twenty-eight years and a million words
For my math nerd friends out there. We spent it once again traveling to the farthest reaches of the city to watch The Boy compete in his first Provincially-ranked tennis tournament. He lost his match 8-6 but is very happy to have competed. He's light-years ahead of where he was last year.
Naturally the common people don't want war: Neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.