"How did it come to this?"

The level of ignorance in America today astounds me. It seems the majority of people don't know a thing about history, don't know what Socialism is, and have no idea what tyranny looks like in its infancy. Sure, there is a portion of the people who know all these things exactly, but it seems that their message is only heard by those who already believe it and ignored by the masses. It frustrates me greatly to see parallels between history and America today; parallels of tyranny, absolutism, nationalism, socialism. Parallels to horrors, death, and slavery.

Yet most ignore it, choose not to believe it, or honestly think it can't happen here or to them. And if the majority, or even half, of the population refuses to face reality, then what can the informed do? What can those who believe America is headed into times possibly darker than any in history do about it? It seems trying to spread knowledge is the only recourse. But the majority won't listen. And it's damn frustrating.

But honestly, it isn't any different from most of human history. In the 1700's, half of the population of the American colonies refused to believe Britain needed to be rebelled against...until British warships brought troops to America.

In the 1930's, people in Germany welcomed the rise of the Nazis. In Austria, 98% of the population voted to become a part of Nazi Germany thinking it would be better for them. Five years later people were being rounded up and sent to Concentration Camps. In the meantime, the people gladly gave up their guns in order to comply with their new government's wishes. When Jews were forbidden to own guns, they gave them up. 11 million people were killed in Death Camps.

In the 1920's in Turkey, Armenians gave up their guns to the new Muslim government. Millions of them, 3/4 of the Armenian population, were then slaughtered.

In the 1930's in Russia, the Soviet government forced the population to register all their firearms, then used the lists to confiscate them all. Millions were killed or starved to death.

All throughout history, the natural inclination of humanity has been to obey their governments' every decree. In an attempt to remain peaceful, humans do what they are told...and then when they end up victims to violent or tyrannical leadership they ask, "How did this happen?"

History repeats itself, and those who don't know it are doomed to repeat it. I personally believe America is on an unchangeable path towards some bad times. Yet no one seems to care. If things come to pass like I think they will, these same people will one day cry out, "How did it come to this?"

It seems to be human nature to choose ignorance over liberty. Can we expect America to possibly turn out any differently?