That is basically correct. We have a tendency to justify whatever there "is" and keep voting for ruling parties for over 100 years (the current one is an off-shot of Liberals of 1890s).

I had an encounter with a senior Japanese diplomat a year ago. He was outraged by the Chinese propaganda claiming 300,000 civilians killed in Nanking. "That is outrageous! Can you believe it?" I told him, "The Tokyo Tribunal found 'over 200,000 killed' in Nanking and its suburbs. Do you know that?" Incidentally, the gentleman lived and studied in France for a few years.

I will become a patissier, God willing.