Prior to the previous posts, it triggered me to think, are we brainwashed? How do we know we have been brainwashed? What are we like before brainwashing? What is the standard brain? Is there anyway to reverse the whole process? When there is a severely different opinion between 2 parties and both accusing each other that 'you have been brainwashed!', how do we know who exactly is the party that has been brainwashed? Or brainwashing actually can never happen, it's just a term to scare people? Does the brain even belong to us or can other people claim the ownership of it?
Searching the Wikipedia (which is not even the most objective website anyway), it says:
Brainwashing (also known as thought reform or as re-education) consists of any effort aimed at instilling certain attitudes and beliefs in a person — sometimes unwelcome beliefs in conflict with the person's prior beliefs and knowledge.'Unwelcome beliefs in conflict with the person's prior beliefs and knowledge' - so, does that mean the any contradicting value that has been instilled in a person's mind is consider as a form of brainwashing? How can a person suddenly accept a totally contradicting belief? If a person was thinking that covering the nakedness is a good thing to do, but after brainwashing, the person thinks that there's nothing good about it, hence starts exposing him/herself without shame cause the definition of nakedness is being changed. In another case, if a person was thinking that exposing oneself is appreciating the beauty given by the Creator, and later, after brainwashing, the person thinks that it's not good to expose the nakedness, hence starts to cover him/her nakedness in front of the public. So, can we say that both are brainwashing? Is brainwashing a good thing or a bad thing?
Again, it's the game of terminology. It's something relative. If you are clever to manipulate and play around with terms and redefine them, you can easily change the way how people think. Try find some terms that people use differently from time to time.
ALLAHU'alam.
Wassalam.
4 comments:
Salam Fatin,
I could not agree with you more. Reading the last para, I believe those in the legal professions should be hanged! I'm joking, off course :)
Assalamualaikum,
The linguists should be responsible too for this cause they should stand out and explain all those terms which are abused and manipulated by politicians for their own selfish agendas!
Anyway, have I been brainwashed?
Wassalam.
Wa'alaikumusalam warahmatullah,
Hmm...that's a tough q you're asking (rubbing my chin in deep thought).
Except for returning to Islam, have you ever done or had the urge to do something out of your norm? No? Then no fret, you're ok.
Extra note: Brainwashing methods come in various forms and one of them include lyrics of music - sometimes barely audible - that seeps into the subconscious of the unsuspecting listeners. This, is the most dangerous of methods.
Assalamualaikum,
Hmmm...define NORM then.
I like songs, especially those with good meanings - songs with meanings - like songs by Outlandish (the Islamic ones). Also burdah and other songs that praise ALLAH and the Prophet (saw) - like those from Morocco, Syria & Spain.
Wassalam.
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