June 22, 2011 @ 1:12 AM
History repeats itself so much it's scary. And I'm liking P5D3's plot more and more.
One thing I noticed about dictators- they're all incredibly proud. They all rely a LOT on propoganda, and they're so incredibly proud and confident of themselves that it rubs off on the people, people like confident leaders, and they provide the confidence and a sense of purpose and hope for the people- hope is such an important thing, yet it can do such crazy things to the warped minds of people. Hitler- the reason why he was so successful was because he knew how to give the people hope for the country after WWI. A powerful thing, after that crashing defeat that broke up the Ottoman Empire. Mao zedong- he united the country, he had great goals, great plans, but he took it too far. And yet he was amazingly successful- even now few people in China dare to speak up against the policies implemented by him. He was so learned in history, he knew very well how to win support, but he took it too far. And Julius Caesar was a great man. He did so much for Rome, expanded and consolidated the empire, but he too was incredibly proud. Their pride invariably brings about their downfall. And yet... it's so fascinating to know how they manipulated people like that, and we can't help but wonder if our current society is yet another effective manipulation by the world government somehow.
The only thing I hate about history- WHY IS IT SO BLOODY. But maybe that's the quality that makes history fascinating and worth studying.
I think one thing most historians and history students don't realise is the role the people play in history. Not the leaders, without the people the leaders will be nothing. Sure, they were great, but the great uniting force was the people. Especially in cases like Hitler's when the people
chose him, they chose to support him, follow him. Why? WHY? Why did the people choose a man like Hitler, why did they follow his bidding so soundlessly? They must have known that what they were doing were inhumane. Why did no one rebel for so long? Are the common people merely a tool for the leaders to manipulate? Do we not have minds, do we need someone that we can follow and bring us together? Even so, why is it so hard for the people to judge, and see the difference between their words and action? It seems like people don't seem to realise that sometimes the threat doesn't come from outside, but within their own country. In cases of foreign oppressors, people are quick to rebel. But when your dictator is one of your own, why does it take so long for someone to stand out?
And WHY do people don't ever learn from past mistakes. Why is the human race as a whole so incredibly stubborn and self confident that we never realise that we're just doing exactly what people in the past have done.
To research:
-Hitler. Everything about him.
-Causes of WWI; nations involved; motives for joining; winners&losers
-Japan, starting from Meiji
Throughout the course of history, power has been in a constant state of flux, tranferring from one nation to another.
