How to lead the people to war...

This post isn't a blog entry. I'm putting it here because I realize that many of my classmates have probably put their postings off to the end of the semester. Please feel free to comment, but again - you aren't commenting to a blog I submitted to Dr. Anderson. My blogs are further down on this page.

This is a brief exchange between Gustave Gilbert, a German intelligence officer, and Hermann Goering, who was found guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Nuremberg trials following WWII.

Let's be smart from here on out, people. Don't be sheep - don't blindly believe what you're told by politicians.

- Stacy

Here's the exchange (emphasis mine):

April 18, 1946:

"Why, of course, the people don't want war," Goering shrugged. "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."