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Is Fascism An Ideal Of The Right Or The Left?

The answer might actually surprise you.

By Devin Nassar-ReisPublished 4 years ago 6 min read
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Nowadays, you can be called a fascist for just about anything that you say that is in favor of the Republican party. If you say that you voted for Donald Trump to a classmate or that you agree with stricter immigration policies to a colleague casually, chances are that you will be called a fascist. Since the 1970's, everyone from former president Richard Nixon to the late Arizona senator John McCain has been labeled a fascist because of their party affiliation. But do the people that call you that actually know what they are talking about? The answer to that is most likely a big, fat "no." So here's a history lesson. Who conceptualized this horrific ideology? "His name is Giovanni Gentile. Born in 1875, he was one of the most influential philosophers of the first half of the twentieth century. Gentile believed that there were two 'diametrically opposed' types of democracy. One is liberal democracy, such as the United States, which Gentile dismisses as individualistic-too centered on liberty and personal rights-and therefore selfish. The other, the one Gentile recommends, is 'true democracy', in which individuals willingly subordinate themselves to the state.", author Dinesh D'Souza states in a 2017 video for Prager University, titled "Is Fascism Right Or Left?". So what was Gentile's ultimate goal? D'Souza also states, "Like his philosophical mentor, Karl Marx, Gentile wanted to create a community that resembles the family, a community where we are 'all in this together.' It's easy to see the attraction to the idea. ... It was another Italian man, Benito Mussolini, the fascist dictator of Italy from 1922 to 1945, who turned Gentile's words into action. In his Dottrina del Fascismo, Mussolini wrote, 'All is in the state and nothing human exists or has value outside the state.' He was merely paraphrasing Gentile." So what does this have to do with the right or the left? The answer might actually surprise you. Gentile was actually a leftist. D'Souza supports and concludes this argument with, "The Italian philosopher is now lost in obscurity, but his philosophy could not be more relevant because it closely parallels that of the modern left. Gentile’s work speaks directly to progressives who champion the centralized state. Here in America, the left has vastly expanded state control over the private sector, from healthcare to banking; from education to energy. This state-directed capitalism is precisely what German and Italian fascists implemented in the 1930's." (Source: Prager University, "Is Fascism Right Or Left?", Dinesh D'Souza, December 4, 2017, https://www.prageru.com/video/is-fascism-right-or-left/) Contrary to what the media portrays, fascism is a leftist idea. From the anti-Semitic rhetoric by leftist government officials to indoctrination on university campuses, Gentile's infamous ideas didn't go away. They evolved in ways that are not only easy to disguise, but easy to adopt by people who can't think for themselves.

Without a doubt, Gentile's ideas of a socialist utopia were all based on lies and propaganda. His tactics were actually quite simple: "Tell the people whatever they want to hear, when there is a void that needs to be filled. When they are told what they want to hear, it's easier to brainwash those who agree. When the people are effectively brainwashed, they are easier to manipulate and force into submission." In a 2019 article by Time magazine, "Their idea was you would be freer because you wouldn’t have any class consciousness. You’re just supposed to worship the nation. It’s nation over class." (Source: TIME Magazine, "What Is Fascism? What To Know About Its Brutal Origins", Olivia B. Waxman, March 22, 2019, https://time.com/5556242/what-is-fascism/)Do any of Getile's strategies sound familiar? Many of these dictators made the exact promises that many leftist leaders do in our country.

Without a doubt, Congress has a serious problem with anti-Semitic rhetoric. From Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's infamous comparisons of Immigration-Customs Enforcement Detention Facilities to Ilhan Omar's anti-Israel speeches, conservatives frequently compare their rhetoric to that of a time in history that cannot be forgotten and ignored. To the shock of many, their behavior has been praised by the masses. If what comes out of their mouths has drawn comparisons to one of the deadliest regimes of the twentieth century, then why are they praised and don't face any consequences from the government? It's easy to understand why they're praised. They're telling the public not what the people need to hear, but what they want, even if it's all lies. Both women preach socialism and equality to the masses. As usual, the public falls for the "positive change" trap like a ton of bricks. Add anti-Semitism disguised as personal opinions into the mix and you have nothing short of the early states of fascist ideologies spreading amongst the masses. These women are treated as if they are untouchable. Despite their hypocritical ways of thinking, why do Omar and Ocasio-Cortez face no consequences for their actions? According to a 2019 article from The New York Post, titled "Why Won't Dems Slam Their Fellow Anti-Semitic Congresswomen", it's easy to see why there are no repercussions for disturbing statements; "On the left, anti-Semitism manifests itself in Democratic members of Congress who compare ­Israel to Nazi Germany. But while right-wing anti-Semites remain on the political fringes, where they belong, on the left, anti-Semites have found their way into the halls of power and are being defended by the party’s leaders." (Source: The New York Post, "Why Won't Dems Slam Their Fellow Anti-Semitic Congresswomen", Marc Thiessen, August 21, 2019, https://nypost.com/2019/08/21/why-wont-dems-slam-their-anti-semitic-fellow-congresswomen/) As we have seen in history, any negative practice that has been glorified will eventually be met with irreversible backlash. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez's infamous "concentration camp" remarks were eventually met with well-deserved backlash from both Israeli government officials and prominent Jewish scholars. A separate 2019 article from The New York Post, titled "Holocaust Museum Lectures AOC After 'Concentration Camps' Remarks" states that, "She’s been criticized by Republicans like Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), the top GOP woman in the House, as well as Jewish scholars, for diminishing the horrors of the Holocaust." The same article also states, "'Such ignorant comparisons trivialize the Holocaust and thereby undermine the lessons of history we must learn,' Abe Foxman, director of the Center for the Study of Antisemitism at the Museum of Jewish Heritage, told Jewish Insider." (Source: The New York Post, "Holocaust Museum Lectures AOC After 'Concentration Camps' Remarks", Nikki Schwab, June 19, 2019, https://nypost.com/2019/06/19/israeli-holocaust-museum-lectures-aoc-after-concentration-camp-remarks/) Both women's behaviors are beyond unacceptable, yet they are all too familiar. Despite being familiar, the ideas of fascism evolved to please the public.

In conclusion, Gentile's philosophy of a false utopia where the free-thinking public surrenders their rights to the government didn't go anywhere. It evolved in one of the most easily disguised, yet sinister political philosophies in the free world. We have seen the citizens of several foreign countries fall into the trap of fascism, yet the public praises leftist politicians that preach it. As Americans, we should take the time to learn from history. Without learning from it, the past will repeat itself. This time, the consequences will be more dire, and possibly irreversible.

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