The politics of spectacle

http://www.nicaraguadispatch.com/news/2013/03/bread-and-circus-in-nicaragua/7144

The politics of spectacle

By: Cristiana Guevara Mena

«Panem et circenses» (literally "bread and circus") is a Latin phrase always used pejoratively to describe the practice of a government keeping its population calm or hiding objectionable or controversial facts, by providing food and low-quality entertainment for the masses. Originally, it described the custom of the Roman emperors giving away wheat and circus games (which consisted of chariot races, gladiator battles, and watching Christians torn by wild beasts and other animals) as a way to keep the people distracted from politics. Julius Cesar would distribute wheat for free, or sell it very cheaply, to about 200,000 poor plebeians.

In Nicaragua, ever since the current government officially continued in power, there have been an increasing number of diversions brought from abroad. Clearly, it’s aimed at the working class capable of paying the price of the ticket for the show. It’s not about cursing such entertainments, but about stopping and thinking about how politically convenient it is that this entertainment coincides with the interests of the ruling class. If we know the historical and political context in which we live, we know very well that nothing that happens is mere coincidence.

Also, on a smaller scale, we have seen throughout the past six years, the number of amusement parks and piñata parties for children, bus rides full of people to the square to hear speeches on days like July 19 and any other day considered worthy to "celebrate" in exchange for food and liquor. Likewise, to do honor to the concept of bread and circuses of the Roman era, we cannot fail to mention the virtual soccer stadiums that present the Spanish league on large screen sets as the trend of entertainment.

Let’s remember also the "praying people" of the roundabouts with large speakers blaring, full of people who work for wages for the Party, and students from public schools forced to attend. These same students are also used for political campaigning during elections of any kind. This shows that the purpose of government is not to educate young people, but to condition them and entertain them to the fullest, in order to hide the government‘s nonexistent popularity and to show their will to dominate behind scenes of the fireworks and the mercenary actors on stage.

The Catholic Church has also spoken on the same subject. According to the Auxiliary Bishop Silvio Báez, religious manipulation by the government is constant. The use of symbols, religious holidays, the words and the type of religious speech from the political powers are abusive and interfering. It is observable how they use and rely on the Catholic faith and traditions to present a ridiculous spectacle (circus) and give away the basic foods (bread) to the needy. They know very well that the receivers don’t know that it’s the same government that has raised the prices to an almost unreachable level and then "sympathize" publicly with the neediest.

Without objective thinking and a lack of clear vision of things, we are destined to witness the slow and inevitable destruction of the country. We allow the kidnapping of reason because of interest, or because of fear of true freedom of expression and thought. We fall into a voluntary servility and develop a need for a permanent show. The commercial and political advertising constantly bombards us and falsifies our sad reality. When citizens allow the insult of our intelligence and participate in vulgar spectacles of liars who manipulate media according to their interests, we are accepting being treated as stupid when in fact we are not. When we are carried by small interests and abandon ethics and critical thinking, we lose all dignity, contributing to the moral decay of our country.

We must see clearly that, sadly, the current trend of politics is to be insultingly theatrical in order to mobilize the masses and convince them with a brutalizing a message. Apparently "nice" slogans are used to trick the person into trusting a group thirsty for power and money, with a leader who is once again leading us to the precipice.