HITLER AND BUSH

Editor:

Thanks for publishing the thoughtful and heartfelt letter from Bill
Currie: "Nelson can expect criticism for anti-war song" (Jan 10).

As to why American's support Bush's war in Iraq and our war on drugs, I
suggest the readers read: "The Age of Propaganda: The Everyday Use and
Abuse of Persuasion" by Anthony Pratkanis and Elliot Aronson.

I suggest the readers start with chapter 37 Propaganda and the Third
Reich. The readers can see the close parallels between the techniques
both Hitler and Bush have used to garner support for war.

Also, this quote from Hermann Goering, the number two man in Nazi
Germany, is very insightful.

"Why of course the people don't want war. Why should some poor slob on
a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best 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 for that matter in Germany. That is understood. 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. 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 peacemakers for lack of patriotism and
exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country." --
Hermann Goering, April 18, 1946, while awaiting the Nuremberg trials.

Kirk Muse,

Mesa, Ariz.