37 False Facts People Believe Today Because Propaganda Shaped Their Thinking

I think one of the scariest ones is the fear of vaccines, and the idea that vaccines cause Autism.

That god has always been a part of the US government. It was only introduced in the 50s to combat the threat of communism. It always makes me twitch when someone on my Facebook posts something about keeping god in the pledge (which was also started in the 50s) and that people trying to take god out is the reason why bad things are happening.

Some Americans seem to think that socialized health care is bad, as a Brit i find this very silly.

Edit: I love the replies saying "yeah but we don't have to wait 6 months to see a doctor" - Thats propaganda for you.

Also, i wasn't attacking America. There's no need to start getting defensive and picking things out that might be wrong with the UK. No country is perfect, we all have our problems and our bad politicians.

Pretty much everything about the Pilgrims of early America. The real reason they left is because they were kicked out of England first for being overly religious and really pushy to everyone. Then they went to Holland where they got kicked out again for being jerks. Finally they never intended to land on Plymouth Rock, they ran out of beer and stopped there.

Jesus was white and had long hair.

Most modern Japanese people know absolutely nothing about the atrocities committed by Japanese soldiers in the pacific during WWII.

I was travelling in Thailand and stopped by to see Hellfire Pass and the famous bridge over the river Kwai. A japanese guy was on the tour with us (mostly because there wasn't a lot else to do in Kanchanaburi) and was absolutely SHOCKED at the stories of POW treatment. Back in Japan, people still commemorate the officers who were able to accomplish building a railroad so quickly for the Japanese war effort. The darker side of this event is simply not mentioned in any history text or school.

That adopting any kind of socialism will directly lead the US into becoming Soviet Russia.

Diamonds are rare and valuable.

That Christopher Columbus discovered America.

That Christmas marks the birth of Jesus. The real reason for the season has more to do with the winter solstice and less to do with an immaculately conceived birthday boy.

I think most Americans don't understand the real definition of socialism, and are changing the definition to fit their propaganda.

Ask most Americans to explain the difference between socialism and communism and you'll get a bunch of blank looks.

Plenty of things our government does are socialistic: from building infrastructure to bailing out banks and auto companies to funding research programs at universities. All of these are examples of our economic resources being allocated based on central planning instead of by free market forces, thus socialism.

It does not mean we aren't a democracy, it doesn't mean people can't own private property, it doesn't mean the government controls everything in our lives.

We've been taught so strongly that socialism is evil when we encounter actual socialism we think: "well, this isn't so evil, so it must not be socialism".

That the Mayans said the world was going to end.
They never claimed that at all.

I'm Korean and until recently my parents had me believing that leaving the fan on within a closed room overnight would end me via suffocation or something. This was just propaganda developed by the South Korean government to stop people from wasting electricity(if I remember correctly.)
Moral of the story: don't believe your parents blindly.

The US single handedly saved the rest of the world during WW2.

That America is a democracy. It's not - there's only two parties with near identical political views. What's more, the engine that powers those politicians are the corporations which invest in both sides. Why do you think Obama couldn't deliver on so many things? Being POTUS is mainly being PR head of 'Muuurica.

In the meanwhile, the propaganda machine is running 24/7 to make poor Americans stupid enough to vote on people giving the rich ridiculous tax cuts, fondled by phrases as "wealth trickling down" and "health care is socialism, get out you evil commie!". It's coming to an end soon though, the system near imploded in 2008 and the cliff now is closer than ever.

That video games turn people into psychopaths.

That gay marriage causes a destruction of marriage in general.

That eating carrots can help you see in the dark better.

In WW2 the British were using radar to find enemy airplanes, but to keep radar a secret they told the whole of Britain they were feeding their men carrots. Germany then started feeding their army carrots as well. No, they do not help you see in the dark. The Carotene in them is good for your eyesight though.

That Napoleon was a midgete.

Napoleon was of average height for the time.

That this generation is the stupidest generation that has ever existed.