The efforts of American "cultural producers" during World War II constructed and realized the ideal of a democratic American military in the minds of citizens who doubted whether they would remain democratic while being engaged in war it was absolutely possible. Although the cultural producers were ultimately successful, their efforts did not come without extreme opposition. Anti-interventionists, religious groups, and psychologists argued that engaging in war and forcing military service would transform American men into "overly dependent, imperfectly masculine, and violently aggressive" veterans who would struggle with "resocialization" upon returning home. The fear was that the American military would become too similar to that of its belligerent and anti-democratic enemies whose totalitarian doctrine he despised. The response of cultural producers has allayed that fear, as well as many others. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The fear of becoming undemocratic was largely based on American perceptions of politics in enemy nations. In Germany, for example, the people's inability to discern the truth led to a deeply indoctrinated nation that blindly followed Hitler and subscribed to his agenda of “irrational and fanatical” hatred. President Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed American fears of being lied to when he said, “You must [...] have complete confidence that your government is withholding nothing from you except information that will aid the enemy in his effort to destroy us. In a democracy there is always a solemn pact of truth between the government and the people, but there must also always be the full exercise of discretion." In a further effort to promulgate the truth, citizens have been educated on the role of democracy under the direction of the Education Policy Commission. Soldiers watched films containing Axis propaganda intended to show them the evils of the restrictive dictatorships against which they were preparing to fight. Cultural producers also recognized "the capacity of modern warfare [...] ] to reduce the individual to an expendable cog" and readily drew parallels between the more regimented aspects of civilian and military life, hoping to promote the individuality and autonomy critical to preserving democracy. . Emphasis on racial/ethnic differences within the military was placed in military films to demonstrate that America was not as hateful and prejudiced as its enemies. Americans were also taught that American life was peaceful and voluntary – the opposite of the militarism and regimentation imposed in dictatorships – and that their country had been forced to defend itself following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. All the strategies that have been discussed Here is evidence of America's desire to preserve the rights and freedoms of democracy without becoming militaristic like the enemy. One wonders whether America, with all its military might, still subscribes to these desires today.