It's deja vu all over again

[fpb]

I have often found myself in the position of having to say: "You are talking nonsense. I know what Fascists are like. I have met them in considerable number since I was a child. I was born in the same country as Fascism. I have studied Fascism as a historian. [insert personal or group name] may be a detestable person, and his/her/their views may be obnoxious, but they are not Fascist. Do not cheapen real evil."

Now I am worried I may have to start saying: "You are talking nonsense. I know what Communists are like. I have met them in considerable numbers since I was a child. I was born in a country where Communism was a power in the land. I have studied Communism as a historian. President Obama may be a detestable person - or not - and his view may be obnoxious - or not - but he is no Communist. Do not cheapen real evil."

You don't believe me? http://townhall.com/columnists/LauraHollis/2009/10/21/they%E2%80%99re_all_communists

Comments

[marielapin.livejournal.com]

People have just forgotten that words have meaning. "Commie" and "Fascist" have now become derogatory slang which keeps a person from having to use real words or a real argument.

[fpb.livejournal.com]

I wish that were the case here. Laura Hollis has just enough perception of what the Communist tradition is to make it pretty sure that she means it; but not enough to be able to distinguish between a Communist and someone who has been one way or another influenced by that tradition. The worst of all worlds, and the perfect demonstration that a little learning is a dangerous thing.

[dustthouart.livejournal.com]

Indeed, it is not unimaginable to me to hear someone in a torrent of invective accuse someone of being both a commie and a fascist. And probably also a Nazi. Maybe in the form "You commie Nazi fascist bastard!" To the contemporary American mind, this is too often just like hearing "You bad bad bad thing-that-is-bad!"

[fpb.livejournal.com]

Another one who hasn't read Jonah Goldberg's book. I'm afraid I have to tell you that as of last year, the idea that Nazism and Fascism were really left-wing movements is a part of the patrimony of the American conservative movement. I tried to explain to my conservative friends that I found this both ridiculous and (as an Italian) offensively cultural-imperialist, and failed completely.