Thread | Brutkey

Domestically:

Every act of racism. Every instance of misogyny. Every bit of homophobia. Every aspect of transphobia. Classism, religious bigotry, etc: it needs to be stomped out up front.

If you let it slide, it builds to Trump.

Internationally:

Every little Transnistria. Every little invasion of Georgia. Every little swiping of Crimea: it needs to be stomped out up front.

If you let it slide, it builds and grows to full on invasion of Ukraine, threatening to drag us now into WWIII.

7/x

Ben Royce 🇺🇦

🇸🇩

@benroyce@mastodon.social

Granted, it's possible to be too aggressive here.

That casual misogynist might just need a little talking to. While a hardcore reaction might backfire.

And WWIII right up front over a minor land disagreement... yeah, no.

So again, Karl Popper:

"I do not imply, for instance, that we should always suppress the utterance of intolerant philosophies; as long as we can counter them by rational argument and keep them in check by public opinion, suppression would certainly be most unwise."

8/x

Ben Royce 🇺🇦

🇸🇩

@benroyce@mastodon.social

So there is some finesse here. The difficult task in containing latent fascism is knowing how to react to it. Too harsh and you feed it. Too soft and it grows.

But this is absolutely true and everyone must know it:

You aren't going to have to eventually confront fascism.

It is simply the truth that it is always there to be confronted.

All of us. All societies. For all time.

It's always bubbling under the surface. And it must be confronted.

Early, or it grows.

And claims innocence.

9/x

Ben Royce 🇺🇦

🇸🇩

@benroyce@mastodon.social

Happy #MemorialDay

For all those who gave their lives in the previous struggle against #fascism.

Let us make sure it was not in vain, and that we learn from their sacrifices.

x/x

Ben Royce 🇺🇦

🇸🇩

@benroyce@mastodon.social

addendum:

required viewing for all Americans

for everyone in the world

made by the US War Department at the end of WWII, a discussion between a regular Joe who almost gets seduced by a fascist street preacher, and a Hungarian immigrant who tells him this is how Hitler started, in detail

at a moment of historical clarity, an inspired piece of propaganda

how #fascism rises: divide and conquer with hate, while regular folks go "just crazy talk"

"Don't Be a Sucker"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGAqYNFQdZ4