American Crisis

“When Fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag.”

I am devastated. I blame myself. I blame myself because I naively believed my country would openly denounce misogyny, racism, sexism, Islamophobia, homophobia, xenophobia, and all phobias and prejudices that have been unleashed by this man. I had faith in my fellow countrymen to protect the rights of women. I am well-aware that not everyone who voted for this man is a racist or sexist, or any other “ist” you can think of; however, the fact that so much hatred has emerged as a direct result of this man’s words is frightening.

As a historian, I can tell you without hesitation that this is how the most horrifying events in history unfold. This is textbook Fascism and because of this election, world history will be forever altered. To the people who clamored for change, be careful what you wish for. Change means something different from what you have. What we have right now is: a woman’s right to choose what happens to and with her own body; a flawed but functioning medical insurance system; marriage equality; a growing economy; and tenable international relationships. What we have is far from perfect but it is progress. Why erase progress to revert to systems and ideologies that were in place during the Eisenhower Era? I’ll tell you why, Fascism has come to America.

The most fundamental tenet of Fascist ideology is to return to a mythological, utopian past; in other words, “Make the Country Great Again.” Mussolini and Hitler both espoused this principal. Mussolini wanted to protect the men who fought in WWI for Italy as they were the “forgotten men.” These two dictators, and Stalin, immediately incarcerated or exiled all of their political opponents once they gained power; they simply “Locked Them Up.” Once their political rivals were erased, intellectuals and artists were the next to be removed so as not to enlighten others to the dangers at hand, they wanted “leaders not readers.” In Fascist Germany, homosexuals were targeted under Paragraph 175 as they were seen as being genetically undesirable and a detriment to a pure society. They were experimented on as a form of “conversion therapy.” Germany and Russia made a pact to facilitate the invasion of Poland without sanction, there was “no consequence faced by Russia for the hostile invasion of a neighboring country.” Specific ethnic and religious groups were targeted and war and genocide ensued. That war did begin to unify the United States and end the worst financial depression in history; one that started when millionaire businessman Herbert Hoover was the president. Do I need to say more???

I am stunned that I am watching history repeat itself before my very eyes. I am appalled that people actually believe that Donald cares about the middle class and veterans; he’s never been either. I asked some friends to describe how they felt this morning; panicked, incapacitated, and exhausted were some replies. One wise friend said, “Hope, because That Is All We Have.” The only hope I have left is that good people will educate themselves and inspire others to do the same. I recommend the following books to start:

Roger Eatwell, Fascism: A History (New York: Penguin, 1995).

Roger Griffin, ed. Fascism (repr. 2009, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1995).

Samuel Totten and William S. Parsons, eds. Centuries of Genocide: Essays and Eyewitness Accounts, 4^th ed. (New York: Routledge, 2013).

Good luck, friends.