I Have Become a Propagandist

Thought that might get your attention.

Now that I've got it: No, of course not propaganda in the style of the era of the World Wars and  Cold War, or even that of the ultra-extremist organization by that name in the French Revolution.

Rather, I've started to write for The Propagandist, an iconoclastic, feisty, and quirky online magazine for, as the editors put it, "political junkies, thinking conservatives and the anti-fascist left"/(in another variant:) "brass-knuckles socialists."

It's a broad-based progressive alliance of people dedicated to using lively writing and new media to advance the cause of rationalism, modernism, and secularism:

against a takeover of the public space by political extremists and an unholy alliance of unrepentant Stalinists, 9/11 Truthers and thuggish religious fanatics.

They take their task seriously enough. Themselves? not so much. (Their first, self-deprecating podcast was entitled, "Political Pundits or Douchebags?")

I had followed and been in touch with the Propagandists for quite some time, just never got around to contributing myself until now. (Ironically, a former student happened upon one of my references to the magazine and, in the meantime, became their contributor on China and South Asian affairs.)

Check it out. It may cause you to nod your head in agreement or shake it in puzzlement. It may amuse or provoke. Preferably both. That's the whole point.

As the Propagandist motto goes, "Confusion to our enemies!"