Tolstoy on Sheeple

[Viva_La_Revolution]

“As the enemy drew nearer to Moscow the attitude taken by its inhabitants in regard to their position did not become more serious, but, on the contrary, more frivolous, as is always the case with people who see a great danger approaching. At the approach of danger there are always two voices that speak with equal force in the heart of man: one very reasonably tells the man to consider the nature of the danger and the means of avoiding it; the other even more reasonably says that it is too painful and harassing to think of the danger, since it is not I a man’s power to provide for everything and escape from the general march of events; and that it is therefore better to turn aside from the painful subject till it has come, and to think of what is pleasant. In solitude a man generally yields to the first voice; in society to the second. So it was now with the inhabitants of Moscow.”

Discuss.

[formercia]

1. sounds like the movie 'Network'

similar response.

[bloom]

2. It is interesting to me

that on the latest page - this was followed by a post:

Serious Suggestion for MODS: GD: CIA Leak Case: Gloom and Doom

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x5217742


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I'm not trying to call anyone "out" - I'm just making an observation.

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I think it makes sense that esp. with a catastrophic event - but maybe with anything - you are going to either be able to do something or not. And if you can't you might fall into despair or you might pretend there is no problem.

It seems like there are a lot of situations where danger is NOT imminent and there can be a range of reactions depending on how one sees ones role and the various possible outcomes.

[smirkymonkey]

3. That's why Tolstoy is one of my favorite authors.

What he describes is the very thing that allows despotic rulers to turn entire societies into opressive totalitarian dictatorships (think Stalin, Hitler, Bush..etc.) It's that childish thinking that says "If I ignore the truth, nothing bad can happen" until of course, it becomes apparent that the menace eventually becomes more powerful than their ability to fantasize it away.

I think that most Americans are going to find that the United States no exception to this pheonmenon and that the belief that "It can't happen here" is soon going to seem like a quaint and silly notion.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

4. You should check out my reply in this thread...

Describe the atmosphere in the Oval Office tonight.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=5186367

The man was a genius