Grotesque Self-Deception

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SANTA CRUZ COUNTY
SILICON VALLEY
SONOMA / NAPA / MARIN







09.01.10

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Letters to the Editor

Grotesque Self-Deception



DEAR OLD Mark Twain had them pegged when he described the process that governments use: "Next the statesmen will invent cheap lies, putting the blame upon the nation that is attacked, and every man will be glad of those conscience-soothing falsities, and will diligently study them, and refuse to examine any refutations of them; and thus he will by and by convince himself that the war is just, and will thank God for the better sleep he enjoys after this process of grotesque self-deception."

What he was saying is that it not only serves the government's purpose in blaming the war and destruction on the victim, but the people themselves are then able to soothe their conscience and feel justified, that "They had it coming to them," even if the excuse the government uses is as flimsy as can be! People accept it anyway because they don't want to feel bad about themselves or about their government, and they can keep waving the flag and saying, "God bless America," secure in their goodness and niceness. It's not a new U.S. tactic, either. It's one they've practiced for hundreds of years!

Ted Rudow III,MA

Menlo Park