The best way to shut the door to conversation is by throwing a loaded label in the mix.
In every political dialogue, one word has been repeated incessantly, however incorrectly the word may be applied. Labeling someone as a fascist now has very little weight to it, with the accusations reducing the weight of the word every time it is repeated.
I was shocked when I was accused of being a fascist for the first time, while participating in a prayer service outside of a Planned Parenthood in California. While the person accusing me refused to engage in a conversation, I do not believe that every person who uses that label does so out of malice.
What is a fascist? Many of the political conversations I have had, whether about immigration or healthcare, have ended in someone labelling policies or people, myself included, as fascist. Merriam-Webster defines fascism as “a populist political philosophy, movement, or regime… that exalts nation and often race above the individual… and that is characterized by severe economic and social regimentation and by forcible suppression of opposition.”
Even at a surface level, being called a “Nazi” or “fascist” makes no sense when one is trying to engage in open dialogue with a political opponent . Even when ideas are deemed hateful, as long as they are not inciting violence, Americans are free to express them because of the first amendment.
I had the pleasure of speaking with an older couple in Amarillo on my drive to the University of Dallas. During our conversation, Trump’s policies came up, and the couple’s most repeated comment on them was “But what about the fascism?”The sole reason that they believed that Trump was a fascist was because of the proposed cuts to Medicaid.
It seemed to me that this couple, despite being well-intentioned and educated, fell for a lie that no matter what the President did, it was to the detriment of both the American people and the rest of the world. I remarked that Trump had brokered peace deals that had ended wars in two entirely different areas over the past summer.
Both of these immensely successful peace negotiations, one between Rwanda and the Congo and the other between Armenia and Azerbaijan, will have a lasting and noticeable impact on those parts of the world and the people living in them.However, it seemed that this couple had no idea of these peace deals.
I do not point out Trump’s peace negotiations to absolve him of all criticism. Instead, I hope to point out the positive actions taken by a president that are ignored by his political opposition.
People say that Trump has a tendency to make inflammatory remarks, which I grant.However, I also argue that this is a good thing. Civil discussion is and must be of the utmost importance in any civil society.
Disavowing political violence is part of this participation in civil discourse. Leaving any room for force when the opportunity to talk is unacceptable.
Over the past week, many people have made the argument that it is acceptable to kill someone for having a viewpoint which can be perceived as hateful. However, this opinion sounds much closer to fascism by definition than any of the viewpoints expressed by mainstream conservatives.
Inciting and endorsing violence or terroristic acts is not protected under the first amendment. Any and all encouragements or support of political violence must be condemned by any party or organization hoping to be taken seriously.
Without the values of dialogue and inherent right to life that this country was founded on, the United States will not continue to be a bastion of free speech. Every man and woman– irrespective of political opinion– has the right to dialogue without fear of violence.