In ‘Dark Continent -Europe’s Twentieth Century, ‘ author Mark Mowzer examines the destructive ideologies that swept Russia and Europe—Marxism and Fascism, more specifically (as well as their close cousins). While Mowzer has academic blinders – insisting fascism is a political product of the right when it is only a degree’s difference from Communism – he correctly records facts that make this point anyway, even though he never arrives at it himself.
One example of many, shared below, gives us a sense of what fascism looks like in practice and how closely it aligns with modern progressive politics.
Since freedom of conscience was not recognized, a Jehovah’s Witness who said only heil rather than heil Hitler (on the grounds that such a greeting was due only to God) could be legally dismissed from his or her job. Children educated according to values regarded as incompatible with those of the Hitler youth were said to be neglected by their parents and could be placed in a foster home. In 1938, for instance, one family was broken up because the father had refused to let his children be enrolled in the Hitler Youth. According to the local court, he thereby abused his right to custody of his children.
This abolition of the distinction between private and public spheres of life matters in assessing popular attitudes towards the Nazis. A free citizenry and a democracy choose whom to support and with what degree of fervor. In the 3rd Reich, however, anything less than enthusiasm could be seen as potentially subversive and hence punishable. Public opinion did not exist since there was no means to express it. How, then, do we gauge the popularity of the regime?
Discussing, for example, the question of whether a citizen had a duty to hoist a swastika on festive occasions, one commenter argued that while there was no legal duty, failure to raise the flag might be taken to indicate the want of enthusiasm for national socialism; the solution he went on perhaps lay in a spell in a concentration camp. In another case, a civil servant was prosecuted for refusing to donate money to the Winter Relief Fund. The defendant protested that he gave generously to various other causes and should be allowed to decide which charity he favored, especially since donations to the Winter Relief Fund were voluntary. His arguments, however, failed to persuade the court, which concluded the defendants’ conception of liberty is of an extreme character… For him, liberty is the right to neglect all of his duties except where they are explicitly required by law. This had led him to a despicable abuse of the liberty which the leader had granted in full confidence that the German people would not abuse it.”
Who among you does not see, feel, or can recount living – especially during COVID- in a similar shadow? Parental rights, the censorship of speech, and silence is violence. And the ever-lingering threat of government force if you dare to challenge the orthodoxy or to pursue interests contrary to its wishes, designs, or priorities?
These are all very Democrat party ideas, adorned with the contingent of faithful party rats and snitches, encouraged by the State to report deviations from the approved “norm” or noncompliance as a defense of liberty (or, in this case, democracy).
We are hopeful that the results of the 2024 elections are akin to having dodged a bullet. Perhaps a better example might be finding a potential cure for what ails us, but human nature isn’t limited by party. We are happy and even hopeful, but tyranny never rests, so neither can we.
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