From fear to freedom
Even the most brainwashed individual can find liberation
North Korea's regime has an easier time brainwashing its subjects than do regimes that preside over less insular societies. The Palestinian Authority, however, has shown that it is possible to poison minds in much more open societies as well. For 25 years, the Palestinians lived under Israeli military control. Palestinian laborers worked in Israel, and Palestinian society was thoroughly exposed to Israel's democratic way of life. But after Israel transferred control over Palestinian-populated cities to [Yasser] Arafat's Palestinian Authority under the Oslo accords, the PA used every tool at its disposal to incite Palestinians to hate Israel and hate Jews. By the time the campaign of Palestinian terrorism began in September 2000, the level of indoctrination among the Palestinians had reached fever pitch. On PA-run television, 5-year-olds donning suicide belts beckoned viewers to join them in the struggle to liberate all of Palestine, and schools were let out so that children could participate in the fighting.
Such systematic brainwashing is bound to have ill effects, particularly on the young. Not everyone will be lucky enough to have a father who will inform them that their "Great Leader and Teacher" is a butcher. And the lasting effect of such indoctrination should also not be exaggerated. The day-to-day life of a fear society cannot be made palatable forever. Eventually, bitter experience belies the propaganda so that not even some of the people can be fooled all of the time.
Eyes open. The 1979 revolution against the shah of Iran had broad support in the population. It would quickly become clear, however, that the revolution had imposed a totalitarian religious order that was no less corrupt and even more repressive. In less than a generation, popular support has turned completely against the regime. Though elections in Iran are strictly controlled, with candidates vetted by the ayatollahs and with the media fully controlled by the state, Iranians have increasingly shown their opposition to the mullahs by electing those candidates who are seen as the most hostile to the ideology of the regime. After 25 years of failure, oppression, and economic stagnation, few Iranians can be brainwashed into supporting the ayatollahs.
The attitude of those living in fear societies toward America is a reflection of their attitudes toward their own regime. If America is seen as supporting that regime, as in Saudi Arabia and Egypt, the people hate America. If America is seen as opposing the regime, as in Iran, the people admire it. A few months ago, a leader of a former Soviet republic told me about his recent visit to Iran: "It reminded me of the Soviet Union. All the officials criticize and condemn America, and all the people love America."
Even those who genuinely do hate America do not necessarily hate free societies. Rather, part of their hatred is due to the perception that by supporting the nondemocratic regimes that are oppressing them, America is betraying the democratic values it claims to uphold.
Even the "truest" of true believers will not indefinitely support a fear society. For decades, [Joseph] Stalin terrorized not only the Soviet people but also the entire Communist Party leadership. After Stalin died in 1953, none of the Communist leaders were willing to grant the same level of absolute authority to his successor. The next leader's power was restricted not because the Communist leadership wanted to bring an end to totalitarian rule but rather because they themselves no longer wanted to live in fear.
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