The dangers of propaganda as exhibited in World War II, where leaders were successful in persuading millions to share maniacal and destructive views with negative semantic connotations, have come full circle and it survives today.

It is my conviction that everyone needs to have a habitually critical attitude toward language — our own as well as others — both for the sake of our personal well-being and for our adequate functioning as citizens.

World War II demagogues are dead, but if the majority of our fellow citizens were to become more susceptible to the slogans of fear and race hatred than to those of peaceful accommodation and mutual respect among ourselves as human beings one and all, our political liberties remain at the mercy of any eloquent or non-eloquent unscrupulous demagogue.

Unfortunately, lately, propaganda seems to be rearing its ugly head in our direction through our body politic.

Therefore, we should be extremely cautious and pay attention to negative language, or else it will eventually destroy our way of life and cause irreparable emotional and physical harm to our fellow citizens.

Jerry Taylor

Elma