"The minute we feel superior—about anything—we’re already in over our heads." Wherefore are thou, Elon Musk??
You state that the past must never be prologue, but past is all too often just that. If we learned from history, we wouldn't have this problem, but, alas, humanity has never been good at that. We react, but seldom from experience- more often from anger and hatred.
Sadly, compassion and fascism go together like Donald Trump and integrity. They occupy different and mutually incompatible universes, like opposite poles of a magnet. I doubt that will change anytime soon, not as long as hatred can be weaponized.
Lest anyone think the use of the term "fascism" is out of place with people like Meloni or Trump, it helps to refer to what experts like Robert O. Paxton tell us about fascism.
Fascism is:
"... a form of political behavior marked by obsessive preoccupation with community decline, humiliation or victimhood and by compensatory cults of unity, energy and purity, in which a mass-based party of committed nationalist militants, working in uneasy but effective collaboration with traditional elites, abandons democratic liberties and pursues with redemptive violence and without ethical or legal restraints goals of internal cleansing and external expansion."
-- Robert O. Paxton, 'Anatomy of Fascism' [4267] Kindle edition.
(The "cult of victimhood" (my phrase) was on full display with Florida Man's recent announcement.)
In addition, there are these supplementary points on Fascism, and what Paxton calls its “mobilizing passions:”
-- A sense of overwhelming crisis beyond the reach of any traditional solutions.
-- The primacy of the group, toward which one has duties superior to every right, whether individual or universal, and the subordination of the individual to it.
-- The belief that one's group is a victim, a sentiment that justifies any action, without legal or moral limits, against its enemies, both internal and external.
-- Dread of the group's decline under the effects of individualistic liberalism, class conflict, and alien influences.
-- The need for closer integration of a purer community, by consent if possible, or by exclusionary violence if necessary.
-- The need for natural chiefs (always male), culminating in a national chieftain who alone is capable of incarnating the group's historical destiny.
-- The superiority of the leader's instincts over abstract and universal reason.
-- The beauty of violence and the efficacy of will, when they are devoted to the group's success.
-- The right of the chosen people to dominate others without restraint from any kind of human or divine law, right being decided by the sole criterion of the group's prowess within a Darwinian struggle.
What you just wrote should be put on a plaque and nailed to the door of every classroom in America right now. Particularly eerie is watching political footage from the 1920s and 1930s, when more than a few politicians were talking the same fascist shit politicians are talking today.
Scary shit! Yeah, with the advent of Trumpism, the media here gave rise to the absurdity of a clown running a country, intellectually and morally. In my opinion, chasing the stupidity for a headline, instead of exposing the danger of such rhetoric only exacerbated his megalomania and celebrity. In this instance, the press failed demonstrably. It was too late. I certainly hope the free press and journalists in Italy aren’t quelled into submission by these tyrannical ideologies before it’s too late. History is certainly repeating itself with these power grabs rooted in fear and hatred of diverse communities. In a perfect world, it shouldn’t have to be us against them, but just us, sharing our lives with others, in peace on our planet! Eternal Dreamer🥲
It is a real tragedy that Meloni is the first female prime minister. Much was made of her gender and I bet there were people who supported her because of her gender. I am not a supporter of any thing close to a “right wing” agenda. I am a veteran who spent 2 years guarding the East German border. I have seen the results of Fascism first hand. The problem is when the pendulum swings, it often swings too far. When I read your articles, I, as a white male, feel blamed for things I had no involvement with, because of my gender and skin color. I’m sorry but we need to “judge” people as individuals regardless of their gender, race, age or color of their skin. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy your articles and your passion for what you do.
I am NOT blaming you, personally. I promise you I'm not. As the mother of a white male, the daughter of a white male, and the girlfriend of a white male, I am far from hating white males. On the contrary. And hey--white women aren't exactly knocking it out of the park these days either. Herschel Walker and Ye prove that some Black men are failing the purity test, big time.
And I'm sure you'll agree with me that the best way to do better is to identify the problem and then DO better. So, we have to talk about this stuff. Otherwise, there's no dialogue, no exchange of ideas.
I confess that your time as guard watching the East German border has me all kinds of curious. Did you see the wall come down? Because I think you must have. I'm quite envious!
Oh, that's terrible. This again? There are already over 1000 immigrant children who have yet to be returned to their parents after Trump's grandstanding at the border. It breaks my heart.
I was in Germany from 1972 to 1974. I was within walking distance to the East German and Czech borders. I was in garrison for 6 months before I got an issue of sheets for my bed because were “in the field” sleeping on the ground in pup tents. I was drafted, an interesting male privilege. If I had been drafted 2 days earlier I would have gone to Vietnam. So, no I did not see the wall come down.
"The minute we feel superior—about anything—we’re already in over our heads." Wherefore are thou, Elon Musk??
You state that the past must never be prologue, but past is all too often just that. If we learned from history, we wouldn't have this problem, but, alas, humanity has never been good at that. We react, but seldom from experience- more often from anger and hatred.
Sadly, compassion and fascism go together like Donald Trump and integrity. They occupy different and mutually incompatible universes, like opposite poles of a magnet. I doubt that will change anytime soon, not as long as hatred can be weaponized.
"Deep down, we are panicked monkeys. Deeper still, a lizard."
I live my whole life by that. It explains everything.
Lest anyone think the use of the term "fascism" is out of place with people like Meloni or Trump, it helps to refer to what experts like Robert O. Paxton tell us about fascism.
Fascism is:
"... a form of political behavior marked by obsessive preoccupation with community decline, humiliation or victimhood and by compensatory cults of unity, energy and purity, in which a mass-based party of committed nationalist militants, working in uneasy but effective collaboration with traditional elites, abandons democratic liberties and pursues with redemptive violence and without ethical or legal restraints goals of internal cleansing and external expansion."
-- Robert O. Paxton, 'Anatomy of Fascism' [4267] Kindle edition.
(The "cult of victimhood" (my phrase) was on full display with Florida Man's recent announcement.)
In addition, there are these supplementary points on Fascism, and what Paxton calls its “mobilizing passions:”
-- A sense of overwhelming crisis beyond the reach of any traditional solutions.
-- The primacy of the group, toward which one has duties superior to every right, whether individual or universal, and the subordination of the individual to it.
-- The belief that one's group is a victim, a sentiment that justifies any action, without legal or moral limits, against its enemies, both internal and external.
-- Dread of the group's decline under the effects of individualistic liberalism, class conflict, and alien influences.
-- The need for closer integration of a purer community, by consent if possible, or by exclusionary violence if necessary.
-- The need for natural chiefs (always male), culminating in a national chieftain who alone is capable of incarnating the group's historical destiny.
-- The superiority of the leader's instincts over abstract and universal reason.
-- The beauty of violence and the efficacy of will, when they are devoted to the group's success.
-- The right of the chosen people to dominate others without restraint from any kind of human or divine law, right being decided by the sole criterion of the group's prowess within a Darwinian struggle.
(I keep these texts on hand for easy sharing.)
What you just wrote should be put on a plaque and nailed to the door of every classroom in America right now. Particularly eerie is watching political footage from the 1920s and 1930s, when more than a few politicians were talking the same fascist shit politicians are talking today.
Scary shit! Yeah, with the advent of Trumpism, the media here gave rise to the absurdity of a clown running a country, intellectually and morally. In my opinion, chasing the stupidity for a headline, instead of exposing the danger of such rhetoric only exacerbated his megalomania and celebrity. In this instance, the press failed demonstrably. It was too late. I certainly hope the free press and journalists in Italy aren’t quelled into submission by these tyrannical ideologies before it’s too late. History is certainly repeating itself with these power grabs rooted in fear and hatred of diverse communities. In a perfect world, it shouldn’t have to be us against them, but just us, sharing our lives with others, in peace on our planet! Eternal Dreamer🥲
The good thing about Italy is that it is a very very old country. They'll survive Meloni. I just wonder if we will.
It is a real tragedy that Meloni is the first female prime minister. Much was made of her gender and I bet there were people who supported her because of her gender. I am not a supporter of any thing close to a “right wing” agenda. I am a veteran who spent 2 years guarding the East German border. I have seen the results of Fascism first hand. The problem is when the pendulum swings, it often swings too far. When I read your articles, I, as a white male, feel blamed for things I had no involvement with, because of my gender and skin color. I’m sorry but we need to “judge” people as individuals regardless of their gender, race, age or color of their skin. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy your articles and your passion for what you do.
I am NOT blaming you, personally. I promise you I'm not. As the mother of a white male, the daughter of a white male, and the girlfriend of a white male, I am far from hating white males. On the contrary. And hey--white women aren't exactly knocking it out of the park these days either. Herschel Walker and Ye prove that some Black men are failing the purity test, big time.
And I'm sure you'll agree with me that the best way to do better is to identify the problem and then DO better. So, we have to talk about this stuff. Otherwise, there's no dialogue, no exchange of ideas.
I confess that your time as guard watching the East German border has me all kinds of curious. Did you see the wall come down? Because I think you must have. I'm quite envious!
Evidently, there was a sick 10 year old girl on the bus load of migrants that Abbott just sent to Philadelphia. Sounds eerily familiar.
Oh, that's terrible. This again? There are already over 1000 immigrant children who have yet to be returned to their parents after Trump's grandstanding at the border. It breaks my heart.
I was in Germany from 1972 to 1974. I was within walking distance to the East German and Czech borders. I was in garrison for 6 months before I got an issue of sheets for my bed because were “in the field” sleeping on the ground in pup tents. I was drafted, an interesting male privilege. If I had been drafted 2 days earlier I would have gone to Vietnam. So, no I did not see the wall come down.