Identifying Enemies and Scapegoats
When you start to look at the characteristics you find the order given is not necessarily the most logical way to think about it. Last time we took a look at nationalism and how it relates to fascism. Many of these characteristics have very close relationships with one another. When one becomes fervently for the team then it stands to reason that those not on the team become our enemies.
A couple of weeks ago the House of Representatives voted to condemn socialism in a resolution. The Senate certainly didn’t touch that, so what exactly was the point? Well, this made it easier for them to highlight representatives that did not vote for the resolution. They must be socialists so therefore they must be the enemy.
This is one of the go to moves for fascists. They identify things and concepts that people can’t define. They can’t tell you what socialism is and when they point to examples they are usually extreme and have nothing to do with the aims of people that might subscribe to. No one really wants Venezuelan socialism, but suddenly that becomes the standard for socialism. Straw men should be so lucky.
Fascists usually don’t create hate where it did not exist. They simply take the hate that is there and make it palatable. It is not good to hate to people of color. It is not good to hate those that are LGTBQ+. It is not good for men to hate women. Yet, if we can attach a sinister motive to them like BLM, CRT, or grooming drag queens then it suddenly becomes okay to hate them. After all, if they just understood their place then we wouldn’t need to hate anybody.
There has been no magic trick quite as pervasive and bewildering as the treatment of Ukraine. This is a pretty simple situation. One country invaded another sovereign nation because they want to take it over. We used to understand these things. After all, there really isn’t anything to understand. There aren’t difficult geopolitical issues here. There is no nuance.
Yet, somehow the fascist elements in our society and politics have somehow turned this around. Fascists give a head nod to other fascists after all. Somehow the Ukrainians are the horrible party. There has been talk of Volodymyr Zelenskyy being a Nazi sympathizer. So, it is okay for Russia to invade. Even if we can just muddy the waters some then it becomes easier to oppose intervention or assistance.
Of course, this isn’t to say that we definitely have to support Ukraine financially. Those that claim we can’t support everyone and should focus on our own problems aren’t necessarily fascists. The key is to listen why they say what they do. If they are worried about the fiscal burden I suppose that can defended. If they are crushing Ukraine as some kind of rogue state then you know they are horrible and are gaslighting you.
These folks throw lots of stuff up against people who disagree with them: fascists, communists, libtards – we’ve heard it all. But when they are really grasping, they’ll throw out child molester. I’m glad some Dems are starting to sue for defamation – it’s really getting ridiculous!
1Nick, you’ve obviously done more research on this than me. My thoughts are more from what I hear in the public reporting on politics. Not trying to put words in your mouth but I think you feel that a significant portion of today’s repugnantican party are what could be called fascists. I do not disagree.
2They may not create hate where it doesn’t already exist, but it sure seems many of them do create new hate and/or use exaggeration and misinformation to create more hate (and new haters). Their conspiracy theories I guess are examples I am thinking about- like sex trafficking by HRC in the basement of a pizzeria, the foreign control of voting machines, Hunter Biden, and on and on. They tie all these to the libs (=socialists). Ask MTG, Kari Lake, Steve Bannon, Tucker Carlson and TFFG
This may also explain why the US was reluctant to oppose Hitler’s seizure of Czechoslovakia.
3It goes back decades. Think of all the regimes we supported in Central America and South America. They were all right wing revolutionaries fighting left wing governments. That can’t be a coincidence.
I think you have a good handle on it Steve. The whole point is that I will not buy their crap unless I already secretly hate who they are targeting. Immigrants. People of color. Women. LGTBQ+. Left wing politicians/protesters. Intellectuals. Celebrities that are vocal. Scientists. If I have a predisposition to hate them then they really aren’t CREATING hate as much as they are ACTIVATING hate.
4You should study Ukrainian history more.
5https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/analysis-putins-claim-that-war-on-ukraine-is-to-target-nazis-is-absurd-heres-why
https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-does-russias-leadership-keep-saying-that-ukrainians-are-nazis-11652361854
https://jewishunpacked.com/can-ukraine-have-a-nazi-problem-with-a-jewish-president/
Not exactly a bunch of left-wing rags here. History or no history, the idea that Putin invaded Ukraine to rid them of Nazis is just silly and anyone believing that is either buying into propaganda or trying to spread it themselves.
6Public parks? Socialism!
Public streets and highways? Neighborhood sidewalks? Socialism!
Municipal water supplies? Fluoridation? Communism!
Public health and vaccinations?
Public education? More (!&$# communism!
Stupidity? Ignorance? Priceless.
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