Hermann Goering said
During the Nuremberg trials Easter recess in April of 1946, Hermann Goering gave a recorded interview to Gustave Gilbert, a German-speaking intelligence officer and psychologist. The following is from Gilbert's record of the interview.
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."
On 7/02/2007 11:42 AM,
Howard said…
Wow. He called that. In fact, I wonder if the current administration learned every thing from Nazi Germany. *sigh*
On 7/02/2007 2:14 PM,
Diana_CT said…
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Each generation has to learn their own lessons, some time the cost is great.
I would like to use this on my blog, I think it is worth sharing.
On 7/03/2007 3:37 AM,
Jenn in Holland said…
This conversation is chill worthy. I hate that it is so true, and so evident now as our truth.
This has been on my mind so much as we just had a brother return from Iraq and though the notion that he came back in one piece is true in our case (and thank gods for that) He is far from being in one piece. He is scattered and splintered and damaged on the inside. No one wants to acknowledge that though. We just want to say thanks to these troops who return and give them a big rah-rah pat on the back for the service given. We aren't looking to understand what they've been through though, nor what it might be like to have been "fighting" a war they don't, CAN'T, believe in. We are not really interested in what is happening there, or what happens here when our troops have to reintigrate to life at home.
It's hell for this soldier, and he came home "intact". What must it be like for those who are also battling the loss of limbs, or other debilitating injuries?
Sorry for the long diatribe here. Apparently, I have something to say about this.
Great post Jami.
On 7/03/2007 10:53 AM,
Jami said…
Jenn, no apology needed. We've had soldiers return "broken inside" from every war but it seems to have escalated in the past 40 years. My best friend in high school didn't make it back from Vietnam intact. Physically he was fine but in his head and his heart he was gravely wounded. He disappeared shortly after he came back home and no one, including his family, has seen him since. I look at every homeless panhandler I see, hoping to spot him. There are more and more casualties like him nowadays.
On 7/03/2007 11:13 AM,
SoulPony said…
you'd be whipped in the streets if you posted the bush with the hitler mustache on here though it fits so well.
On 7/04/2007 7:16 AM,
Jenn in Holland said…
I am heartbroken to think of your high school friend. And to think of the many we are now sending into such a state, currently, is just gut wrenching. All over a story we were told and coerced to believe. It's sick. And wrong. I want it to stop.
On 7/04/2007 8:49 AM,
Brillig said…
Jenn in Holland sent me here today. This is so horrifying. "Denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger." Wow. That's shockingly familiar, isn't it?
On 7/04/2007 1:03 PM,
robkroese said…
It's easier to convince people that they are being attacked, of course, when they actually have been attacked.
On 7/04/2007 3:16 PM,
cathouse teri said…
I have nothing to add. There's a lot here.
Except maybe... can you turn that fucking word verification thingy off? :)
On 7/04/2007 4:11 PM,
soccer mom in denial said…
Jenn in Holland sent me to you as well. What a sad, but true, sentiment. By questioning we're labeled traitors.
I posted something similar today - an interview with W. regarding Karla Fay Tucker.
On 7/05/2007 10:30 AM,
Jami said…
Diesel - yes, we were attacked but the decline in perceived security is the result of the powers-that-be and the decline in actual security is the result of our pursuit of those attackers IN THE WRONG PLACE.
Teri - I'd love to turn off the fucking verification but when I do, I get so many fucking spam comments that they overwhelm the real ones. I'm sorry, but while I'm here on Blogger it has to stay.
On 7/05/2007 11:38 AM,
cathouse teri said…
Yeah, I know, babe. Damn spammers.
On 7/21/2007 4:51 PM,
Angie said…
Goerring had his coherent moments, to be sure, but I prefer this quote from one of his contemporaries -
One ought never to turn one's back on a threatened danger and try to run away from it. If you do that, you will double the danger. But if you meet it promptly and without flinching, you will reduce the danger by half.
Sir Winston Churchill
I'm not sure that there is a wrong place, place to hit back at these thugs, but we're sure not doing it the right way in Iraq, thanks to political gamesmanship from both sides of the aisle.
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