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On Fri, 10/10/14, Andrew Long <xxxxxx@mac.com> wrote:

 Subject: Re: [TML] The Vilani, Gnosis, and Psionics
 To: xxxxxx@simplelists.com
 Date: Friday, October 10, 2014, 4:32 AM

 On 10 Oct 2014, at 11:05,
 Kenneth Barns wrote:
 >
 > On 10 October 2014 01:40, Ros Knox &
 Michael Barry <xxxxxx@homemail.com.au>
 wrote:
 > China has been mentioned as a
 parallel for the Vilani, but this discussion puts me in mind
 of ancient Sparta.
 >
 > <snip discussion of Sparta>
 >
 > Thanks - that was
 all new info for me.  It makes one wonder what societal
 trauma would be be required to make such drastic changes to
 a society in the space of a lifespan or two.

 From recent history, you need
 look no further than Germany in the early and middle
 twentieth century. They didn't go as far as Sparta, but
 both the nazis and the East Germans were well into turning
 their people into their own jailers. From the Hitler Youth
 of the NSDAP to the legions of informers maintained by the
 STASI you can see a drastic cultural change from what had,
 in the previous century, one of the most liberal cultures in
 Europe.

 As for the trauma
 necessary, to do that, well, they hadjust lost two major
 wars...

 Regards, Andy
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Anywhere where communism gained power is also fertile ground, although usually to a lesser extent.

Nothing like a bloody & sometimes prolonged civil war/revolution to shake things up!

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