Fascism Watch - No, don’t watch. JUMP!

There was a time, even a couple of years ago, when people were still whispering about fascism. I read the transcripts of a sermons by the Austin, Texas, UU Minister and former Vietnam combat photographer, Dr. Davidson Loehr on “Living under Fascism.” (Now part of his book, America, Fascism, and God.) It was electric to see someone put it into words, to go through Lawrence Britt’s 14 points of fascism and check them off one by one. I realized I wasn’t alone in recognizing the creeping authoritarianism in the U.S. (and beyond).

As soon as it was reprinted in early 2005, I read Sinclair Lewis’ It Can’t Happen Here (1935). I took it overseas with me and wondered. Just wondered. (Come on. I know people who wonder whether their harmless and 1st-amendment protected novels will cause trouble during a search.)

As I’ve seen several times in the past few days George Allen’s people assault the (blogger) man asking Allen about his first wife, I’ve considered what made the tough guys believe it was OK to tackle this guy for asking a question (even if it was personal). “Did you spit on your first wife?” BAM! Down he goes. “Now you’re getting personal,” said one of the thugs. Isn’t that man’s speech protected by the 1st Amendment? That hasn’t been repealed yet, has it? Yes, of course it’s not fascism when we do it.

I already wrote about the Bush administration’s fun with the term “Islamofascism.” Tossing the word around makes it more familiar and, perhaps, less scary. It still scares me, though.

Then I read an article and listen to a story this past month that bring it into the present. First was the Truthdig podcast by Robert Scheer including American Fascism, then an article by Stan Goff, a Special Forces veteran, on “Sowing the Seeds of Fascism in America.”

I have spent enough time studying the fascist movements of the mid-twentieth century that I realize we are frogs boiling slowly. It’s happening so slowly that we don’t jump. JUMP!

What good does vigilance do us. Yes, I’m paying attention. Yes, I see it. What do I do about it? The answer I’m coming up with right now is so simple: VOTE.

And encourage those around you to vote. Talk to the people around you about the dangers of authoritarianism. Face to face is the place we have the most power. Tell the other frogs to jump.

• American: From Freedom to Fascism (feature film by Aaron Russo)
  Review: “The scariest damn film you’ll see this year. . . . Makes ‘Fahrenheit 9/11′ look like ‘Bambi.’”
  Watch it at Google Video.

• Positive Universe - Fascism Watch Headlines

• Third World Traveler - linked up resources

• It Isn’t Fascism When We Do It - Buy the shirt, support Project for the Old American Century

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