“Bash the fash” is a powerful rhetorical tool. Just saying it forces an implicit acknowledgment that the target is a fascist. Like “own the libs” assumes liberalism is bad, this phrase flips the script—making it hard for opponents to refute without exposing themselves. Here's more:
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If a normie or even a right-winger says "bash the fash", they’re admitting someone is a fascist and should be opposed. There’s no neutral way to engage. Either they accept it or they have to defend against being labeled fascist themselves.
If someone objects to “bash the fash,” the natural question is: Why? Are you defending fascists? It forces reactionaries to either distance themselves from fascism—or expose their alignment with it. A perfect rhetorical trap.
Instead of progressives having to prove someone is fascist, saying “bash the fash” shifts the burden onto the other person. They must now prove they aren’t a fascist—just like the right forces the left to defend against labels like “woke” or “radical.”
If centrists casually say “bash the fash,” it normalizes the idea that fascism exists & must be fought. Right-wing rhetoric is often vague (“own the libs” never explains why). This phrase makes things explicit—fascism is real, and it needs resistance.
Right-wing rhetoric thrives on vagueness. “Bash the fash” is clear, direct, and hard to dodge. It forces reactionaries to either agree with fighting fascism or expose their sympathies. That’s why it’s a rhetorical win. Time to make it mainstream. 🚀