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[QUOTE]Originally posted by David Sands: [QB] Ugh. So much wrong with videos like that. I can�t say I have read this professor�s work. But I think the maker�s interpretation of the characteristics of Fascism is really awry. Of course, everything I say here is subject to the development of the historiography of early 20th century political movements, still a developing enterprise. However, there are some big points he�s missing here if he is trying to give his viewers of the distinguishing characteristics of Fascism. Moreover, I think he�s conflating Fascism (most prominent in Italy, but found in the beliefs of smaller groups in other lands) and National Socialism (a more distinctly German movement). In the interests of balance (and because I�m feeling garrulous after being righteously angered by a by someone doing something very wrong today), let me offer what I�ve understood to be a broader picture of Fascism. Fascism went through stages like all political movements. But it did not spring up as a full-grown ideology overnight. It was an outgrowth of Marxism and adapted to the industrialization of Italy and the growing prosperity that made Communism inapplicable as a left-wing ideology. It is a more complex ideology than many have thought, though ultimately, its effectiveness lay in the economic stabilization its leaders gave their countries rather than any authentic reordering of public life. However, certain tenets solidified around the movement we visualize in our heads. The first was a futurism not found today. This was a glorification and preference for the speed and efficiency of the modern industrialized war. It glorified modern war as means by which modern heroes could step forth out of the masses. The second was syndicalism, a belief in the ownership of groups of the means of production. Functionally, this meant unions would be the owners of companies. However, in conjunction with a third, secularism, it took on a myth-making characteristic that attempted to use baser pre-conscious cognitive processes to appeal of the masses. ([i]The Psychology of Crowds[/i] is an example of this. So would Jung�s archetypes, though these weren�t the ones Fascists had in mind.) Along with secularism, Fascism took on an anti-Christian flavor. Mussolini thought it was a feminine and childish religion that softened the people. A return to the stoicism of pagan Rome was a more suitable ethical basis for his new republic. Lastly, Fascism had a communitarian element (very related to its syndicalism) that it shared in common with Marxism. And to state very quickly, because it�s late and I�m getting tired, National Socialism is distinguished by its opposition to the Enlightenment, Christianity, private means of production (though not purely nationalized means), and by its embrace of pre-civilizational paganism and science as a tool of that paganism�s goals. That said, I don�t think the professor is off-base in what he has observed; but I think what he�s latching onto as the operational differences between liberal western democracies and earlier totalitarian regimes are wrong. There was nationalism back then, and there is today. But so what? There was nationalism on both sides of WWII. By his measure, the Allies were wrong to believe their way of life was the better one for mankind. And I agree with them. Same for identifying enemies and rallying behind defeating them. I for one have no problem stamping out Islamofascism and vilifying it for the nihilistic ideology it is. Supremacy of the military? It�s a war. (Jason�s right on that.) Of course the military needs money. I�m OK not having government-�purchased� prescription drugs when there�s the risk of a radioactive suitcase coming to a town near me. Am I obsessed with national security? Not obsessed, but very concerned. [URL=http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110003467]It�s common among conservatives.[/URL] As for controlled mass media, if he�s thinking that confronting reporters and organizations that disagree with you and not allowing them to frame the debate how they want, then, yes, there�s plenty of it. I won�t say we�ve not made mistakes, but I think the supporters of the war are entitled to show the people what�s been accomplished. And we�ve done the same thing in every war we�ve ever fought. If corporate power protection means we haven�t modeled our economy on the social democratic model, then yes, we�ve got that too. But by that measure, the EU is more Fascist than we are. (Although, as Jason observed, Fascism was supported by the people, and this constitution is emphatically [i]not[/i].) I would disagree that mainstream religion is diametrically opposed to what we�re doing overseas. For a smattering of essays from the perspective of Catholics (mainstream enough for you?), try [URL=http://www.ratzingerfanclub.com/justwar]Ratzinger Fanclub�s section on just war[/URL]. As for domestic policy, [URL=http://www.firstthings.com/ftissues/ft9705/articles/neuhaus.html]American liberalism is not incompatible with religious liberalism[/URL]. As for crime and punishment obsessions, living in a city with plenty of it, that complaint is falling on deaf ears here. I think a lot of people on the east side of my city think about it a lot, and I would not call them Fascists. As for Daryus�s comment on how the United States sees itself, I�ll give you a comment on America I heard one Catholic pundit (I think) give: America is both an example and a warning. Instead of just tearing down Mr. Rich�s work as a shameless acceleration of Godwin�s Law, let me offer an alternative: years ago, I heard it hypothesized that a good example of what a Fascist society would look like (had it survived WW2) is China. I�ve been turning this around in my head for some time as I�ve watched events unfold. And I don�t know enough about China to come to a conclusion. I�m curious what you all think since some of you might keep up with what�s going on there more than I. Discuss. [/QB][/QUOTE]
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