re: big fear - churchill the eloquent coward
Good post jonesy, those in the White Rose must have been extraordinarily brave.
I see that in the White Rose Hitler expressed his racism on his readings of how blacks were denied civil rights in the southern states in America.
Much of the antiwar argument is based on triviality; such is the nature of propaganda. The prowar also use this with various social fears being fostered by reactionary forces. To many this pending war has no basis other than triviality (meaning that the arguments used have been unsubstantiated). To others the trivial is sufficient. I'm starting to see that it is almost impossible to justify a war (of anticipatory defence) in advance and that history will have to be the judge.
One attribute that isolates the US, UK (and Australia) from the rest is that in the main they do not have to share borders with a mixture of differing cultures. This could certainly have helped shape national characteristics. I dont know if its still as relevant today but the 'eat to work' ethos of the UK certainly gave them an edge over their 'work to eat' neighbours.
What is just as important today as was when the White Rose was active that society continues to be formed from vigorous debate and that society actively seeks this debate. America, for all its faults, is still the only nation where freedom of speech is enshrined in the constitution.
