Who has the courage to stand for democracy?
To the editor:
Beginning in 1943, our War Department published a series of pamphlets for U.S. Army personnel in the European theater titled Army Talks. The series was designed to help soldiers understand why we were at war with Hitler’s Germany and how being better-informed would help them be better soldiers. On March 24, 1945, the topic for the week was “FASCISM.”
The pamphlet began by acknowledging that fascism is not easy to identify and explain, “nor once in power is it easy to destroy” — but the future of the world depends upon as many of us as possible understanding the cause and practices of fascism in order to prevent it from taking over our own government.
The pamphlet defines fascism as “government by the few and for the few. The objective is seizure and control of the economic, political, social and cultural life of the state.” The basic principles of democracy stand in the way of fascist goals and, therefore, democracy must be eliminated. “Fascists permit no civil liberties, no equality before the law.”
Fascists maintain themselves in power through the skillful use of fear and hate; anyone who dares defy them is singled out for brutal retribution. Their propaganda, “based on primitive ideas of blood and race,” is divisive and glorifies the fascist agenda as the only path to peace and prosperity. The fundamental principle of democracy, faith in the common sense of the people, is the direct opposite of the fascist principle of rule by an elite few.
The pamphlet states that Americans should not be lulled into thinking fascism could not come to the USA. “They would try to gain power under the guise of super-patriotism and super-Americanism.” They would use three techniques, the pamphlet explains. First, they would pit religious, racial and economic groups against one another to break down national unity. Part of that effort to divide and conquer would be a “well-planned hate campaign against minority races, religions, and other groups.”
Second, they would deny the need for international cooperation. Suspicion, even hatred for people from foreign countries, especially countries with non-white populations, is encouraged. Cooperation with other countries is replaced by an “ultra-nationalism which tells people that they are the only people who count.”
Third, “fascists insist that the world has but two choices: either fascism or communism, and they label as “communists” everyone who refuses to support them.” It is “vitally important” to learn to spot native fascists, “even though they adopt names and slogans with popular appeal, drape themselves with the American flag, and attempt to carry out their program in the name of the democracy they are trying to destroy.”
The pamphlet states that the only way to stop fascism from rising in the United States “is by making our democracy work and by actively cooperating to preserve world peace and security.”
The warning contained in this pamphlet from 1945 has proved prescient.
As we enter the second year of the second Trump presidency, while no one in the administration would admit to being a fascist, their goals and strategies for achieving them are pure fascism.
Trump thrives on chaos and divisiveness; while he pits us against each other, undermines our democratic institutions, and grabs more and more power for himself, he drapes himself in the flag and claims to be saving democracy. He governs using fear and intimidation, scapegoating minority groups and vowing retribution on all who oppose him. He has nothing but contempt for our European allies and nothing but admiration for strongmen like Putin and Hungary’s far right Victor Orban.
Now Trump is talking about annexing Greenland, with other countries in our hemisphere in his sights.
Does this remind us of Hitler’s invasion of Austria and the Rhineland as he began World War II?
But who has the courage to stand up to Trump and say, ENOUGH!
Ray Clasen
Cape Coral