The "Big Lie"

Everybody lies. You, your mother, your father, your best friend, even your significant other. Without lies, the world would cease to function. Famine, disease, and war would reign supreme. Yet, while lying may save us from the worst pain of truth, it has, in the past, lead us to somewhere worse than hell.

I am, of course, referring to the "Big Lie". The "Big Lie" is the lie Adolf Hitler told the German people; Jews are the enemy.

Sickening. Yes. Ingenious. Yes. This one man got an entire nation, an entire people to believe that their neighbors were the bringing of their pain. The baker down the street, the dressmaker that made your daughter's dress for her prom, now enemies of the state.

But how did he do it? How did he convince a people of their superiority and their "duty" to squash those "below" them? This is where the true genius lies.

I wager, there are three reasons. The first is circumstances. Next, timing. And  finally, all it takes is a little social skills.

In the nineteen twenties and thirties Germany was a ruin. Many ails plagued them. First, they were recovering from a staggering defeat in World War 1. Economically, it was the worst inflation in economic history.  Nearly half of their male population was gone. Dead. They were a people in ruin. When a man with a stunningly powerful voice, parades, and power comes and tell these people (when they are at their most vulnerable) that they are great, and better than those around them, of course they are going to believe him. Why would they not? It is too painful not too.

Nest is timing. Hitler struck when the German people were at their weakest. They were destroyed. But that is not all that timing is. At first, he told them that they should be proud of who they are. Then, to embrace Germany. Then, they are better than these people. Then, they are better than these people. Then, they are better than the Jews. Then, the Jews are the enemy. He built up to his power, building idea upon idea. If he had come out saying "kill the Jews!!" it would not have worked out would it? Timing.

Finally, Hitler was one of the best public speakers of all time. Simply put, he could captivate an audience with his stare. If you have never listened to one of his speeches, i implore you to. They are nuts, to say the least, but captivating nonetheless.  He crescendos his voice throughout. He begins at a whisper and ends at one. Yet, by the center of his speech, he is yelling at the top of his lungs. All it takes is a nut job who can get people to follow him, and the lies spread.