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Ur-Fascism by Umberto Eco.
By most accounts these days it's an entry level, elementary text. I honestly don't care one way or the other. Ain't too many days these days I ain't reminded of one thing or another written here.
Note the publication date.
https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/umberto-eco-ur-fascism
By most accounts these days it's an entry level, elementary text. I honestly don't care one way or the other. Ain't too many days these days I ain't reminded of one thing or another written here.
Note the publication date.
https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/umberto-eco-ur-fascism
Like I said, note the publication date.
June 1995.
Aum Shinrikyo's final major terror attack was 3 months prior. McVeigh bombed the Murrah Building 2 months prior.
1995 often gets overlooked in favor of 2001. This is understandable but unfortunate as there are shared traits.
June 1995.
Aum Shinrikyo's final major terror attack was 3 months prior. McVeigh bombed the Murrah Building 2 months prior.
1995 often gets overlooked in favor of 2001. This is understandable but unfortunate as there are shared traits.
There's a larger point I'm grasping at, but I'd like to stay in 1995 for a bit longer.
I focus on terrorism. What some might call Violent Non-State Actors. Terror as a tool of oppression. As spectacle. As any number of things.
September 1995.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/unabomber/manifesto.text.htm
I focus on terrorism. What some might call Violent Non-State Actors. Terror as a tool of oppression. As spectacle. As any number of things.
September 1995.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/unabomber/manifesto.text.htm
The things Eco lays out in Ur-Fascism aren't really necessarily limited to fascism, authoritarianism, or even state actors.
But keeping it in 1995, you'll find echoes of what's written all over the world in both state powers and VNSAs alike.
July 1995. https://www.nytimes.com/1995/10/29/world/massacre-in-bosnia-srebrenica-the-days-of-slaughter.html
But keeping it in 1995, you'll find echoes of what's written all over the world in both state powers and VNSAs alike.
July 1995. https://www.nytimes.com/1995/10/29/world/massacre-in-bosnia-srebrenica-the-days-of-slaughter.html
"1. The first feature of Ur-Fascism is the cult of tradition."
"As a consequence, there can be no advancement of learning. Truth has been already spelled out once and for all, and we can only keep interpreting its obscure message."
What am I getting at? Eco didn't pull punches.
"As a consequence, there can be no advancement of learning. Truth has been already spelled out once and for all, and we can only keep interpreting its obscure message."
What am I getting at? Eco didn't pull punches.
He came out the gate swinging in 1995.
Call it whatever you want. Whatever suits you best. Apply your lived experience.
That's what Umberto Eco did.
That's what I try to do but I don't have a PhD or a salary so I simplify it as "cultic fuckery."
Call it whatever you want. Whatever suits you best. Apply your lived experience.
That's what Umberto Eco did.
That's what I try to do but I don't have a PhD or a salary so I simplify it as "cultic fuckery."
Anyone who spends five minutes on neo nazi telegram can point out "Reject modernity..."
I can at least tell you Aum did it, too. For whatever that might be worth.
If you're the type to call a ~death cult~ a ~death cult~ you'll hopefully understand what's been happening.
I can at least tell you Aum did it, too. For whatever that might be worth.
If you're the type to call a ~death cult~ a ~death cult~ you'll hopefully understand what's been happening.
Call it fascism if you're so inclined. Call it destrudo. Call it "radicalization into action."
What you call it is none of my concern as long as you understand.
What you call it is none of my concern as long as you understand.
Are you paying attention?
"Diversity is our strength 
"
"One day I saw a [gaijin] family with their children at the park and asked myself if perhaps we were mistaken about the true nature of the enemy."
!["Diversity is our strength ""One day I saw a [gaijin] family with their children at the park and asked myself if perhaps we were mistaken about the true nature of the enemy."](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EY6OU4sWAAE8UF_.jpg "\"Diversity is our strength \"\"One day I saw a [gaijin] family with their children at the park and asked myself if perhaps we were mistaken about the true nature of the enemy.\"")
""One day I saw a [gaijin] family with their children at the park and asked myself if perhaps we were mistaken about the true nature of the enemy."
I won't even waste your time here. Y'all already know. You're feeling it now.
"In the U.S., a prominent instance of the plot obsession is to be found in Pat Robertson's ~The New World Order~ but, as we have recently seen, there are many others."
"MANUAL OF FEAR: THE JEWISH WORLD CONQUEST PLOT
"
"She just cried about the ~rituals~ and I just held her."
"MANUAL OF FEAR: THE JEWISH WORLD CONQUEST PLOT
""She just cried about the ~rituals~ and I just held her."
"Thus, by a continuous shifting of rhetorical focus"
Moving the goalposts, basically.
This is the part of Ur-Fascism when I start getting really REALLY depressed.
Moving the goalposts, basically.
This is the part of Ur-Fascism when I start getting really REALLY depressed.
And this is the part of Ur-Fascism most people pretend they didn't fucking read.
But it's right there. Don't look away.
This is arguably the point that ties it all together.
Fascism. Authoritarianism. Terrorism.
Hitler. Butler. Kaczynski. Asahara. McVeigh. Bin Laden. Name it.
But it's right there. Don't look away.
This is arguably the point that ties it all together.
Fascism. Authoritarianism. Terrorism.
Hitler. Butler. Kaczynski. Asahara. McVeigh. Bin Laden. Name it.
Lemme just post it again for the ones in the back real quick.
"Thus pacifism is trafficking with the enemy"
This is the essence of totalitarianism. This is cultic fuckery. This is eliminationism. This is the biggest red flag. Avoid it at all costs.
There is no utopia. Period.
"Thus pacifism is trafficking with the enemy"
This is the essence of totalitarianism. This is cultic fuckery. This is eliminationism. This is the biggest red flag. Avoid it at all costs.
There is no utopia. Period.
garfieldwonderwhothisisfor(dot)png
I'd say "Become a Saint" or "His name was ______" or "Die with a degree of dignity" but who's listening at this point?
I don't know what sex is 
Qualitative Populism. In and out. 20 minute adventure. Don't you want ____?
I'm sure these words might mean something to someone.
I could probably say something like "haha 14 point antifascist essay goes brrrr" but I already hate myself enough.
Basically tho there ain't nothing new under the sun. The scariest things are ostensibly cultic. Deal with it.
I could probably say something like "haha 14 point antifascist essay goes brrrr" but I already hate myself enough.
Basically tho there ain't nothing new under the sun. The scariest things are ostensibly cultic. Deal with it.
If I were an antifascist activist I would simply refuse to let inhumane elements claim to be Superhuman⢠or No Longer Human⢠while adhering to something halfway resembling pacifism out of some absurd mishmash of anger and empathy.
(Note that empathy =/= Empathyâ˘)
(Note that empathy =/= Empathyâ˘)
