Arguing Against Fascism

[Mythbuster]

What are good resources I should use when arguing against fascism?

What questions do I need to be prepared to answer?

Thanks!

[Révolutionnaire Acadien]

I'm going to go ahead and assume you are talking about Conservatives since you are an American for the purposes of my my post. The United States Constitution, and all other founding documents. I know what you are thinking now, but bear with me, I'm a former Conservative Republican, I know what makes them tick. The Conservatives cling to the Constitution (or at least what they want to out get out of it) as much as they cling to the bible (they do the same thing for this text, but it's even more ironic, because Jesus was pretty socialist in my opinion), so using a text they have reverence for will do the job best. If you start spouting quotes from Das Kapital or the Communist Manifesto and whatnot, they'll instantly shut off and completely disregard anything you say. The trick is to be a little sneaky about it, use what they know, not what you know. As far as American economics are concerned, point out the fact that none of the founding documents really set forth an economic system, but rather just a set of laws constricting governmental powers. Take extensive note on all the times freedom and equality is mentioned in the documents, which is basically what real socialism is all about. There's basically limitless opportunity with these documents, reasons against police brutality (4th amendment), the right of Americans to change unjust political systems (2nd amendment), separation of church in state (look to article 11 of the treaty of Tripoli, 1787, there's also firm recognition of the fact that congress basically states we are not a "Christian Nation", it's useful for Islamophobes) and not to mention, Thomas Jefferson, the man has gone on and on about secularism, freedom, non interventionism, and revolution in near limitless quotes and writings. These are effective tools, trust me. Conservatives will not expect this at all, they are ready to hear "pinko Commie" type rhetoric about the proletariat and the bourgeoisie and all that business. This will flip the script on them and make them think. As far as questions they will ask, you will almost always get all the stuff about "Well (insert former supposedly "socialist or communist" country here, i.e. Soviet Union) they tried it there and it caused the deaths of millions of people. My usual explanation of that is that for the most part, due to corrupt officials, these countries eventually became socialist in name only, and that Communism is a stateless society anyway. You'll get questions about welfare and whatnot, and how people shouldn't get something for nothing. Point out people like Paris Hilton, and other rich folks who really haven't earned what they got. Ask them if that's fair, appeal to the American "do it yourself" attitude by pointing out since the workers do all the hard stuff, they should get a better piece of the pie, for they are main part of industry. Point out there's unemployment because corporations find it cheaper for them to outsource potential jobs for Americans, ask them how they feel about buying an American flag that says "Made in China". This, I hope, will certainly do a number on them.

[Tommy4ever]

Is it really that hard to argue against Fascism? The overwhelming majority of people will be on your side at the get go with a supremely negative view of Fascism.

You can talk about the contradictions between extreme nationalism of different countries. Talk about how Fascist nations actually fought eachother (like Germany invading Fascist Poland in 1939, or the fact Italy and Germany came close to war over Austria in 1938). You can talk about some of Fascism's historical crimes. You can talk about the problems of an ideology centred around the idea that everyone in a nation has identical interests (the interests of the body national) and how this ignores both class and reality. You can talk about how Germany's 'economic miracle' of the 30s was very unstable and how it was largely extended thanks to conquest and military spending (therefore it failed to solve the inherent problems suffered by Germany earlier in the 30s as a result of capitalism). You can talk about the authoritarianism, the Spanish Civil War etc etc.

Unless your in some Neo-Nazi bar you shouldn't have a hard time at all.

[DarkPast]

It wouldn't hurt to read Trotsky's pamphlet on fascism: http://www.marxists.org/archive/trotsky/works/1944/1944-fas.htm#p11

[Kornilios Sunshine]

Arguing with fascism is something FUNNY.Fascists make so ridiculous statements like "OMG COMMUNISM KILED 102182912819021281902829037219 PEOPLE.FUCK YOU COMMIE",etc etc.The best answer is "Yes communism killed a lot oh my god I don't believe thank you that you told OMG SO THANK YOU COMMIES=ASSASINS" :DOr you can tell them your opinion,despite the fact that they might swear.When you do it,they have nothing to say.

Oh, and you cannot argue with fascism.Ideologies don't talk :p

[blake 3:17]

Is it really that hard to argue against Fascism? The overwhelming majority of people will be on your side at the get go with a supremely negative view of Fascism.

My first real activism was against NeoNazi organizations. There wasn't really an argument. Our group got in some punch ups with them, the judges and public opinion were all on our side.

[Sheepy]

Fascists see themselves as the "Progressives" of the Right-Wing, as evident to the many bizarre and absolutely dehumanizing technological and medical research undertaken by the Waffen-SS during WWII, who's subjects were detainees from Concentration camps. Some have said that anti-fascism would mean giving up advancements of the sort, though it would be in the expense of human rights as a whole where as we can do without that in a anti-fascist society and still make significant progress as evident to the advances made by the former Eastern Bloc after WWII which never to round anyone up and tie them up together like a damn human centipede.