Voice from the past

Here's another reason why we need good public education: so that we can remember the past.

Naturally, the common people don't want war, but after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it always is a simple matter to drag people along whether it's a democracy, or a fascist dicatatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. This is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for their lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in every country.

Hermann Goering, Hitler's Reich-Marshall at the Nuremberg Trials after WWII