Fourteen Points of Fascism

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Powerful and continuing expressions of nationalism

From the prominent displays of flags and bunting to the ubiquitous lapel pins, the fervor to show patriotic nationalism, both on the part of the regime itself and of citizens caught up in its frenzy, was always obvious. Catchy slogans, pride in the military, and demands for unity were common themes in expressing this nationalism. It was usually coupled with a suspicion of things foreign that often bordered on xenophobia.

2. Disdain for the importance of human rights

The regimes themselves viewed human rights as of little value and a hindrance to realizing the objectives of the ruling elite. Through clever use of propaganda, the population was brought to accept these human rights abuses by marginalizing, even demonizing, those being targeted. When abuse was egregious, the tactic was to use secrecy, denial, and disinformation.

http://www.ellensplace.net/fascism.html

Short, sweet...and accurate.

[sakabatou]

1. Very close to Republicans, especially the Tea Party

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Why I said...

We are now dealing with...fascists.

[canetoad]

11. I'm halfway through watching

A compelling documentary series from the BBC - "The Nazis: A warning from History" that tracks the rise of Hitler and the Nazi party from the very beginning.

It's hard going but fascinating. It is available to watch online (6 x 50 min episodes) or by DVD.

[nadinbrzezinski]

15. I've watched it in the past

Indeed a good one.

[hifiguy]

3. This can't be posted often enough, nadin

Umberto Eco also wrote at length on this subject: http://www.themodernword.com/eco/eco_blackshirt.html.

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. Yup, but I fear this will be controversial too.

[white_wolf]

4. We meet all 14. n/t

[white_wolf]

6. LIke I said we meet all of the 14 points, but we do not meet all of

Hitler's 25 points: http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/riseofhitler/25points.htm Of course, Hitler soon abandoned those on taking power.

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. This is not just one type of controversial people.

[geardaddy]

8. Thanks for your work on this nadin.

I'm glad to see someone keeping the word on this out there.

[Riley18]

9. Fascists like the teabagger governors are going after unions

just like Hitler did when he came into power. I feel like we are watching our country unravel before our eyes

[canoeist52]

10. This part is chilling... small steps, noticed here on this site as well

"Each step was so small, so inconsequential, so well explained or, on occasion, 'regretted,' that unless one understood what the whole thing was in principle, what all these 'little measures'. . . must some day lead to, one no more saw it developing from day to day than a farmer in his field sees the corn growing. . . .Each act. . . is worse than the last, but only a little worse. You wait for the next and the next. You wait for one great shocking occasion, thinking that others, when such a shock comes, will join you in resisting somehow.

You don't want to act, or even talk, alone. . . you don't want to 'go out of your way to make trouble.' . . .But the one great shocking occasion, when tens or hundreds or thousands will join with you, never comes. That's the difficulty. The forms are all there, all untouched, all reassuring, the houses, the shops, the jobs, the mealtimes, the visits, the concerts, the cinema, the holidays. But the spirit, which you never noticed because you made the lifelong mistake of identifying it with the forms, is changed. Now you live in a world of hate and fear, and the people who hate and fear do not even know it themselves, when everyone is transformed, no one is transformed. . . .You have accepted things you would not have accepted five years ago, a year ago, things your father. . . could never have imagined." :

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. Yup

But none should point the change in zeitgeist

[justabob]

17. that is from one of the best books ever

IIRC....They Thought They Were Free by Milton Mayer

It should be required reading for everyone, everywhere.

[mod mom]

13. Came to DU over number 14.

[nadinbrzezinski]

16. Many of us did, electron fraud

[Hydra]

14. This point was interesting:

The poor formed an underclass, viewed with suspicion or outright contempt. Under some regimes, being poor was considered akin to a vice.

As the CEOs and Banksters work hard to cover their asses, I've seen the talking point continue to rise that the poor have too much and aren't contributing enough to society.

Funny to hear that from people who contribute about NOTHING to society except in the form of BS.