and what they have in common.

Alt link if you don't want to visit YouTube: https://thoughtmaybe.com/the-power-of-nightmares

view all related items

0 sats \ 2 replies \ @Bell_curve 14 Feb

It’s a false equivalency. Neoconservative are motivated by greed. Muslims are motivated by jihad

0 sats \ 1 reply \ @kepford OP 14 Feb

Its not an equivalency. They are different but there is commonality too. Both are idealistic. That's the biggest commonality.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Bell_curve 15 Feb

Secular beliefs vs religious beliefs.

Muslim leaders are more fervent.

Neoconservatives are also motivated by money. They will compromise idealism for money.

There are no neoconservative suicide bombers.

0 sats \ 9 replies \ @Bell_curve 14 Feb

It’s the progressives in Europe and USA who tolerate Islam and terrorism.

Obama sent 1 billion dollars in cash to Iranian mullahs

0 sats \ 8 replies \ @kepford OP 14 Feb

Over simplification. Highly recommend watching this doc. Obama was Bush 2.0 with different marketing. Obama had the secret kill list remember? The neo-cons funded the groups that eventually began to turn on the west. They funded them to bleed the USSR without risking outright war. Sounds like anything happening now? Every war is a rich man's game. The politicians are just store clerks.

Curtis's doc called Bitter Lake is also good on this covering the war in Afghanistan.

0 sats \ 7 replies \ @kepford OP 14 Feb

My point is that yes Obama talked a different game. Not a fan. But he was not the first to send money to fund bad dudes. Others did before and after. Its happening now. Both / almost all sides do it. Why? War is the power of the state. They get the plebs distracted fighting about party politics and domestic issues while they make their rich overlords even richer.

0 sats \ 6 replies \ @Bell_curve 14 Feb

This is why the deep state hates Trump. He is not a neoconservative. He is an outsider who doesn’t play by establishment rules and norms.

Obama is the only president to send cash to Iran. Not wire transfers but shipping cash like it’s 1800

0 sats \ 5 replies \ @kepford OP 14 Feb

Yep. Thats one reason. He also hires terrible neocons to work for him like John Bolton . So many missed opportunities. He's not a savior. He could be worse but he could be a lot better.

He's anti bitcoin for example.

0 sats \ 3 replies \ @Bell_curve 14 Feb

Of course he can be better. But it’s naive to tolerate insiders or mainstream politicians when outsiders exist. They are the best bet to rattle the status quo

0 sats \ 2 replies \ @kepford OP 14 Feb

More power to ya.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Bell_curve 15 Feb

I detect condescension

reply on another page

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Bell_curve 14 Feb

deleted by author

reply on another page

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Bell_curve 14 Feb

Trump is not a savior but much better than the alternative in USA.

The solution is not a career politician. Those have been bought and paid for

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @kepford OP 14 Feb

When you stop and think about it "The Power of Nightmares" really is what keeps people engaged in politics today. Few politicians actually have new ideas or even a positive vision for the world. At best, they try to sell stopping the nightmares from coming true. Whether it is stopping some evil power in the world or stopping humanity from destroying the planet. These are all reactive movements. Without the nightmares why would the masses listen or even care.

I recommend watching this series and thinking about how the stories we are being told today may also be lies told for our benefit today. Not gonna point out the lies because truly who knows. But most people especially in the West are far to trusting of those in power.

Don't ever take the stories told to us by media and politicians at face value. Be skeptical. Who has something to gain from this? History didn't begin 5 minutes ago. There's always more than one side to every story. If you can't explain at least two sides you are pretty much clueless.