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"Of course the people don't want war. But after all, it's the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it's always a simple matter to drag the people along whether it's a democracy, 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 lack of patriotism, and exposing the country to greater danger."
-- Herman Goering at the Nuremberg trials |
Throughout history there have been warnings from such diverse sources as, Socrates, Caesar, Gandhi, Napoleon, and various Popes. It has been pointed out that political leaders can all too easily have it’s people marching eagerly off to war.
The formula is simple: First scream about circumstances that threaten national security and make flag waving appeals to patriotism, then attack the pacifists or voices of reason, and denounce them as the enemy.
Today in America, we may be made uncomfortable by the idea that many leaders throughout time understood that their citizens could be manipulated into war if the right buttons were pushed. And one of them was a Nazi.
Hermann Goering, Nazi Reichs Marshall and Luftwaffe-Chief was the highest-ranking Nazi who survived to be captured and put on trial for war crimes in the city of Nuremberg by the Allies after the end of World War II.
He was found guilty on charges of "war crimes," by the Nuremberg tribunal and sentenced to death The sentence was never carried out, because Goering killed himself with smuggled cyanide capsules hours before his execution, scheduled for 15 October 1946.
The following is an excerpt from the book the Nuremberg Diaries by Gustave Gilbert, a German-speaking intelligence officer and psychologist who was granted free access by the Allies to all the prisoners held in the Nuremberg jail:
We got around to the subject of war again and I said that, contrary to his attitude, I did not think that the common people are very thankful for leaders who bring them war and destruction.
"Why, of course, the people don't want war," Goering shrugged. "Why would some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best that he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece. Naturally, the common people don't want war; neither in Russia nor in England nor in America, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy or a fascist dictatorship or a Parliament or a Communist dictatorship."
"There is one difference," I pointed out. "In a democracy the people have some say in the matter through their elected representatives, and in the United States only Congress can declare wars."
"Oh, that is all well and good, but, 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 lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country."
Goering's observations that people can always be manipulated into supporting and fighting wars by their political leader is chilling
Be Afraid…Be Angry… Be Upset.
But not by some self important attacker on the Stream who is concerned about the size of his package and searches here for justification and validation…..there is real evil in the world and it is from without and within….Sometimes monsters look like what they are and sometimes they appear to be friends and trusted leaders….
