Monday, February 4, 2008

Learning to Do It Right from History

Naturally, the common people don't want war but, after all, it is the leaders of a country who determine the policy and it is alwaysa simple matter to drag the people along. Whether it is a democracy or a fascist dictatorship or a parliament or a Communist dictatorship, voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for a lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in every country.

Hermann Goering, 1893-1946, fieldmarshal, German Army, founder of theGestapo, President of the Reichstag,Nazi parliament, and convicted warcriminal. Speech, 1934.

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