Friday, July 05, 2019

Fascism

     Usually I stay away from (mostly!) politics, but while searching for something else this morning I came across the following from the United States Holocaust Memorial.


Early Warning Signs of Fascism

Powerful and Continuing Nationalism

Disdain for Human Rights

Identification of Enemies as a Unifying Cause

Supremacy of the Military

Rampant Sexism

Controlled Mass Media

Obsession with National Security

Religion and Government Intertwined

Labour Power Suppressed

Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts

Obsession with Crime and Punishment

Rampant Cronyism and Corruption

Fraudulent Elections


     It made my blood run cold.
David M. Gascoigne,
David M. Gascoigne,

I'm a life long birder. My interests are birds, nature, reading, books, outdoors, travel, food and wine.

56 comments:

  1. "Fraudulent Elections" look like a "trending" every where now.....sad...

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  2. Det finns alla skäl i världen att vara observant, vi har tydliga tendenser även i vårt land. Föraktet för vetenskap börjar sprida sig oroväckande, främlingsfientlighet och nationalism är vardagsmat numera. Jag läste Madeleine Albrights bok "Fascism" i vintras och hon varnade för de tecken vi ser i världen. Hon om någon vet vad det innebär.
    Det är skrämmande...

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  3. Estimado amigo es para quedarse helado y más. Un fuerte abrazo.

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  4. This all comes under the heading of -ism words. Fascism> nationalism, racism, sexism, militarism etc...
    So far, we haven't really been able to control the above, just as we are unable to control climate. What could happen? The world might be taken over by wildlife like in Chernobyl (Chernobyl is seen by some as God's little experiment).
    So, a natural disaster or a man-made disaster could lead to human replacement by wildlife . That doesn't sound like an optimistic theory, but humans have been given their chance and blew it.

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  5. Hello David,
    It's scary...
    The sign's are here too. I can't understand why people don't learn of history.

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  6. Chilling words indeed, David.

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    Replies
    1. Especially when you think of Trump yesterday with his display of military hardware, his constant derogation of a free press as the enemy of the people, his sycophantic attitude toward the religious right, his disparagement of trade unions.....and so on. It is scary stuff south if the border.

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  7. Sigh. So many of those boxes are being ticked off. And it gives me the grues too.

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  8. And yet...we should be screaming NO in the streets. I will not celebrate this Nation till that Fascists is out of the White House!

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  9. Hi David,
    Frightening words indeed, but what with Fascism and a new word to me Trumpism the world is becoming a frightening place.
    All the best,
    John

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    Replies
    1. Hi John: When you look at fascist dictators of the past like Franco and Mussolini the comparison with Trump is scary. He even postures the way they did. How 85 million people voted for him is beyond my comprehension.

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    2. Hi David,
      I totally agree, and to think this man has his finger on the button of annihilation.
      John

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  10. It's make me fear what will be in the future... What is happening right now in USA makes me very sad. I have only hope that in the next election we will be again the same nation.

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  11. Chilling words, not only has America got a buffoon, it looks like England is going to be following in the same steps!
    Have a good weekend Diane

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  12. Amigo David, por desgracia el ser humano es el único que tropieza una, dos, tres y las veces que hagan falta con la misma piedra. Por desgracia para la humanidad la historia siempre se repite, no aprendemos nunca de los errores del pasado.
    Un fuerte abrazo querido y compadre amigo.

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    Replies
    1. You are right, Juan. We seldom learn from history and I don't think that history is even taught to a great extent in schools today.

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  13. It becomes more disturbing by the day.

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  14. I do hope that this is 'fake' news.

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  15. Hi David - I'd rather not think about it ... I just hope we can come to our senses soon (very soon). Take care and enjoy the weekend ... Hilary

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  16. Homo homini lupus.
    I hope we are not going back to that...

    Enjoy your weekend, David!

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    Replies
    1. I think that in Canada we are not there, but when one sees what can happen so quickly in other democracies we cannot become complacent.

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  17. Hello David, I never would have thought we would have reached this point, but we have. It is down right scary to me. It is so scary that so many people believe the lies are the truth and the truth is lies. I would have never thought the dictators would become more important than our allies. I really think our election process and the environment is doomed. Leader McConnell will not even put a bill up for a vote that is bipartisan, he needs to go too. More scary times ahead.

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    1. Hi Eileen: I just read that funding to monitor bees as pollinators has been withdrawn by the Trump people in positions to make such an irrational decision, yet there is money to be found to pay for tanks and warplanes on the 4th of July weekend, and Trump goes to one of his resorts most weekends to play golf, at enormous cost to the taxpayer. It boggles the mind.

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  18. i will keep my opinion to myself...i don't talk politics with anyone really!! have a great weekend david!!

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    1. I think it goes far beyond discussing politics, Debbie, it goes to the very root of the future of democracy.

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  19. Una palabra muy conocida por aquí. Abrazos.

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  20. It frightened me too when I saw the military parade on tv yesterday. I have no idea how so many still believe in him!!

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  21. If we were in our early 20s (we left those behind many years ago) we'd leave this increasing irrational country for another, just as our ancestors left the old country. I have several in mind -- if they'd accept refugees from the U.S. I really fear for the world our grandchildren will inhabit.

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    1. Canada still welcomes refugees - from all over the world too.

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  22. It’s very frightening. It seems like no one is paying attention and those of us who are appear to be helpless. The military parade should be the last straw ... and yet there is no general alarm.

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  23. It's a scary world we live in today. Unfortunately, I think it will actually get worse.

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  24. Let's see, check check check...14 out of 14. Now that's scary.

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  25. It scares the heck out of me. I don't understand how so many people still believe "our" president, how lies suddenly become the truth and everything that America once stood for doesn't seem to be important anymore. We certainly don't learn from our history.

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  26. At least you can say you live in Canada. I am worried next election things will only get worse than they are already. And yet, so many people seem to think these traits are OK. I don't get it.

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  27. These are very strange times. I wonder how did we get there? My hope is that the 2020 election will bring us a saner president and lock this one up for corruption.

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  28. Have a nice sunday David. Thank you for your visit. Greetings Caroline

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  29. We are in a weird spot in this country. I don't 'talk' politics but read this post with great interest. Diana

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    1. I think this is way beyond "politics." This disturbing trend has the potential to change the very structure of your government.

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  30. I am with you David, fascism is bad.

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  31. Such is what I've been thinking for a long time, but nowadays that country is getting worse, it's scary to see the things that they do there, to top it all many without knowing, they set it as an example when things do not go well here, they are so many.

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  32. Interesting, fascizm is terrible!

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  33. Thank's for charing, David.
    A reminder...

    Ida

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  34. Hello David, I follow this news every day. In Europe it is not any different. These nationalist are walking the streets again and in Amsterdam they are openly calling after Jews and Israeli tourist with antisemetic words again. The police is standing there as well and doing nothing. It is all allowed by the Municipality of Amsterdam. They say it is freedom of speech. In the Netherlands the most Jewish people where deported to the concentration camps and now after more than 70 years there is still no National monument for the 102.000 Jews that were murdered. This monument is to be placed in the nabourhood that housed the Jewish people in Amsterdam. Now people who live in the houses of those Jewish people are protesting in court that they do not want it in their nabourhood. The names of a part of my family would be part of this monument. I do hope it will be placed and I will be able to remember my family at this monument. It is frightning what is happening again. What is wrong with human beings that they do not learn from the past.
    Regards,
    Roos

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    Replies
    1. It is frightening indeed, Roos. We are in troubling times. I hope that the monument is erected so that victims can be remembered and that the world should never forget.

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  35. Hello David,
    Terrifying words that I see there. Unfortunately it seems that we are sinking even further into this world. I keep my opinion for myself but I am really afraid of this world that is becoming more and more ahrder!

    A hug for you,
    Helma

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  36. I think it must not be repeated David. I agree.

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  37. This hits way to close to home in your neighbors to the South. It hurts me, as a student of WWII to see patterns such as this repeating themselves in my country. Thank you for posting this. I will save it and share.

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  38. Thank you for your comment on my blog. I am with you 100%.

    When I was talking about the early C20th, the most egregious elements were:
    Supremacy of the Military
    Rampant Sexism
    Religion and Government Intertwined
    Labour Power Suppressed
    Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts

    Yes it all changed later, but we need to remember the roots of "apparently acceptable" Fascism.

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  39. I feel like I am living the nightmare here in SW IN, USA. You hit the nail on the head with this post. Scary.

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    Replies
    1. The trends are very scary. I can only hope that Trump is resoundingly defeated next year.

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