Anyone struggling with whether to say Donald Trump is a fascist? He literally checks every box, but few ppl actually know the definition and immediately think I'm hyperbolically comparing him to Hitler, which I am not. What's more important, being correct or having productive conversation? #politics - ThreadSky

warriorphilosopher.bsky.social • 93 days ago

Anyone struggling with whether to say Donald Trump is a fascist? He literally checks every box, but few ppl actually know the definition and immediately think I'm hyperbolically comparing him to Hitler, which I am not. What's more important, being correct or having productive conversation? #politics

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spaceprol.bsky.social•93 days ago

A certain major progressive media figure has taken to defending Trump against the fascist label. When pressed, it boiled down to "he failed to accomplish a dictatorship in his first term."

If we can only call movements fascist after they have achieved dictatorial power, we're in big trouble.

warriorphilosopher.bsky.social•93 days ago

Yeah I've encountered that as well. "Jan 6th wasn't an insurrection, Biden was still certified!" So attempted murder isn't a crime? We only call it what it is when it's successful? That is an insane standard that none of them would apply in any other situation.

spaceprol.bsky.social•93 days ago

The threat posed by fascism is something every citizen should be intimately cognizant of and thoroughly vigilant about.

To tip toe around use of the term for Trump waters down the term and exacerbates the threat just as much as using the term as a lazy pejorative for authoritarianism.

spaceprol.bsky.social•93 days ago

If it can't be used to describe Trump, then it can't really be used to describe anything or anyone moving forward. That's dangerous in itself.

It becomes a harmless, unique historical curiosity. Doomed to repeat.

warriorphilosopher.bsky.social•93 days ago

Any hope of the word being used appropriately in political discourse will require a decoupling of "Fascist" and "Hitler". People need to know that "as bad as Hitler" isn't the bar for being reasonably referred to as one.

spaceprol.bsky.social•93 days ago

💯

Fascism is not reducible to Hitler.

warriorphilosopher.bsky.social•93 days ago

I remember arguing on facebook with someone who compared Justin Trudeau to Hitler. I was like Ok but you do realize he would have to murder every man, woman and child in Canada to be in Hitler's league? His response? "I bet he would if he could."

spaceprol.bsky.social•93 days ago

I miss the days when I could sincerely reference "Godwin's Law" in response to the typical Hitler hyperbole on the internet.

Unfortunately, people got so used to "everybody or nobody is Hitler" that we became numb to real fascism.

FWIW - Godwin revoked his "law" in response to Trumpism.

warriorphilosopher.bsky.social•93 days ago

100% agreed. The issue is that people going 0-Hitler in five seconds when discussing any politician doing anything they don't like has done unfathomable damage in minimizing how bad it actually was.

leftyphilosophy.bsky.social•93 days ago

In writing a book on American Christian fascism right now. I’ll be looking at all the current scholars and their definitions of fascism and explain how Trump fits into it.

warriorphilosopher.bsky.social•93 days ago

I'd love to read it when you're done

leftyphilosophy.bsky.social•93 days ago

I’d love to have someone help contribute as well. I’ve got about 18 pages done. I’ll shoot you a dm that links to it. Some discussions would help flesh out more point yah know?

jenthebuilder.bsky.social•93 days ago

Well it's only productive if one side is correct and the other is willing to accept he's not. Tough times.

warriorphilosopher.bsky.social•93 days ago

Oof. You're absolutely right and I wish you weren't. 😮‍💨

jenthebuilder.bsky.social•93 days ago

You finding it a lot more peaceful over here? I've been avoiding TT a lot since I came over.

jenthebuilder.bsky.social•93 days ago

I've accepted it and they all can fuck themselves out of existence. We know that's coming and I'm so looking forward to it. That's my peace.

stephankesting.bsky.social•93 days ago

I understand the German example the best, but have had some luck by casually name dropping Italian and Spanish fascism early in the conversation to educate people that fascism isn’t a uniquely German thing

christijo.bsky.social•93 days ago

Conversation, every single time. Using “your hyperbole means you’re lying” is an excuse not to listen.

sandlotr.bsky.social•93 days ago

Trump did say he was going to be a dictator on day one. Hopefully it was just for his base but 🤷‍♀️

artistrose.bsky.social•93 days ago

Words have power. You are a great communicator. Your message is crucial. It is important express things in a way that cannot be dismissed on the grounds of hyperbole. eg: reporters using the phrase mass graves opened the door to all reports on deaths of kids at residential school being questioned.

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