Other stuff re JRTC and larger life

[aadler]

One of my jobs at JRTC is to produce slanted news — anti-American propaganda — to throw at my own people in the exercise, to give them experience in how to respond to such things. It turns out that I’m good at such things. It’s liberating to take the truth and give it a twist, depart from the facts at will, make claims without needing to cite a source. In a way, it’s just another form of fiction-writing. I suppose this sense of freedom implies that I do feel the limits of responsibility toward factual truth in my nonfiction posts. (Several of the people who disagree with me might scoff at the notion that I feel a duty to adhere to the truth, but that’s simply prejudice; I disagree with them as much as they disagree with me, but I don’t think they’re lying, I simply think they’re mistaken.)

My modus operandi in these slanted articldes is to write as if pretending to objectivity, and gradually let the bias (and acid) seep through. One of my co-workers has deliberately chosen a different approach, for contrast and variety: he starts with fire, and then throws gasoline on it. One of my articles is titled “Dollars and Injustice”; one of his is “The Serpent Is Sucking Your Blood”. My persona is a literate, controlled spokesman for an opposing viewpoint; his is an incendiary rabble-rouser. It’s fun.

*               *               *

Susan finished up her triumphal weekend of hosting Terry Serpico (Army Wives) as the celebrity MC at an event benefiting my unit’s FRG. She — and sroni — picked him up at the airport Saturday, and delivered him to his lodgings, then met him for breakfast Sunday morning; somewhere between then and the duties for which he had come, they showed him around the small city where the event took place. Being here and not there, of course, I had all this described to me by phone. Susan had a fantastic time; she observed repeatedly that that he was very nice, and VERY handsome.

Two more weeks, and then I’m on my way home. Maybe, by then, she’ll no longer be walking on clouds.

Comments

[texanfan.livejournal.com]

I think I would find that very difficult to do. I remember a history course way back in high school where I was supposed to debate from a point of view I do not hold and I flailed, unable to formulate a coherent argument. Embarassing in memory but proof of where my limits are. :) It must be very useful to have a variety of approaches to use for the exercise.

I'm glad Susan and sroni had such a good time. It's always nice to find that someone you admire artistically is someone you can legitimately admire as a person as well.

[aadler]

In arguing for a viewpoint I don’t respect, it helps that I’m speaking in the persona of people I don’t respect.

As far as Susan’s and Roni’s good time, I’m just glad they had one. Nice to be able to have pleasant feelings about someone whose work I enjoy, but my primary concern always is the happiness of my dear ones.