But racism is an important component of fascism not because of its inherent wrongness, but because of its role in creating and maintaining a fascist society.
Donald Trump isn't attacking Mexicans and refugees because he has an evil plan to get those groups and he's trying to sell it to the electorate. Like history's (other) great fascist demagogues, he's weaponized racism, deploying it as a rhetorical tool to win the hearts and votes of racists. The race card provides the goad of resentment and fear, and a shiny object of distraction.
Racism continues to play a role in established fascist societies, continuously supplying outsiders to threaten the volk and the nation. More subtly, it's a psychological component of fascist society: To participate in pogroms and genocide, or to be aware but keep silent, implicates people in the fascist regime, compromises their moral judgment and refocuses it on trusting the State's judgment to salve their own consciences. Racism is a component of the terror practiced to keep the population in line, providing examples of what happens to out-groups and people out of favor with the regime and with proper (submissive) society.
Trump's racism is important, Tom, and it really is a relevant and important part of judging him a fascist.
Your post was generally well thought out and I'd agree with ER, but it seems you couldn't resist forever falling into the stale propaganda, like all that effort to make the tired old case that it's really Liberals who are the fascists nyah nyah nyah. I'll just let the delusional half slide and pretend I stopped reading before it.
Current Events » in reply to If you are really asking a question:
Racism was more of a prominent example than the sole characteristic
The whole thread (74 posts)
- Defining fascism--a little light reading
- A superb description of the Republican Party with their goosestep members of Congress.
- It's funny, even you guys have to look up the definition of fascist.....n/t
- Do you already know one?
- Please..
- OK, the long way round, you're saying you don't think Trump is a Fascist
- I think you're just a little too gleeful.
- "Glee" is the wrong word
- I'm sorry you took offense Robert
- If you are really asking a question:
- Racism was more of a prominent example than the sole characteristic
- Excellent post.
- It wasn't that Eco, or even Robert, were wrong.
- Your ideology is showing.
- I should hope so.
- Your ideology is showing.
- Thanks for that
- It wasn't that Eco, or even Robert, were wrong.
- I'm tending to agree with TB on this
- Have you read this whole thread?
- "Glee" is the wrong word
- I think you're just a little too gleeful.
- They're in the "furious gibbering" phase.
- I don't think Trump is making any effort NOT to be shoehorned.
- Be honest Rob...
- OK, the long way round, you're saying you don't think Trump is a Fascist
- I don't think Trump has a political ideology...
- Please..
- That's because there IS NO definition of fascist.
- Do you already know one?
- Fascism is the dictatorship of the middle class.
- Definitions