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The Word Fascism
It is a complicated word, but once you see the structure it is easy to recognize what is going on.
When I immigrated to the United States, it did not take me long to realize that my new country was more fascist than I expected. Obviously, the United States is not a fascist nation, but it was leaning more toward the fascist side than I had imagined.
At the same time, I did not hear anyone use the word fascism, so I carefully avoided using that word until I read that Noam Chomsky had indeed called the USA out as fascist. From that point on, I could use his name and then declare what he had said. It was easier that way.
Yet it also made me think about the word fascism because I could not put my finger on the structural reality behind the word. I did not have a good grip on what fascism entailed. Naturally, I was more than familiar with the nazis and with the bombing that had occurred to my hometown of Rotterdam in World War II. They are the epitome of fascism of course.
- I did have a clear idea about the real bad aspects of fascism.
I did not have a good idea about fascism in a more neutral realm, such as the United States of America.
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The complication I had internalized for understanding the word fascism was caused by its placement in opposition to communism. I…
