Politics, Religion, Absurdity, Atrocity

To paraphrase Voltaire, "All the absurdities are meant to numb you to the coming atrocities." Every few generations, it becomes necessary for a majority of regular citizens to give a chunk of their lives (sometimes their actual lives) fighting the same old reincarnated lies vomited by a minority of the angry and ignorant. This period in history is no different. The absurd and ridiculous are offered as legitimate points of view that the majority must politely tolerate. Inevitably, the atrocities follow. Wouldn't it be nice if an overwhelming reaction of reason was as inevitable?