Highlights Magazine and Kid-Masking Propaganda

Does the name Joseph Goebbels ring a bell to you?

If not, here’s a brief history refresher: Goebbels was Reichminister of “Public Enlightenment and Propaganda” for Germany from 1933 through 1945. His job was to get ordinary Germans people on board with the horrors of the Nazi party, and he was successful.

As you might imagine, he has some pretty fascinating quotes about the most effective methods to brainwash the public.

Here’s one I find particularly compelling in today’s world:

“The most brilliant propagandist technique will yield no success unless one fundamental principle is borne in mind constantly — it must confine itself to a few points and repeat them over and over.”

What few points have you heard repeated over and over in the last few months? I’ll list a few that come to mind for me…

“We just need fifteen days to slow the spread.”

“Public health is more important than your personal freedom.” 

And, finally, the one that brings me to the subject line of this email.

“Trust the science.” 

These three words have been beaten into our minds for nearly two years now. And, for many people, it’s worked. Yard signs, bumper stickers, and T-shirts would tell you that “science” is supreme, but here’s the strange thing: nobody in power wants to trust it!

At least not when it comes to children: the population segment that science proves is at essentially zero risk of contracting Covid… They’re being forced to wear masks and even get vaccinated as if they were in grave danger!

And thanks to the ever-churning propaganda machine, seemingly innocent reading materials bring this pseudoscience straight to our children.

Take, for example, this “Spot What’s Wrong” illustration from Highlights Magazine, a trusted kid’s publication that’s been around for decades.

Over the last two years, Highlights has intentionally started illustrating child characters with masks on. They even wrote a lengthy blog post defending the decision, which I encourage you to read in its entirety. It will tell you a lot about the forces vying for our children’s minds.

In it, the magazine reveals its intent to bring a “positive bias” to children whose parents oppose masks in one telling passage.

“If anything, children may bring a positive bias to masks, since dress up and costumes have long been a part of children’s play “… “However, if a parent begrudgingly wears one or expresses disgust or anger with the mask or talks about it as a nuisance, then a child is likely to view it in the same way. If parents or caregivers discuss the importance of the mask based on good science to keep us all safe, children will perceive it similarly.”

Disappointing, isn’t it? I read Highlights as a kid and would guess many of you did as well. It’s a bummer to see them embrace Covid theater and attempt to get our kids on board, too.

Fortunately, parents have an alternative: our team spent the last year launching our own magazine for kids, the Tuttle Times. 

In our magazine, you won’t find illustrations of masked children, or lectures on the importance of vaccines, or repetitions of the propaganda catch-phrases we’re all so tired of hearing.

What you will find are robust explainers on news trends and cultural patterns, all based on the same principles of limited government and individual liberty that you know from our books.

If that sounds like a good fit for your family, you can subscribe by clicking here. (If you sign up by December 23rd, you’ll receive your first issue in January.)

We don’t want to teach your kids what to think. We want to teach them how to think. Join us as we reject Goebbels-style propaganda and embrace the power of reason and truth.

Until next time…

—Connor