Where
Men Win Glory by Jon Krakauer, 2010, Excerpts
Patriotic zeal runs
strong in the United States, and young Americans are no less susceptible to the
allure of martial adventure than young males from other cultures, including
fanatical tribal cultures. When the president of the United States declares yet
another war on some national adversary, a great many men [and more than a few
women] will doubtless stream forth to enlist, just as eager to join the fight
as the Americans who flocked to recruiting offices during previous armed
conflicts – regardless of whether the war in question is a reckless blunder or
vital to the survival of the Republic.
Hermann Goering, who
in 1946, shortly before he was sentenced to death for crimes against humanity,
notoriously observed: “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’s the leaders of the country who determine the
policy, and it’s always a simple matter to drag the people along whether it’s a
democracy, 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 tell them they are
being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing
the country to greater danger. It works the same way in any country.”
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