That’s all true, but it’s also worth noting that fascism was new back then, or at least in name and during the early 1920s it wasn’t entirely in power. (Just need to make a disclaimer that fascism is awful, stupid and that fascists deserve what happened to them and what will happen to them. Punch a nazi, counting or not counting gang violence, etc)
But does today’s liberal stand with fascists when push comes to shove? It appears to me that liberals in the US, where fascism is almost out of its proto-stage, seem to oppose it. The rest of the democratic world also seems to have decided not to replicate the turmoil the US is pushing forth, with overwhelming victories for the comparatively progressive parties in each nation.
To me Russia is largely a fascist state, my Russian pals can’t talk about certain topics and often need to keep their queer identity secret. Yet it is the tankies who are largely supportive of Russia, particularly Putin.
So is the phrase still true despite this? Or is it perhaps authoritarian projection?
I am yet to be convinced. We are still only resisting through peaceful protest. That is the easy part, and I do not believe it will be enough. So will liberals escalate, or will they turn into bystanders? I don’t know. I want them to prove me wrong, but I will plan based on history until proven otherwise. I also won’t ignore nuance. There will be liberals who resist, there will be ones that hide, and there will be ones that become fascists. I go out and support the protests as best as I can, but I am also paying attention to whether they can keep momentum. Paying attention to how many will continue to resist, and how many turn in the towel to protect their privilege and comfort.
I do agree that the US populace is largely pathetic and cowardly, Tankies absolutely included, and it’s one of the reasons I no longer take people from the US seriously when talking to them. Maybe a more apt phrase is ‘Scratch a coward and a fascist bleeds.’
But what of the larger world? Is the phrase still true? Because when I hear liberal, I assume the status quo, the average European, the average Commonwealth nation, someone who values democracy, individualism and equality.
Anarchists threaten the status quo far more than a fascist. Liberals still want government, hierarchy, property. And as long as you are not a minority or dissident, fascists will not threaten that. Anarchists however do. How an anarchist expresses individualism, equality, and democracy is fundamentally different from a liberal’s. Do I think all liberals would side with a fascist over an anarchist? No, but I would probably bet on it.
That’s all true, but it’s also worth noting that fascism was new back then, or at least in name and during the early 1920s it wasn’t entirely in power. (Just need to make a disclaimer that fascism is awful, stupid and that fascists deserve what happened to them and what will happen to them. Punch a nazi, counting or not counting gang violence, etc)
But does today’s liberal stand with fascists when push comes to shove? It appears to me that liberals in the US, where fascism is almost out of its proto-stage, seem to oppose it. The rest of the democratic world also seems to have decided not to replicate the turmoil the US is pushing forth, with overwhelming victories for the comparatively progressive parties in each nation.
To me Russia is largely a fascist state, my Russian pals can’t talk about certain topics and often need to keep their queer identity secret. Yet it is the tankies who are largely supportive of Russia, particularly Putin.
So is the phrase still true despite this? Or is it perhaps authoritarian projection?
I am yet to be convinced. We are still only resisting through peaceful protest. That is the easy part, and I do not believe it will be enough. So will liberals escalate, or will they turn into bystanders? I don’t know. I want them to prove me wrong, but I will plan based on history until proven otherwise. I also won’t ignore nuance. There will be liberals who resist, there will be ones that hide, and there will be ones that become fascists. I go out and support the protests as best as I can, but I am also paying attention to whether they can keep momentum. Paying attention to how many will continue to resist, and how many turn in the towel to protect their privilege and comfort.
I do agree that the US populace is largely pathetic and cowardly, Tankies absolutely included, and it’s one of the reasons I no longer take people from the US seriously when talking to them. Maybe a more apt phrase is ‘Scratch a coward and a fascist bleeds.’
But what of the larger world? Is the phrase still true? Because when I hear liberal, I assume the status quo, the average European, the average Commonwealth nation, someone who values democracy, individualism and equality.
Anarchists threaten the status quo far more than a fascist. Liberals still want government, hierarchy, property. And as long as you are not a minority or dissident, fascists will not threaten that. Anarchists however do. How an anarchist expresses individualism, equality, and democracy is fundamentally different from a liberal’s. Do I think all liberals would side with a fascist over an anarchist? No, but I would probably bet on it.
That is a good point, I can’t think of any anarchist parties from the top of my head that had as much attention as fascist parties.