There is a way that seems right to egocentric man, but leads to conflict, division, and ultimately to destruction. Many have taken that way, and history recognizes some of the worst. But some harmful demagogues are not recognized as such, because they claim to be, and may even think they are, divinely inspired.
Throughout history, proud and militant demagogues have appealed to the ego, emotions and prejudices of frightened people in order to gain power. And the scoundrels have usually taken refuge in religiosity and patriotism as they do even today, waving the flag, thumping their bible, and rattling their sword, blind to the fact that it will be the humble, gentle, peaceful and meek who will ultimately inherit the earth.
Today it is crucial for Americans to realize that the worst demagogues, and ironically most successful, did not only appeal to their people's feelings, emotions, prejudices and pride. They also appealed to their people's egocentric sense of superiority, whether based on religion, nationality, or race.
These days it is more important than ever to learn the lessons of history, because if the most important lessons of history had already been widely learned and understood, people would no longer be misled and fooled by right-wing demagogues. Instead, the humble, gentle, peaceful and "meek" majority of people in the world would have already inherited the earth.
That hasn't happened yet, and the lessons of history have not been widely learned and understood yet, because too many gullible people have listened to proud, aggressive, militant, deceptive demagogues who claimed, and may have even believed, that they served God and Country.
http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-Scourge-of-the-Earth-by-Joseph-J-Adamson-100831-258.html
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