Originally posted by JoshNorton
Take Charles Manson for example. Sure, easy to label the guy a killer, except he never actually killed anyone himself. He convinced others to do it
for him. How? From all accounts he was uneducated, anti-social; a burden on the education and wellfare systems. Yet he was charismatic. An absolute
toad of a man, but he was able to convince others that murder was a good idea. He had no hold over his followers, but was able to sway them with
communication.

Grammar, rhetoric, and logic did not play any part in Manson's ability to sway his flock. I do agree that charisma played a big part and so did heavy
doses of "Orange Sunshine."
Manson may have been uneducated in the traditional sense, but his long periods of incarceration taught him how to manipulate and use people.
Charisma and a jail-house education does not equate to the three points made in your first post.
In reply to your first post Josh, I find it vaguely insulting to the non-masonic membership that you only consider your "Brethren" when you speak of
erudition among members. Take a look around the site, there are many who are excellent with word skills, and are not (surprise, surprise) Freemasons.
[Edit to add]
I do, however, agree with much of what you are driving at in your post. These skills play a huge part in the induction of the masses. Television and
print media greatly enhance the use of these skills and ensure that the message is delivered to the widest possible audience.
The United States Government (second only to the Nazi Regime) is the greatest abuser of these skills. Saying one thing while doing the opposite. The
"War on Drugs" is a prime example. As far as the masses are concerned the US Government is fighting a never-ending war on its own soil against
"Drugs." All the while supporting a President in Afghanistan whose brother is the biggest heroin warlord in that country. A country that went from
supplying 8% of the worlds heroin when the Taliban were in power, to a whopping 80% under the new USA approved Government. And which country is seeing
most of this "gear" hit its shores?
Thanks to the Iran/Contra affair, many came to be aware of these machinations years ago, yet they still choose to believe otherwise. Why? An eloquent
turn of phrase, which is now known as "spin."
Violence on our streets is another point. As our news outlets scream about the atrocities on our streets, another media outlet is planting seeds. I
think the Temple of Set's Michael Aquino summed it up nicely:

"If teenage gangs may experiment with what they believe to be 'occult rituals,' blame should be laid squarely at the feet of the media which
glamorize occult violence to youth.
I specifically refer to the movie industry, with offerings of increasingly gory and violent 'splatter' films such as
Nightmare on Elm Street
(with its child molester hero Freddy),
Halloween,
Friday the 13th, etc.
Note that such films usually include several sequels also targeted at children, and Freddy now has his own weekly television series! And parents
wonder where children are getting all their bizarre, occult ideas? Please turn on your television sets any evening or examine even the 'PG' horror
movie offerings at your local video store -- much less the 'R' category."

What effect do these double standards have on the populace? Do they induce a "Double Mind?" A state of mental flux in which the recipient does not
know who to believe or whether they are "coming or going?" And what are the repercussions for a population in such a state of confusion?
The JFK hit is another excellent case. As far as the Government is concerned, Lee Harvey Oswald is the "Lone Nut." Yet over 80% of the American
population believe otherwise. Many that believe Oswald was not responsible lay blame at the feet of the Government's "Military/Industrial Complex."
Yet we see no revolution, no overthrow of a corrupt system.
Joyce Maynard stated: "No villian is more frightening than the one you supposed to be your friend."
Oh, and this gave me some chuckles, considering the topic:
Originally posted by AugustusMasonicus
Thank you for your kind words Brother and I also second the notion that the
embrasure of the Liberal Arts and Sciences should be practiced by
all mankind especially the Bretheren.

I'm not sure if Masonicus just made up a word, or used a word completely out of context.

Main Entry: em·bra·sure
Pronunciation: \im-ˈbrā-zhər\
Function: noun
Etymology: French, from obsolete embraser to widen an opening
Date: 1702
1 : an opening with sides flaring outward in a wall or parapet of a fortification usually for allowing the firing of cannon
2 : a recess of a door or window
Merriam-Webster
[edit on 23/3/2008 by Beelzebubba]