Norman Mailer has said, "Probably, we shall never be able to determine the psychic havoc of the concentration camps and the atom bomb upon the unconcious mind of almost everyone alive in those years." Remembering the millionskilled in the concentration camps, he continues "Who can ignore the more hideous questionsabout his own nature?" For Mailer has apprehended, as have others, that it was not the German people alone who were capable of such stupendous crimes. We have no inborn tendency to obey orders. On the contrary, we are born to say "No" to civilisations imperatives. But from babyhood on, we are conditioned to say "Yes", to obey. We are trained by punishment and reward, by threatand promise. |