Anti-fascism is a strain of political philosophy that has a single objective: to be opposed to fascism. I am an anti-fascist and chances are that you, dear reader, are also an anti-fascist. As a matter of fact, the vast majority of Americans are against the idea of fascism as a basic principle. We can show this by how dominated our political culture is by calling other people fascists, nazis, or “worse than Hitler.”
For example, you have Tim Allen talking calling Hollywood liberalism like 1930's Germany, the always classic Obama memes from the early days of his presidency, and the new increasingly relevant "Punch a Nazi" craze.
Like I said, I would like to think of myself as an anti-fascist, but before I can go out gung-ho to fight fascism in my everyday life it may be helpful to know what a fascist actually is. Based on how the word is used in modern political dialogue I could take it to mean that a fascist is: "(noun) a human person or people I disagree with and don't like very much, no sir!"
But, I don't know, there's something... stupid... about that definition.
But! With the notable achievement of making it through high school history classes having only fallen asleep once per year, let's see if we can come up with a better definition.
Here are some core tenets of the Fascist movement.
1. Us vs. Them
In order for someone to be a fascist they most hold a conflict theory of history. A fascist vision holds to the idea of a noble battle between the just us and the evil them. It doesn't even have to be racially motivated. Yes, the most famous example was Hitlers Aryan-jew dichotomy, but for Mussolini's Italy it was Italian citizens against Communists, for Tojo's Japan it was traditionalism against westernization, and for Francos Spain it was as simple as conservatives against liberals.
2. Dictators
Put simply, for a fascist democracy, is for suckers. Legislatures are messy and government by the people generally means government by the ideots. Fascism calls for a führer, an Emperor, Il Duce, El Caudillo, someone who is strong, wise, and politically unchallenged, who can declare the law without question.
3. Centralization
In the U.S. we have individual states and these states have rights under the Constitution. Step one for a fascist would be to get rid of those sub-divisions. Oregon is progressive, but the Federal Government is conservative? Unacceptable! The whole system must be in lockstep in all things. Education, economy, even recreation should be directed by national policy to ensure unity.
4. Anti-religion
Any and everything that promotes the idea of a power or moral authority higher than the state is in direct contradiction to the Fascist ideology. I mean, you can go to church or pray every once and a while, but don't actually read the scriptures and never let what you claim to believe impact the way you behave. Remember, the state is all powerful, and to be outside of the states belief system is the most basic evil.
5. Violent Suppression of Opposition
Brownshirts, Blackshirts, military police and kangaroo courts, OH MY! For a fascist, being of a different opinion is tantamount to being sub-human. Dissenters have no rights and should not talk about their dissent if they don't shut up willingly, then force becomes acceptable. Legally or extra-legal methods are used to systematically make civil conversation about the wrong thinking topics difficult to impossible to dangerous.
That is a very basic outline of what Fascism is. Of course, it is more complicated than that and I probably missed a few key components, but I'll cheat and tell you what I am getting at:
Trump, in spite of being a demagogue, is not a fascist. The Antifa, in spite of behaving like brownshirts and thought police, are not fascists. Big media is not fascist, the GOP is not fascist, the democrats are not fascist.
Fascism is not rampant in America. They exist and they are a problem, but chances are they aren't that one guy who pissed you off on Facebook.
If you are going to be against something, fascism is a good thing to be against, but please know what it is you are objecting to!
