Great interview. This book is at the top of my “to read” pile now. This line in particular hit home:
“If anti-fascist doxing leverages existing societal taboos against explicit white supremacy or fascism to create a consequence for being a fascist, what happens when that taboo starts to disappear?”
I’ve been making this point since 2016. White supremacy (and all that typically goes with it, like male dominance and nationalism) isn’t the guilty pleasure it used to be. I’m under no illusions that we’d outgrown these things as a society, but at least those so inclined knew to keep those opinions out of the public square.
For me, this problem precedes our decline into fascism. Outing racists and misogynists has been socially useless for a decade. If there’s a post mortem needed, it’s on the mistakes made by “my side” when we were winning the culture war. Somewhere along the way, we lost ground with the “not my problem” majority.
I’m Australian and I see a form of indoctrination in our Rupert Murdoch newspapers and our SkyNews. It brings together people with far right views and gives them strength in numbers. Because voting is mandatory over here, I hope we can keep them out of the highest levels of government but reading and understanding books like this is important for us too as the far right movement continues to gain strength. Thank you.
During the Depression, the Farmer and Labor Party was a political force.
When Hubert Humphrey was elected mayor of Minneapolis, he helped engineer a merger between the F&L Party and the Democratic Party, which is why the Democratic Party in Minnesota is called the D.F.L.
During the Vietnam War, there were more conscientious objectors in Minnesota than in any other state.
Minnesota also was where this nation’s military industrial complex was first challenged by the Honeywell Project, an anti-war organization founded by Marv Davidoff and Evan Stark, may they both rest in peace.
What happens when fascistic thinking, based on exclusionary thinking dominates our culture?
We are a culture that is outstanding at othering others at specialized narrow short fast siloed takes that doesn’t leave much room for careful inclusionary thinking'.
Great interview. This book is at the top of my “to read” pile now. This line in particular hit home:
“If anti-fascist doxing leverages existing societal taboos against explicit white supremacy or fascism to create a consequence for being a fascist, what happens when that taboo starts to disappear?”
I’ve been making this point since 2016. White supremacy (and all that typically goes with it, like male dominance and nationalism) isn’t the guilty pleasure it used to be. I’m under no illusions that we’d outgrown these things as a society, but at least those so inclined knew to keep those opinions out of the public square.
For me, this problem precedes our decline into fascism. Outing racists and misogynists has been socially useless for a decade. If there’s a post mortem needed, it’s on the mistakes made by “my side” when we were winning the culture war. Somewhere along the way, we lost ground with the “not my problem” majority.
Okay, let's see these tactics used to take the masks off and identify ICE people
This post is excellent. Thank you. Proud to be labeled ANTIFA!
I’m Australian and I see a form of indoctrination in our Rupert Murdoch newspapers and our SkyNews. It brings together people with far right views and gives them strength in numbers. Because voting is mandatory over here, I hope we can keep them out of the highest levels of government but reading and understanding books like this is important for us too as the far right movement continues to gain strength. Thank you.
Thank you Christopher. What a great post.
Minnesota is a radical and progressive state.
During the Depression, the Farmer and Labor Party was a political force.
When Hubert Humphrey was elected mayor of Minneapolis, he helped engineer a merger between the F&L Party and the Democratic Party, which is why the Democratic Party in Minnesota is called the D.F.L.
During the Vietnam War, there were more conscientious objectors in Minnesota than in any other state.
Minnesota also was where this nation’s military industrial complex was first challenged by the Honeywell Project, an anti-war organization founded by Marv Davidoff and Evan Stark, may they both rest in peace.
Very informative. Thank you.
Then, antifa has to work a little harder and create more strategies to bring out how fascists and fascism hurts us AND them.
Thank you for this information, I'm going to look for the book too.
I consider myself as antifa. That means that I am not fascist. Who wants to be that?
I've requested the book be purchased by my three libraries in addition to my own copy, I hope it will help.
That's a great idea! I'll do the same in my area.
thank you! So many people don't even use their libraries, it doesn't occur to them that we can request items for purchase. Libraries are great!
Very interesting! Will be adding to my book list!
This article was enlightening and I thank you for it.
Every real American should be antifascist.
What happens when fascistic thinking, based on exclusionary thinking dominates our culture?
We are a culture that is outstanding at othering others at specialized narrow short fast siloed takes that doesn’t leave much room for careful inclusionary thinking'.
This statement from C. Mathias is a philosophy I can get behind.