[jacquesm]

I'll make it easier: it requires a lot more mental fortitude to observe that the country that nominally represents you is engaging in something abhorrent so the mind wants to believe the lies, because they are more comfortable.

That is why propaganda is so efficient.

[throwaway290]

I suspect you are mixing concerns.

For people who ended up supporting the war, yes. Propaganda worked, because constantly filtering misinformation is not exactly conducive to a normal life. Trust is the default mode of operation for a human who did not grow up in adverse conditions.

But grandparent seemed to refer to people who actually live such a life. People who do not support the government and are preparing for the worst. They distrust everything, they see that innocent people are dying and country is headed towards extreme times, but they treat it as impossible to change. This is pretty bleak.