--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was growing up, it was…" description: "\"When I was growing up, it was 'Communists'. Now it's 'Terrorists'. So you always have to have somebody to fight and be afraid of, so the war machine ca..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c8/cindy-sheehan-4928_bombs_when-i-was-growing-up-it-was-communists_1757848.jpg" --- # When I was growing up, it was 'Communists'. Now it's… ![“When I was growing up, it was 'Communists'. Now it's 'Terrorists'. So you always have to have somebody to fight and be afraid of, so the war machine can build more bombs, guns, and bullets and everything.” quote by Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c8/cindy-sheehan-4928_bombs_when-i-was-growing-up-it-was-communists_1757848.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c8/cindy-sheehan-4928_bombs_when-i-was-growing-up-it-was-communists_1757848.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c8/cindy-sheehan-4928_bombs_when-i-was-growing-up-it-was-communists_1757848.jpg) > “When I was growing up, it was 'Communists'. Now it's 'Terrorists'. So you always have to have somebody to fight and be afraid of, so the war machine can build more bombs, guns, and bullets and everything.” [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Societies create enemies to justify conflict and sustain military industries. **In simple terms:** War needs a foe to thrive. Key Takeaway Question the narratives that create enemies. Themes politics war manufactured fear Mood critical concerned Type political activist When to use this quote - media consumption - political debate - activism - education Key Concepts sociology propaganda Questions to Reflect On - What narratives shape your perception of conflict? - How can societies reduce reliance on external threats? A Different Perspective Complex issues may be oversimplified by this view. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afraid War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid-war-668316/) [Bombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bombs/) [Bullets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bullets/) [Communist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communist/) [Communists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communists/) [Communists Terrorists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communists-terrorists-1665828/) [Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) [Growing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing/) [Growing up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-up/) [Gun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gun/) [Machines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machines/) [Terrorist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrorist/) [Terrorists Somebody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrorists-somebody-1665829/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War Machine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-machine-274229/) ## Related quotes > [“Of course he was afraid of war. Only fools are not. Anaxantis was no fool. He was fully prepared to fight, but only as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-ashling/of-course-he-was-afraid-of-war-only-fools-are-not-anaxantis-was-no/) [Andrew Ashling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-ashling/) > [We desire peace. However, if imperialism insists on fighting a war, we will have no alternative but to take the firm resolution to fight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/we-desire-peace-however-if-imperialism-insists-on-fighting-a-war-we/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [You, why are you so afraid of war and slaughter? Even if all the rest of us drop and die around you, grappling for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/you-why-are-you-so-afraid-of-war-and-slaughter-even-if-all-the-rest/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [Bonaparte's wish is Peace, nay that he is afraid of war to the last degree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-james-fox/bonaparte-s-wish-is-peace-nay-that-he-is-afraid-of-war-to-the-last/) [Charles James Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-james-fox/) > [The genius of America's endless war machine is that, learning from the unpleasantness of the Vietnam war protests, it has rendered the costs of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/the-genius-of-america-s-endless-war-machine-is-that-learning-from-the/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [ \[Saddam\] built up a massive war machine while neglecting the basic needs of his own people. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/saddam-built-up-a-massive-war-machine-while-neglecting-the-basic/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [“The last four years have shown that the war machine is possible, that we can care for each other and bandage the wounds that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-last-four-years-have-shown-that-the-war-machine-is-possible-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The imperial, genocidal war machine never rests, so I don't either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/the-imperial-genocidal-war-machine-never-rests-so-i-don-t-either/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [“Against all probability the war machine was actually flying. Bristling with every kind of weapon imaginable, it filled the sky like an ominous storm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indigo-lane/against-all-probability-the-war-machine-was-actually-flying-bristling/) [Indigo Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indigo-lane/) > [“Well,” he said at last, “if you guys elect me leader, you must be even crazier than I am. So let’s build a spankin’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/well-he-said-at-last-if-you-guys-elect-me-leader-you-must-be-even/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [In the fields the bodies burning, as the war machine keeps turning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-sabbath/in-the-fields-the-bodies-burning-as-the-war-machine-keeps-turning/) [Black Sabbath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-sabbath/) > [Once again ...true but war over machine up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/once-again-true-but-war-over-machine-up/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“...this money goes to a war machine, a war machine that attacks its own citizens and those of other countries to force them into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-allen/this-money-goes-to-a-war-machine-a-war-machine-that-attacks-its-own/) [J.C. Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-allen/) > [It is quite possible for a work of literature to operate as a war machine upon its epoch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monique-wittig/it-is-quite-possible-for-a-work-of-literature-to-operate-as-a-war/) [Monique Wittig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monique-wittig/) > [The entire Nazi war machine was only possible because of past, present and future violations of the non aggression principle (achievable only through government).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-molyneux/the-entire-nazi-war-machine-was-only-possible-because-of-past-present/) [Stefan Molyneux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-molyneux/) ## More by Cindy Sheehan > [We're not going to cure terrorism and spread peace and goodwill in the Middle East by killing innocent people, or I'm not even saying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/we-re-not-going-to-cure-terrorism-and-spread-peace-and-goodwill-in/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [“Casey was a faithful Christian filled with the spirit of the Christ; George is a hypocrite who says he is a Christian but then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/casey-was-a-faithful-christian-filled-with-the-spirit-of-the-christ/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [I feel like I gave my son to this country in an illegal and immoral war. I'll never get him back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/i-feel-like-i-gave-my-son-to-this-country-in-an-illegal-and-immoral/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [Let's push the Pentagon off the fiscal cliff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/let-s-push-the-pentagon-off-the-fiscal-cliff/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [If the people of America do not rise up, take ownership of our country, we're going to lose it forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/if-the-people-of-america-do-not-rise-up-take-ownership-of-our-country/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [I think some of the people on the Left... were extremely jealous of me getting what they thought was all of the attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/i-think-some-of-the-people-on-the-left-were-extremely-jealous-of-me/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [Loyalty to the true, core values and roots of democracy is what makes a true patriot, not loyalty to a symbol of the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/loyalty-to-the-true-core-values-and-roots-of-democracy-is-what-makes/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [58% of the American public are with us. We're preaching to the choir, but the choir's not singing, if all of the 58% started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/58-of-the-american-public-are-with-us-we-re-preaching-to-the-choir/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [Everything I say comes from my heart - and it's the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/everything-i-say-comes-from-my-heart-and-it-s-the-truth/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [So what really gets me is these chickenhawks, who sent our kids to die, without ever serving in a war themselves. They don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/so-what-really-gets-me-is-these-chickenhawks-who-sent-our-kids-to-die/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [I was told my son was killed in the war on terror. He was killed by George Bush's war of terror on the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/i-was-told-my-son-was-killed-in-the-war-on-terror-he-was-killed-by/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [I can't speak for the other people whose children have died, but I can speak for my family and the other members of Gold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/i-can-t-speak-for-the-other-people-whose-children-have-died-but-i-can/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [It's up to us, the people, to break immoral laws, and resist. As soon as the leaders of a country lie to you, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/it-s-up-to-us-the-people-to-break-immoral-laws-and-resist-as-soon-as/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [People demonize me; people idolize me; everything I say and do has been scrutinized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/people-demonize-me-people-idolize-me-everything-i-say-and-do-has-been/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [I love my country. But how many more of our loved ones need to die in this senseless war?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/i-love-my-country-but-how-many-more-of-our-loved-ones-need-to-die-in/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) [Explore all 105 Cindy Sheehan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) ## More Bombs quotes > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [“Our world will not die as a result of the bomb, as the papers say, it will die of laughter, of banality, of making a joke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/our-world-will-not-die-as-a-result-of-the-bomb-as-the-papers-say-it/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [ No wonder that Churchill described this effort \[the British codebreakers working at Bletchley Park\] as "Britian"s secret weapon," a weapon far more effective than… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hilton/no-wonder-that-churchill-described-this-effort-the-british/) [Peter Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hilton/) > [There is an idea that you can take the spiritual teachings of a religion outside of a religion and practice them; these ideas are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seyyed-hossein-nasr/there-is-an-idea-that-you-can-take-the-spiritual-teachings-of-a/) [Seyyed Hossein Nasr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seyyed-hossein-nasr/) > [In 2001, we were told that the war in Afghanistan was a feminist mission. The marines were liberating Afghan women from the Taliban. Can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/in-2001-we-were-told-that-the-war-in-afghanistan-was-a-feminist/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [The pace of science forces the pace of technique. 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