What are we Talking About?
This week on MSNOW former GOP chair Michael Steele decried the conversation taking place by demanding, “What are we doing?” as the hosts discussed the FBI search warrant of the elections office in Fulton County, Georgia. He was sick of talking about the obvious – the very thing we’ve all talked about for at least six years: there is a fascist movement in our country trying to intimidate us and stop elections. MN Governor Tim Walz in his exasperation compared the fear, terror, and apparent murders by ICE with Anne Frank. We are justifiably angry and afraid of the murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Is it appropriate to talk about fascism and in addition make comparisons to the Holocaust?
Godwin’s Law: In 1990 Mike Godwin warned about easy comparisons to Hitler and the Holocaust. "As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches one." We have all been careful to be alert to comparisons that seem intent on scoring cheap political points or worse, in some cases motivated by antisemitism or Holocaust denial.
Students have to be taught not to appropriate what they are studying. I council teachers to encourage students to write diaries and reflections but to not claim the experience as their own. We do not have that right. It is important not to imagine oneself in the past and speculate. Rather, the goal of education is to allow us to get beyond ourselves to recognize and perhaps witness the experience of the other.
Michael Berenbaum correctly states that we have made the Holocaust the “gold standard” for evil. It is a reference point, a way for analysis that compares and importantly contrasts context, specificity, and scale. That is why Governor Walz invoked Anne's memory (understandably but inappropriately) and why "Gestapo" is used to describer ICE's actions. ICE's funding, recruitment, lack of training and discipline reflects some aspects of the SA "Brownshirts" and some aspects of the SS. The push to acquire warehouse concentration camps before the midterms is indeed a warning flare! At the same time, given our history, it is perhaps more appropriate to compare them to slave catchers and the KKK.
If we invocate any comparison to Hitler or the Holocaust we must be careful, concise, and honest. It is appropriate to call out the warning signs of fascism. That is the point of learning about and witnessing the past. Using the Holocaust is much more problematic.
January 27 Vice President JD Vance marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day without mentioned Jews or condemning Nazis. That is a problem and a warning. At the same time, administration officials called out Governor Waltz’ comparisons to Anne Frank. The selective condemnation has an ulterior motive. While the VP is doing nothing to condemn or deter the alarming signs of fascism, the administration's accusations of appropriating the Holocaust by the governor are hypocritical, cynical, and narrow.
Fascism is not an ideology, but a reactionary political behavior – encouraging violent rejection of the status quo. Each country (Italy, Spain, Germany, Vichy) share guiding principles but expresses it in their own way. Support comes from below and the fascist leader, a “strongman”, capitalizes on the discontent and promotes nation over universal values. The movement encourages violence and the creation of an enemy “other” from within. Rauch’s article in The Atlantic , “Yes, It’s Fascism” is an appropriate warning. He points out Trump’s desire to expand territory (something that was checked in his first administration); politicize justice, deploy paramilitaries, while claiming unlimited power and absolute moral authority. Frankly, he has stated numerous times that he supports the radicalized global far right, admires Hitler and dictators, and does not recognize international law or human rights.
U.S. Fascism Our leader has tapped into misogyny, glorification of violence, vulgarity, social-Darwinism, and racism. He has undermined the police’s ability to do their duty in protecting their communities within an expanding police state. Paramilitary "agents" are enforcing federal agendas without standard police practices, discipline, de-escalation tactics, or community engagement. Privacy and human rights are being violated, Constitutional limits are destroyed and all life becomes exhaustingly political.
The “Blood and Soil” nationalism of Nazi Germany is ever-present in the current U.S. expression of fascism. So yes, comparisons to other fascists states is appropriate - especially if the acolytes see themselves as playing the part.
Holocaust Comparisons This is much more problematic and probably confusing to many. We know “enough” about the Nazis to know that what we are seeing echoes. But what we see is closer to 1933 (fascism) than 1941 (the Holocaust). For Germany, the two were linked in an escalating process. Not all fascist countries turn to genocide but they do embrace antisemitism and violence. Our responsibility is to interrupt the process. Unlike Germany in the 1930s, we seem to be doing just that. Our context is different and our history moves many to recognize the threat. We know what it means to resist tyranny and dignify individual freedoms. That does not mean that fascism in not a clear and present danger. It does make using the Holocaust as metaphor difficult.
We are facing challenges but we are not facing the Holocaust. If we are to make comparisons – especially if motivated by recognizing the evil that is occurring and has occurred – we must be consistent. We must start first by recognizing and confronting antisemitism in all its iterations. Importantly, that includes its manipulation by the administration that is confusing us by selective use of its condemnation. Any comparison we offer must always include the condemnation of the targeting of Jews. Jews are not props or symbols to express our feelings or agendas. We recognize Jewish targeting during the Holocaust and today as a warning sign for all. If Jews feel unsafe than we all must. When one hate rises, they all do. Responsibility to the past requires us to pay attention. Integrity requires us to be truthful.
