In Germany, the government gradually increased the "required" participation by the individual in the government's grand design(s). There was required attendance at various government functions, forms to be completed, lists to be compiled, etc, etc. There was no time to think or reflect.
Now:
In today's America, required participation in government- sponsored activities is not the central aspect of family life. Our participation in the life of the community and in the life of the family is a part of the ever increasing speed of the "squirrel's exercise wheel". Today's "soccer mom" is forced to run faster and faster just to remain "in place".
The result of these phenomena (coupled with today's mind-destroying television) is and was that for even those who were and are prone to "think" for themselves, there is and was less and less time for such a luxury. For those few who tend and tended to think about the basics of life, there is also the government created diversions concerning national enemies to distract from any serious effort in that direction. Germans as well as Americans cannot be relied upon to tolerate activities that outrage the normal sense of decency unless the selected victims are stigmatized in advance. Governments can be relied upon to perform this function and thereby mobilize its citizens toward the government's desired goals. There are always red, yellow or purple alert levels to keep us "in the mood" because uncertainty is a very important part of the "plan".
Then:
Then as now, if one accidentally finds one to whom he can express his fears, he is labeled an "alarmist" or told that he "is seeing things" or that "things aren't so bad". One tends to have fewer and fewer friends in whom he can confide or converse freely. Besides, how does one oppose? What is his reason? Opposition depends upon circumstances.
"The few who tried to kill Hitler in '44, certainly . . . 'opposed' But why? Some hated the dictatorship of National Socialism, some hated its democracy, some were personally ambitious or jealous, some wanted the Army to control the country, maybe some could escape punishment for crimes only by a change of government. Some, I am sure, were pure and noble. But they all acted . . .
Well, we had twenty thousand people . . . If you ask me how many did something in secret opposition, something that meant great danger to them, I would say, well, twenty. And how may did something like that openly and from good motives alone? Maybe five, maybe two. That's the way men are". [4]
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