It seems to me that the primary reason so many people have such a difficult time seeing themselves in history's atrocities and why they fail to recognize that they're repeating the same mistakes is because they, like their predecessors, are utterly convinced that they are right.

If you believe yourself to be morally infallible, any introspective analysis that could alter that perception of yourself will be rejected.

These people believe they are different from those who came before them because they have the correct beliefs this time.

They will say this out loud.

"Censorship has had historically awful consequences. But it's ok this time because we are right."

"Racial demonization is the greatest stain on our country and all throughout the world. But it's ok this time because we are right"

It's madness.