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Like almost everybody who uses the term, the author never once defines "fascism" -- it's just a magic word used to shut down political beliefs he doesn't like (
by jmorphy88 11y ago
Like almost everybody who uses the term, the author never once defines "fascism" -- it's just a magic word used to shut down political beliefs he doesn't like (a fact implied by Eco's point in Eternal Fascism, that the word has a "fuzzy" or ambiguous meaning, which allows it to be used as a weapon).
As one example, take this:
> fascist ideas are beginning to take over societies wholesale (for example, 47% of Americans approve of Trump’s proposal to “ban” Muslims)
Keeping Muslims out of your country is a "fascist idea"? Does that mean any country that has ever kept Muslims out is "fascist"?
The whole essay would be vastly improved by dropping the F-word bogeyman and calling political trends what they are -- a resurgence of nationalism in the face of ever-increasing urbanization and migration, and a rejection of globalization and open borders.
- pvaldes 11y ago> Keeping Muslims out of your country is a "fascist idea"? Of course it is. Spreading xenophobia and fearmongering against some <mexicans, muslims, put some ethnic/religious minory here> is a classic in the first steps of all so called fascist regimes. Xenophobia and fascism are inseparable concepts. One can not live without the other. And remember that Trump had tried also this dirty trick against hispanes, but it just didn't work so well in that case. I didn't be surprised if poorest black and asian people be seen also as targets and 'enjoy' a similar treatment in the future.