Home U.K. Anti Nazi
by tallpaul
Fascism is like Proteus, the character in Roman mythology who could constantly change his form. Leaving aside the core of hate-oriented action, today's fascistic activities resemble market research, advert ising jingles, and public relations. The research tries to determine what issues -- real or imaginary make no difference -- exist around which a hate-based hysteria can be developed. The jingles test how to mobilize the bigotry and give it an action-based form. The public relations serve to conceal the fascist character of the demands.
Sometimes the form is openly Nazi with swastikas on the web pages. Sometimes it takes the new racist form proclaiming, like David Duke, "I'm not a racist; I'm a racialist." You can see references to Germanic Odinism with glorification of the warrior cult but today it usually presents itself as a fundamentalist Christianity that provides no political loyalty save to the fascist view of "God's laws." But these forces who want their theological notions to totally dominate society exist comfortably next to militia and "white homeland" groups who "just want to be left alone."
While forms differ, the content remains the same. It is anti-Semitic, anti-Black, anti-immigrant, and anti-gay. Only the current weakness of the organized labor movement in the U.S. hides the traditional anti- union character.
It is often difficult for different anti-fascists to keep up with these changes a nd manifestations of form. That's one reason TINAF has its "info on demand" editorial policy. Religiously Conservative Jews have different interests from today's pro-tolerance neo-Pagans. Academics read material shunned by anti-fascist anarcho-punks.
< p> But all should have some general knowledge of the various forms that fascistic tendencies take.That's why I was happy to hear about Ed "Crawfish" Sebesta's web site devoted to an analysis of the Neo-Confederate Movement. His paper, of this ti tle, is now in our Anti-Fascist Document series.[1] Crawfish has, I suspect, led a somewhat lonely political life since his particular interest has never been well known. This has changed, largely due to the Trent Lott affair with the CofCC and he deserve s our thanks for his past researches.
Given the protean nature of fascism, activists and academics should at least skim Crawfish's introductory article; others may want to make a more detailed study of the material at his web site.[2]
[1] ftp://ftp.nyct.net/pub/users/tallpaul/docs/anti-fa/afdoc026.txt
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