Really nice post there.
The use of music, from Gregorian Chants to John Philip Sousa, has been instrumental in recruiting the masses into various large-scale organizations and campaigns.
Most people judge the truth of a proposition not by what they think, but by what they feel. I remember the first time I went to Catholic church when I was 7 years old: the beautiful stained-glass windows, the solemn statuary, the fantastic hush that followed the ethereal music. I was told that I was in "the house of God." Based on the feelings that were created in me by the exquisitely calculated art and mood of the place, it was clear to me that it had to be true.
Not long after, in the 2nd-grade in public school, I was thoroughly immersed in the patriotic music of Sousa, Berlin, and the like. Our teacher was a sweet little old lady who had lost her husband in WWI and she knew the entire canon of the patriotic music of that time. She taught us a new song every week. We had a blast singing From the Halls of Montezuma (The Marines' Hymn), Over There, It's a Long Way to Tipperary, Caissons Go Rolling Along. etc. Singing stirring martial music like that, you just knew that you were living in "the greatest country on Earth" (and you'd fight anyone who said otherwise).
When you can heavily influence how people feel about something, then you can heavily influence what they believe to be true. For most people, emotions are Truth. |
