“Here’s the thing,” Robinson said. “Whether you’re talking about Adolf Hitler, whether you’re talking about Chairman Mao, whether you’re talking about Stalin, whether you’re talking about Pol Pot, whether you’re talking about Castro in Cuba, or whether you’re talking about a dozen other despots all around the globe, it is time for us to get back and start reading some of those quotes.”
This is the Lieutenant Governor of a state (North Carolina) saying we can get gems from the quotes of genocidal maniacs. This is where we are now.
The most relevant quote I could think of:
It’s just a shame that those who need to hear it are too busy calling us bigots for “calling everyone you disagree with a Nazi” while actual literal Nazis are getting organised in the background…
It’s almost like living in a satire, not sure if it’s more absurd or scary.
The best part is when you argue this, they will argue with nuance and equal footing. As if the basis of this movement is legitimately comparable to super liberal people that… Checks notes want human rights for others.
Then you point out that centrism clearly enables fascism, and their heads explode in rage (if only)…
I used to be a centrist, and I guarantee you they genuinely do not get that this far-right fascism is NOT a legitimate political faction or worldview. They think it’s legit simply because 100 million Republicans exist, and that us what they say, so it must be a legit political school of thought. But fascism, hate and genocide are not.
I guess we could try telling them that the right is not legitimate and that by treating them as if they are, they’re enabling genocide, but who knows if that would register with them. You could play with it and suss out who is a genuine centrist and who is a fascist shill pretending to be, though.
May I introduce you to my buddy Camus?
Appreciated, though at this point I can’t think of any fiction that could top the deeply distressing absurdity that is our timeline…
I don’t know why Camus is so often thought of a fiction writer. He wrote some pretty serious philosophy as well. It’s like calling Plato a writer of fiction.
I’m particularly a fan of The Rebel. His Letters to a German Friend are pretty interesting too.
I suppose fiction was the wrong word to use, I guess I just mean I have enough real world shit of my own to deal with, I don’t have room in my brain for philosophised shit too (however well written and thought out it might be) haha
This is a feature of fascism, the gaslighting, I mean.
Oh, absolutely, none of this is accidental.