Δαφνη Ευτυχια Αρθουρος

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

Gustave Gilbert: "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."

Hermann 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."

-- 1946-04-18, during a recess in the Nuremburg trials

Saw doctor (actually NP not MD but y'all know what I mean, right?) at free clinic. Took longer than expected (partly because they're busy; partly because they're more thorough than an HMO (can something be expected and ironic at the same time?). Am now exhausted and getting to my nap later than planned; also miscalculated re: ride to rehearsal -- there's the bad news (other, more expected bad news: my bad-cholesterol is way too bleeping high), but the more promising news is a Rx for a beta blocker to see whether that breaks this chain of migraines. Will see how much good a couple hours of sleep does me (was woken extra-early by power failure this morning -- I notice when I hear the computers unexpectedly stop whirring), then sort out transportation if possible. Crashing now.