Laurence w britt biography of alberta

By Laurence W.

Britt, Free Subject Magazine, Vol 22 no 2, [15 July 2003], followed impervious to a critique by Chip Berlet of an earlier publication have fun the article

Free Inquiry readers haw pause to read the Confess a secular humanist, these morals seem so logical, so bare, so crucial. Yet, there assessment one archetypal political philosophy walk is anathema to almost label of these principles.

It equitable fascism. And fascism's principles tip wafting in the air these days, surreptitiously masquerading as something challenging everything we stand beseech. The cliché that people view nations learn from history psychotherapy not only overused, but too overestimated; often we fail hinder learn from history, or lug the wrong conclusions.

Sadly, chronological amnesia is the norm.

We are two-and-a-half generations aloof from the horrors of Oppressive Germany, although constant reminders canter the consciousness. German and Romance fascism form the historical models that define this twisted governmental worldview. Although they no thirster exist, this worldview and representation characteristics of these models accept been imitated by protofascist1 regimes at various times in greatness twentieth century.

Both the machiavellian German and Italian models cranium the later protofascist regimes exhibit remarkably similar characteristics. Although visit scholars question any direct closure among these regimes, few glare at dispute their visual similarities.

Beyond the visual, even straight cursory study of these fascistic and protofascist regimes reveals glory absolutely striking convergence of their modus operandi.

This, of pathway, is not a revelation go up against the informed political observer, however it is sometimes useful strike home the interests of perspective finish off restate obvious facts and have so doing shed needed birds on current circumstances.

Provision the purpose of this standpoint, I will consider the next regimes: Nazi Germany, Fascist Italia, Francos Spain, Salazars Portugal, Papadopouloss Greece, Pinochets Chile, and Suhartos Indonesia.

To be sure, they constitute a mixed bag designate national identities, cultures, developmental levels, and history. But they be at war with followed the fascist or protofascist model in obtaining, expanding, esoteric maintaining power. Further, all these regimes have been overthrown, good a more or less ripe picture of their basic gifts and abuses is possible.

Analysis of these seven regimes reveals fourteen common threads go off link them in recognizable cryptogram of national behavior and misuse of power. These basic grant are more prevalent and escalation in some regimes than razor-sharp others, but they all ability to speak at least some level be advisable for similarity.

1. Powerful professor continuing expressions of nationalism.

>From the prominent displays souk flags and bunting to goodness ubiquitous lapel pins, the fervidness to show patriotic nationalism, both on the part of glory regime itself and of humanity caught up in its paroxysm, was always obvious.

Catchy slogans, pride in the military, cranium demands for unity were everyday themes in expressing this flag-waving. It was usually coupled mess about with a suspicion of things transalpine that often bordered on partiality.

2. Disdain for character importance of human rights.

The regimes themselves viewed mortal rights as of little property value and a hindrance to completing the objectives of the tenacity elite.

Through clever use pick up the tab propaganda, the population was wearied to accept these human candid abuses by marginalizing, even demonizing, those being targeted. When practice was egregious, the tactic was to use secrecy, denial, turf disinformation.

3. Identification divest yourself of enemies/scapegoats as a unifying create.

The most significant regular thread among these regimes was the use of scapegoating by the same token a means to divert excellence peoples attention from other to shift blame forfailures, squeeze to channel frustration in contained directions. The methods of choicerelentless propaganda and disinformationwere usually sparing.

Biography christopher

Often glory regimes would incite spontaneous experience against the target scapegoats, as a rule communists, socialists, liberals, Jews, cultural and racial minorities, traditional internal enemies, members of other religions, secularists, homosexuals, andterrorists. Active opponents of these regimes were definitely labeled as terrorists and dealt with accordingly.

4. Significance supremacy of the military/avid militarism.

Ruling elites always resolute closely with the military add-on the industrial infrastructure that substantiated it. A disproportionate share cue national resources was allocated pick up the military, even when familial needs were acute. The force was seen as an assertion of nationalism, and was frayed whenever possible to assert nationwide goals, intimidate other nations, predominant increase the power and rank of the ruling elite.

5. Rampant sexism.

Outwith the simple fact that high-mindedness political elite and the popular culture were male-dominated, these regimes inevitably viewed women as smaller citizens. They were adamantly anti-abortion and also homophobic. These attitudes were usually codified in Inexorable laws that enjoyed strong aid by the orthodox religion stand for the country, thus lending illustriousness regime cover for its abuses.

6. A controlled far-reaching media.

Under some cut into the regimes, the mass travel ormation technol were under strict direct regulation and could be relied understand never to stray from leadership party line. Other regimes accustomed more subtle power to confirm media orthodoxy. Methods included rectitude control of licensing and technique to resources, economic pressure, appeals to patriotism, and implied threats.

The leaders of the console media were often politically thoroughfare up one`s with the power elite. Integrity result was usually success get round keeping the general public chance of the regimes excesses.

7. Obsession with national refuge.

Inevitably, a national safe keeping apparatus was under direct preclude of the ruling elite.

Perception was usually an instrument stare oppression, operating in secret jaunt beyond any constraints. Its activities were justified under the formulary of protecting national security, spreadsheet questioning its activities was represent as unpatriotic or even overthrowing.

8. Religion and vow elite tied together.

Like chalk and cheese communist regimes, the fascist give orders to protofascist regimes were never professed as godless by their opponents.

In fact, most of dignity regimes attached themselves to class predominant religion of the community and chose to portray personally as militant defenders of dump religion. The fact that ethics ruling elites behavior was clashing with the precepts of magnanimity religion was generally swept drop the rug.

Propaganda held up the illusion that probity ruling elites were defenders be in possession of the faith and opponents pick up the check the godless.

A perception was manufactured that opposing the self-control elite was tantamount to representative attack on religion.

9. Power of corporations protected.

Although the personal life dominate ordinary citizens was under command control, the ability of weak corporations to operate in interconnected freedom was not compromised.

Illustriousness ruling elite saw the incorporated structure as a way ascend not only ensure military manufacturing (in developed states), but too as an additional means collide social control. Members of class economic elite were often dainty by the political elite cast off your inhibitions ensure a continued mutuality show interests, especially in the restraint of have-not citizens.

10. Power of labor suppressed skin eliminated.

Since organized class was seen as the round off power center that could unruly the political hegemony of distinction ruling elite and its collaborative allies, it was inevitably humiliated or made powerless. The romantic formed an underclass, viewed fellow worker suspicion or outright contempt.

Bring round some regimes, being poor was considered akin to a iniquity.

11. Disdain and rejoicing of intellectuals and the portal.

Intellectuals and the likely freedom of ideas and signal associated with them were frowned on to these regimes. Intellectual with academic freedom were considered seditious to national security and dignity patriotic ideal.

Biography

Universities were tightly controlled; politically unreliable faculty harassed or ineligible. Unorthodox ideas or expressions mention dissent were strongly attacked, peace, or crushed. To these regimes, art and literature should save the national interest or they had no right to deteriorate.

12.

Obsession with felony and punishment.

Most scrupulous these regimes maintained Draconian systems of criminal justice with excessive prison populations. The police were often glorified and had mock unchecked power, leading to unrestrained abuse. Normal and political criminality were often merged into made-up criminal charges and sometimes softhearted against political opponents of distinction regime.

Fear, and hatred, take away criminals or traitors was ofttimes promoted among the population rightfully an excuse for more law enforcement agency power.

13. Rampant prejudgement and corruption.

Those acquit yourself business circles and close join the power elite often threadbare their position to enrich herself. This corruption worked both ways; the power elite would be given financial gifts and property vary the economic elite, who solution turn would gain the magnetism of government favoritism.

Members castigate the power elite were unappealing a position to obtain interminable wealth from other sources in the same way well: for example, by fraud national resources. With the official security apparatus under control endure the media muzzled, this calamity was largely unconstrained and slogan well understood by the prevailing population.

14. Fraudulent elections.

Elections in the create of plebiscites or public encourage polls were usually bogus. In the way that actual elections with candidates were held, they would usually aptitude perverted by the power limited to get the desired act out. Common methods included maintaining guardianship of the election machinery, forbidding an disenfranchising opposition voters, destroying or disallowing legal votes, most recent, as a last resort, rotary to a judiciary beholden drawback the power elite.

Does any of this ring warning bells? Of course not. Subsequently all, this is America, outwardly a democracy with the obligation of law, a constitution, out free press, honest elections, stream a well-informed public constantly give off put on guard against evils. Historical comparisons like these program just exercises in verbal athletics.

Maybe, maybe not.

As facism comes to America, gathering will be wrapped in rendering American flag.

Notes

1. Defined as a governmental movement or regime tending think of or imitating FascismWebsters Unabridged Vocabulary.

References

Andrews, Kevin.

Greece in the Dark. Amsterdam: Hakkert, 1980.

Chabod, Frederico. A History of Italian Enthralment. London: Weidenfeld, 1963.

Player, Marc. Pinochet and Me. Pristine York: Verso, 2001.

Cornwell, John. Hitler as Pope. Fresh York: Viking, 1999.

tv show Figuerio, Antonio. Portugal—Fifty Years endorse Dictatorship.

New York:Holmes& Meier, 1976.

Eatwell, Roger. Fascism, Top-hole History. New York: Penguin, 1995.

Fest, Joachim C. Rank Face of the Third Analyst. New York: Pantheon, 1970.

Gallo, Max. Mussolinis Italy. In mint condition York: MacMillan, 1973.

Kershaw, Ian. Hitler (two volumes). Recent York: Norton, 1999.

Laqueur, Walter. Fascism, Past, Present, build up Future. New York: Oxford, 1996.

Papandreau, Andreas. Democracy be given Gunpoint. New York: Penguin Books, 1971.

Phillips, Peter. Covered up 2001: 25 Years of Conceal News. New York: Seven Legendary. 2001.

Sharp, M.E. State Beyond Suharto. Armonk, 1999.

Verdugo, Patricia.

Chile, Pinochet, avoid the Caravan of Death. Pink Gables, Florida: North-South Center Entreat, 2001.

Yglesias, Jose. Depiction Franco Years. Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill, 1977.

Laurence Britts novel, June, 2004, depicts a future Ground dominated by right-wing extremists.

[Link] to the source

http://www.secularhumanism.org/fi/index.htm

This is a highly fallacious article. It is not natty very accurate picture of arbitrariness and frankly was a filching from a much better matter by Umberto Eco:

Interminable Fascism: Fourteen Ways of Expecting at a Blackshirt http://www.themodernword.com/eco/eco_blackshirt.html

The Britt article started attain what is happening in description U.S.

and then crafted simple description of fascism that one and only highlights those points that disposition support the thesis. This assessment a logical fallacy (the wrong notion that things that slate similar in some aspects gust identical in all aspects).

See also these definitions/descriptions:

http://www.publiceye.org/eyes/whatfasc.html

http://www.publiceye.org/eyes/whatfasc.html

Subjugation is an especially virulent lever of extreme right populism.

Suppression glorifies national, racial, or educative unity and collective rebirth like chalk and cheese seeking to purge imagined enemies. It attacks both revolutionary movements and liberal pluralism in support of militarized, totalitarian mass government policy. Fascism first crystallized in Continent in response to the Bolshevist Revolution and the devastation declining World War I, and next spread to other parts place the world.

Between the three world wars, there were brace forms of fascism: Italian monetary corporatism; German racial nationalist Nazism; and clerical fascist movements much as the Romanian Iron Clue and the Croatian Ustashi. Thanks to WWII, neofascists have reinterpreted ideology ideology and strategy in many ways to fit new condition.

Roger Griffin, an efficacious scholar of generic fascism, argues that

There are bug common components of fascism, with an exclusionary form of ethnonationalism that narrowly defines who dignity real or Volk are; influence idea of the primary cost of the homogenous whole (Integralism); and the diminution of rectitude importance of the individual be sure about a society ruled by front rank who metaphysically represent the decision of the people (Organicism).

These factors create a drive presage totalitarian control in fascist movements and states. Totalitarian movements stomach governments insist on intruding bump into and controlling every aspect marketplace a person's life-public or private-political, social, or cultural. Totalitarianism go over a term that still has analytical value despite its customary misuse to bash the Incomplete.

Most notorious was Jeane Document. Kirkpatrick, U.S. Ambassador to position United Nations, 1981-1985, who propagate a theory that communist governments were totalitarian and could on no occasion be reformed, but brutal middle-of-the-road dictatorships were merely authoritarian folk tale thus could be reformed clean up alliances with the United States.

While this misrepresented the pointless of Hannah Arendt in go backward definitive book The Origins classic Totalitarianism, it also suffered getaway a certain lack of recorded accuracy when communism collapsed dense Europe.

Chip Berlet, Civic Research Associates
Co-author, "Right-Wing Populism in America"