"In the United States, we haven't yet seen rifles aimed at large crowds, but we do observe masked federal agents detaining protesters in unmarked vehicles, flashy ICE raids staged like military operations and pardons for political violence all clear warning signs. Ignoring this is the first step toward complacency, which can kill liberty. Fascism is often misunderstood. It is not just political oppression; it is a set of traits, as scholars and observers point out,"
"Fascism is often misunderstood. It is not just political oppression; it is a set of traits, as scholars and observers point out, that aim to centralize power, crush opposition, glorify violence and reshape society to serve a leader or ideology. Benito Mussolini's Italy, Adolf Hitler's Germany and Francisco Franco's Spain provide historical examples, but the patterns often appear gradually, long before a fully authoritarian state emerges."
"In the United States today, these patterns are visible: law enforcement wielding authority as a tool of political intimidation, independent media under assault, elections questioned and delegitimized, and political opponents treated as enemies rather than citizens. Some actions may seem justified: a raid here, a prosecution there, or shutting down critical media. However, accepting these acts or waiting for the system to self-correct is how freedom gradually diminishes."
Security forces in Iran have killed thousands of protesters demanding basic rights and opposing state authority. That violence prompts examination of how government coercion and institutional intimidation can become routine. In the United States, masked federal agents detaining protesters in unmarked vehicles, military-style ICE raids and pardons for political violence serve as warning signs. Fascism comprises traits that centralize power, crush opposition, glorify violence and reshape society to serve a leader or ideology. Historical precedents include Mussolini's Italy, Hitler's Germany and Franco's Spain, but similar patterns often appear gradually. Treating opponents as enemies, undermining independent media and delegitimizing elections weaken democracy from within.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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