In A Few Days…

[Editorial]

Early voting starts shortly, this has been said about many elections before but it is more relevant today than ever before.

In 1944 World War II war correspondent Cecil Brown wrote about Fascism, it is time to once again look at what he wrote 78 years ago what he saw while stationed in Fascist Italy and compare it with what is happening now.

In August president Biden made a speech as about Fascism here now in the United States.

Biden's 'soul of the nation' speech and the battle against MAGA 'semi-fascism' in America
Reactionary conservatives like Fox News host Tucker Carlson have called on Biden to apologize. But a president's job is to speak aloud uncomfortable truths.
NBC News
By Jason Stanley, professor of philosophy at Yale University and author of "How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them"
September 2, 2022


In a speech Thursday in Philadelphia, President Joe Biden at last came around to the central political issue facing the U.S. Americans must make the decision — in polling booths, no less — about whether to remain on a path toward a multiracial democracy.

The president did not shy away from the truth: The Republican Party, one of our two major parties, has been taken over by an explicitly antidemocratic social and political movement collectively known as MAGA Republicans. Biden’s comments built on remarks at a fundraiser a few days ago in Maryland, where he said extreme MAGA philosophy was “semi-fascism.” Not surprisingly, reactionary conservatives like Fox News host Tucker Carlson and House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy immediately began braying for an apology. 

But does Biden have anything to apologize for?

Americans can freely vote for MAGA Republicans in the upcoming 2022 (and 2024) elections. But placing and keeping these people in power in the short term would likely result in long-term one-party rule, as well as massive restrictions on the liberties of racial, religious and sexual minorities, as well as women. This is a hard truth that every American must face.

It is the job of the president to speak frankly to the nation, even about uncomfortable truths. In his speech, Biden did not shirk from this duty. However, in painting MAGA Republicans as essentially intruders into American politics, the president did misrepresent our history.

In Cecil Brown in his 1944 essay he says…

To a Fascist, the most absurd thought ever expressed is “all men are created equal… with certain inalienable rights” Such expression is poison to him.

A Fascist abhors intelligent discussion. A Fascist expects to do the thinking for you. He wants you to express his dictation violently. He wants you to denounce in sweeping generalizations. Above all he wants you to reject compromise. If you compromise and work out a problem on the basis of good will, then Democracy is working. And that is a fatal dose to a Fascist.

Do you see any semblance to what is happening today?

Thus, MAGA Republicanism is not alien to the U.S. It is a descendant of Jim Crow. And its leaders are bringing back the same tactics of voter suppression, attacks on history and education and calls for political violence, using the specter of Black political protest as an existential threat to white America. As with fascist movements in the past, it is harshly anti-LGBTQ and anti-feminist, presenting LGBTQ Americans and abortion rights as threats to “traditional” values. 

Compared to what Brown wrote in 1944…

A Fascist finds ready recruits among the Ku Klux Klan and those other organizations which spread racial and religious intolerance.

A Fascist thrives on blind hate. He adores bigotry and prejudices. He loves to whisper to fan discord. He schemes to whiplash minds into ugly snares.

A Fascist nourishes the religious and racial prejudices of the gullible. He whips up verbal and physical outrage against Catholics, Jews, Negroes.

Republicans in Congress stand behind Trump no matter right or wrong… those classified and top secrets documents are okay and is a “witch hunt” but Hillary’s emails should be prosecuted.

A Fascist sits back and bobs his head in approval at congressmen who think it is far less important to beat the Axis than to “get that man in the White House.”

A Fascist can never be satisfied until he has “disciplined” other people, that is until he has forced them into slavery, or crushed them forever.

Trump’s brown shirts has “disciplined” those that voted against him on January 6^th and crushed them in party primary elections. The white supremacist groups like the Proud Boys and Patriot Front marched in the streets in support of Trump.

They did away for a woman's right to chose what she does with her own body and want to pass national anti-abortion laws. They criminalized trans health care and want to arrest parents who want to do the right thing for their child and want to jail doctors for treating us. They are banning books and make saying anything LGBTQ illegal!

The Republicans have gerrymander, limited voting places, limited voting hours, required harder voter ID requirements, and spread lies about voting integrity. The Republicans are seeking a Constitutional Convention to consolidate their power! 

They say to pass a balanced budget amendment but other Republicans said it is create a Christian government.

If you don’t like the way this country is heading vote! Vote Democratic! My freedom and life depends upon it.

Remember...

[/Editorial]