This sound familiar?
"Naturally, the common people don't want war, but after all, it is the leaders of a country who determine policy. It is always a simple matter to drag the people along whether it is a democracy, 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.

This is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in every country."

Hermann Goering Hitler's Reich-Marshall at the Nuremberg trials after WW II

It is not as the USA is a free country any more. "Big Brother" wants to know all, control all, and will accept no interference in those goals. Sure, there will be "bread and circuses" to keep the sheep entertained but your life is no longer your own and we are already at the "ve muz zee your papers" stage. Except that papers are no longer used. Your smartphone will suffice. If needed, the government will provide free smartphones with the "if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear" lie.

Remember who decides what must be hidden and has the means to prevent it.

No totalitarian system, political, social, or religious can tolerate criticism, questioning, or rational thinking. That's why religion discourages, even forbids, these. Questions and rational thinking are always fatal to any religion.

The Bible Set Me Free

Blame it on my parents.  They always told me to "think for yourself”.  I doubt they ever considered what would happen if I really did that. 

Now, I suspect what they meant was, "Think what we tell you but do it in your own words."  Too late.  When I was 13, I began to question everything and soon the total absurdity of religion became apparent. 

Because I have been “encouraged” (forced) to read the bible several times, it was easy for me to see the contradictions in the book, what christians professed to believe, and how they really lived.

When I refused to go with them to their church, they said they would "Make me go." 

I asked them, “How are you going to make me? How will forcing me to attend church change my mind?”  Already, their attitude was starting to harden me against everything else about religion they would tell me.

Their next idea was to have their minister talk to me.  I told them it was a waste of everyone's time.  They persisted and had him come to the house to “Talk some sense into me.”  (as if that ever works for anyone)  After about 15 minutes of him quoting the bible to me and me pointing out that he was either wrong in his quotes or showing him how it said something else in another place, he became very angry and told me I was going to hell.  I suspect it was because I knew the bible better than he did and was, at age 13, able to prove how ridiculous his arguments were.

I told him, “If there is a Hell I'll see you there.  Save me a nice place, OK?"  He said I was an impertinent, disrespectful child.  By then, I was angry myself and for the first time, I told a christian that he was a hypocrite, a liar, and a fool.  My parents insisted that I apologize.  I refused and left the room to a lot of yelling and threats.

For the next four years, I heard about this at least once a week.  So the night I graduated high school, I left my parent's home and didn't see them again for well over a year.  By then, with the credits I had accumulated in high school and summer school,  I had completed a couple of years of college.  Fortunately, I was able to pay for this myself.  I was entering the army and wanted to try to make peace with them, but had to listen to the same old recriminations and arguments again. 

The next time I saw them was two years later when I was getting married.  After several years of an on-again, off-again relationship they finally agreed to just not discuss it any more.  I'd like to say that worked, but  subtle hints slowly became outright condemnation.  Then I took a job transfer from Ohio to Arizona, so family meetings were rare enough to become occasions for something other than contention.

I do have to say that I appreciate the other things they did for me, like encouraging my education and equipping me with the work ethic and attitudes I needed to survive and thrive at that early age.  In those areas, they were excellent parents and I am grateful for those things.

What did I learn?  Even your family can turn against you if you refuse to share in their illusions.  There are times, if you are to become your own person, you must stand firm in what you know to be true.

It isn't just "Christian privilege" it's christian arrogance. They see nothing wrong with what they do and believe they are entitled to do it.

I have been personally assaulted both verbally and physically for my atheism. Every time in my life I have been lied to, cheated, taken advantage of, or otherwise badly treated, it has always been by a "good christian." Nothing has changed, they still do it. Although the physical assaults have stopped after some of them found out they could be hurt, not just me. But the threats and verbal abuse are unabated.

"Beliefs, no matter how sincerely held, do not alter facts. " I also like to say, "You are entitled to your own beliefs. You are not entitled to your own facts."

My reply to this is one of two things or sometimes both. First, "Beliefs, no matter how sincerely held, do not alter facts." The next is a catch all for anyone spouting unproven assertions. "How do you know?"

I rarely let anyone off the hook with evasions or attempts to change the subject or simply ignore the reply. Yes, I am a bad-ass about it. I'm old enough not to care and young enough to defend myself when they get physical. That happens more often than you would think.

I think that is Matthew 10:34  Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.

Oops, the are not quite the same, are they?

I have often said to theists, "Shown Undeniable proof, I will change my mind on anything, including religion." Then I ask, "What will it take to change your mind?" On the rare occasions I receive any answer at all, 99.9% of the time it is, "Nothing will change my mind." Often, the person will then accuse me of being "closed-minded" and not understand the irony of their statement.

It's "Pecs" short for pectorals.