[CLUE-Talk] Hermann Goering on war

[Jeffery Cann]

I thought this was interesting, if not timely...
Jeff

In his book, Nuremberg Diary, G.M. Gilbert recorded Hermann Goering's 
observations that the common people can always be manipulated into supporting 
and fighting wars by their political leaders.

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." 

Gilbert, G.M.   Nuremberg Diary.
New York: Farrar, Straus and Company, 1947   (pp. 278-279).

-- 
Life is a tie. In the end, no one wins. 
 -- Oswald Neimo