Naturally the common people don't want war; neither in Russia, nor in England, nor in America, nor in Germany. That is understood. But after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine 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. 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 to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.”
Hermann Goering
2007-01-31 07:58:15 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
Uh....Russia is not a continent.
2007-02-01 05:57:45 · update #1
Oh, and excuse the hell out of me for posting a question that has been asked before. I didn't know that and it didn't come up when I typed the question.
2007-02-01 05:59:11 · update #2
I think that there is a lot of truth to that statement. Fear is a very motivating factor, and it has been shown in our own country that many of our freedoms are willing to be compromised in order to ease our fears. If you have an efficient propaganda machine, many people will play "follow the leader". Luckily, as of late, many people in our country are not buying into the "stuff" that our government had been "shoveling" us, and are speaking up against what many believe to be wrong. Let's hope the trend continues, and that we don't become lemmings, blindly following what others want us to believe.
2007-01-31 08:08:24 · answer #1 · answered by Katie 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Not exactly true. The quote is looking at everything from a black or white perspective. Sometimes the people want war too. How many people wanted to attack Afghanistan after 9/11?? I think George Bush's approval ratings at the time answer that. After the sinking of the USS Maine, the vast majority wanted war, while the McKinley administration wanted peace. The world is not black and white, this quote can be applied, but not to everything.
2007-01-31 08:11:06 · answer #2 · answered by asmith1022_2006 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
It is an accurate translation of a statement by Goering during the Nuremberg Nazi trials.
This statement is as true today as it was then.
Another very true quote is "Those who fail to observe history are doomed to repeat it" but I can't remember who said it.
2007-01-31 08:02:18 · answer #3 · answered by sprcpt 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Yes I believe the statement is true but unfortunate. It reminds me a little of current affairs.
2007-01-31 08:06:10 · answer #4 · answered by courage 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes but it is more important that we are a moral people and a free media.
What you forget is that inorder to do that you need the media involved with the government.
2007-01-31 08:15:13 · answer #5 · answered by ALunaticFriend 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Scary isn't it!
Cheney sounds much like Goerring or Goebbels!
Watch this a you tell me!
http://www.bushflash.com/14.html
2007-01-31 08:08:43 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Nope. There wasn't TV in Goering's day. Do you suppose the twin towers didn't actually fall?
The people can't 'always' be brought to the bidding of the leaders.
2007-01-31 08:03:36 · answer #7 · answered by MoltarRocks 7 · 0⤊ 4⤋
I would like to have more faith in humanity than that.. but it's been true for as long as we've had organized government.. Alexander did it, Cesar did it.. Hitler did it and Bush has done it.
2007-01-31 08:04:04 · answer #8 · answered by pip 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Governmental manipulation (101),pure and tested
2007-01-31 08:08:36 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Herr Goering would feel right at home in Bushco.
2007-01-31 08:06:36 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋