The Quotes, Part One

I happen to be a big fan of quotes, because a good quote can perfectly express a belief, or an ideal that appeals to you.  Sometimes, a quote can reveal very telling details about a person's motives or views.

Sometimes, the quote can reveal more than the person would want revealed.

Let me give you an example.  In 1946, during the Nuremberg War Crimes trials, Nazi Germany's Reichmarshal Herman Goering had this to say:

"Why, of course the people don't want war.  Why would some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life 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.  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."

Gustave Gilbert, German-speaking intelligence officer interviewing Goering:  "There is one difference.  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."

Goering:  "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."

I thought about Goering's quote a lot during President George W. Bush's foray into destroying and punishing Iraqi strongman Saddam Hussein.  Rather apt, when you consider all those wasted lives - mostly Iraqi and U.S. lives.  President Bush's motives - bringing democracy to Iraq - was noble, but flawed.

I'm not just picking on Republican presidents here.  After all, the Vietnam War, with its 58,000 U.S. dead, really ramped up under Democratic President Lyndon Johnson.  Both Johnson and President Richard Nixon ended up in the unenviable position of wanting to end the war, but unwilling to appear the loser.

But lose it we did, because we failed to realize that while North Vietnam was Communist, their nationalism was even stronger.  Any country who invades and occupies Vietnam is in for a nasty lesson, as history has shown over the centuries.

Another lesson it provided was that a lot of conservative commentators really do not understand most Communist countries, nor do they understand the actual strength of nationalism.

That's all for now.

Peace be unto you.