And kudos to you for continuing to warn about the cancerous ideology of neofascism taking root in our body politic. I am truly surprised how willingly blind so many otherwise bright people seem to be about this. I think we've become so accustomed to our binary system of left-right, Democrat-Republican, liberal-conservative, that when a third force arises it slips in almost un-noticed. We want to fold it into one of our pre-existing categories.
As a consequence, liberal Democrats dismiss the far-right MAGA extremists as just extra-looney Republicans. And conservative Republicans talk about "the base", as though an armed assault on the Capitol and denying the legitimacy of elections, banning books and targeting Muslims, are all sort of like opposing a wealth tax or favoring individual retirement accounts.
Both parties seem blissfully unaware that neofascists do not self-identify as such precisely because the term carries so much negative baggage. But you can be sure they are as contemptuous of the Republican party as they are of the Democrats. And while they have an alliance of convenience at the moment with Kevin McCarthy, there is not a shred of loyalty to him or his party.
For those who think Abraham is using the term neofascism inaccurately, I recommend reading this fairly comprehensive but still brief summary of the 75-year history of the neofascist movement as it arose in post-war Europe, and then spread through Asia and South America:
You'll find that the characteristics of neofascism are exactly those that Abraham is warning are also characteristic of this still minority faction: authoritarianism, xenophobia and ultra-nationalism, hatred of marginalized groups, hostility to the press and denial of factual reality, contempt for democratic values (obstruction of legislative procedures and undermining democratic elections), willingness to resort to organized mob violence for political ends, and yes book-banning.
Again, these are not conservative or Republican values. This is something different. This is the cancer of neofascism. And it needs to be properly identified, named, isolated and disempowered so we can go back to arguing about taxes, defense spending and energy policy.
Mar 11, 2023·edited Mar 11, 2023Liked by Abraham Washington
I am so sorry about the return of your cancer, Abe, and that of your wife's. It's so true what you say about the weary routine that accompanies that malicious intruder : the endless cycle of tests and appointments, hospital stays, procedures and, most disruptive of all, the worry. I hope you can draw strength from each other, and from the heartfelt wishes of those here and IRL.
I wish you better health and a cure for your cancer. I'm terribly sorry for you both.
I have covid at this moment. But at least there's an end to it. Thankfully, I have 5 shots.
I have missed your articles. Thank you.
I read the next letter. Does it not make a person wonder when there are obvious riots and beatings, gerrymandering trying to limit voting that it's more than a little more than alternative views and perspectives? I think he underestimates his
Thanks, Patsy, for your kind words and heartfelt wishes.
Glad to hear you got your shots - I wish more people understood that vaccines don't stop you from getting sick, they stop you from ending up in the hospital or dying. Hope you feel better soon.
You mentioned your wish for a cure for cancer; honestly I don't know if there will ever be a total cure, but there are great advances in treatments; I should have been dead 5 years ago but the treatments kept me going this long, and I am feeling much better today and hoping for another 5 years, for both myself and my dear wife of 50 years. We've been through a lot together and I think I would have given up long ago without her.
She's getting scheduled for another surgery soon (her fifth!) but she has such a positive attitude that we're feeling really confident. And she's so much braver than me.
One of my great fortunes in life is to have such a dear friend to lean on.
Thanks again Patsy, I've appreciated your support and comments here from the beginning.
Dear Abraham - We can agree on cancer. My thoughts and prayers go out to your and your wife battling it. I too am doing the same. Another day and yet another symptom or side-effect. Is it the cancer or the cancer drugs? Is it something else... maybe I am just getting old and this sort of thing happens. End of April I have a big procedure. Wish me luck.
Where we cannot agree is the definition of "fascism" and your repeated inaccurate use of it in this piece. And we also cannot agree with the practice of invective to negative brand those that oppose political views and ideas.
I see this happening much more on the left these days... farming talking points for media spin to character assassinate political opposition instead of just having a conversation. I think because it seems to have worked so well in the last two elections that Democrats have latched onto this approach as their ONLY tactic.
I just watched the House committee testimony from Matt Taibbi and Micheal Shellenberger and the Democrats on the panel went straight to character assassinate those two men instead of having a conversation about the pros and cons of government agencies involved in telling private tech companies who and what to censor and ban from their platforms.
Here is the thing... it may make the base of Democrats happy for some reason to treat everyone outside of their ideological tribe as some devil... but the shine of that approach is wearing off quickly as the middle voters clearly see the disingenuous media spin factory and intellectual dishonesty at play. I mean, Taibbi and Shellenberger are not MAGA people (not that it should matter). Apparently they both voted for Biden.
You make a long list of historical people who's ideas you laud. I would bet that most of those people would disapprove of your divisive branding and labeling of others simply because they have different views.
I do agree with you about this other cancer, but I think it comes from those of us skipping the conversation and going straight to the throat. Is there really not any room in this world for alternative views and perspectives? Do we make a better world just destroying each other instead engaging in honest dialog?
Thanks for your thoughts and prayers Frank (I need all the help I can get), and I definitely wish you luck on your upcoming procedure.
I also appreciate your response to my political comments. I just couldn't help making the analogy between my medical experience and the current national conversation. I chose the title "metastasis" because that's what I'm experiencing - cancer spreading and taking root and gaining the upper hand.
My political comparison wasn't meant to denigrate one side or the other; I have no use for extremism in any case; the extreme left has gone too far into Wokism - sure we should be sensitive to the feelings and experiences of others, but not to the point where we need trigger warnings to avoid "hurting someone's feelings" - I want to say (shout) to the far left Grow Up. Life is tough; if you think the wrong pronoun hurts, try chemotherapy. At bottom, I am disillusioned with anyone or any party that puts their own agenda before the national agenda.
My greatest American line is JF Kennedy's "ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." That's what we need now, but what i mostly see is people on the left and the right who are just pursuing their own agendas.
And you're right about the character assassination and "disingenuous media spin factory and intellectual dishonesty at play" but I see that across the political spectrum. The recent FOX disclosures are the best example; they KNEW that Trump lost, admitted it, discussed it, then chose to pursue the lie that he won - for market share and profits. There's no patriotic redemption in that; that's pure selfish dishonesty for greed. Of course there are plenty of examples on the left, but the FOX disclosures crystallize the issue. I believe many of the Jan.6 insurrectionists honestly felt they were doing a patriotic duty to save America - because they believed the delusion pounded out by FOX. But FOX knew it was delusional, they just pumped out lies for profits. And are still doing it. I hope part of the settlement with Dominion will include plenty of prime-time on-air acknowledgement that they were lying for profit.
But to get back to my main response to your comments, I do indeed want to engage in honest dialog, and right now as I experience metastasis in my own body, I can't help but see it in politics - in this light: there's BS and opportunism everywhere, it's rewarded, it's the norm, and I think the far right (as represented by MTG, Boebert, Gaetz, Jordan) is on the ascendency, growing, spreading, metastasizing. That's my point. I'm not branding and labeling divisively because they have "different" views; I'm targeting them because I think they have "dangerous" views AND because they hold positions of power (because of Kevin McCarthy's vulnerability) from which that have influence far beyond their numbers - and their impact spreads further because FOX - that's the metastasis. Extreme dangerous (cancerous) views spreading aggressively because of dishonest opportunistic media who are in it for profit, country be damned.
Well Frank, I don't think I clarified my thought (I'm on way too many drugs!!!) but I'm just trying to say that I think most politicians are full of self-celebrating shit and when a small group (of any party) gets inequitable influence which is then amplified by opportunistic enablers - well, that's dangerous.
I recently had 17 lymph nodes removed - they are early warning signs of disease and help the body fight infection and cancer. When lymph nodes get infected they can become counter productive and start to spread the disease. So when the media (which used to be a kind of lymph node to alert the national body to trouble) when the media themselves become infected with lies, then the disease spreads. That's the analogy that came to mind when I was in hospital and saw the FOX disclosures. The FOX lymph nodes are infected with lies and are spreading delusion. That's the metastatic cancer analogy I was getting at.
Anyway, it's been spinning in my head, and maybe I expressed it poorly, and I agree with you that there's so much BS everywhere, but I do believe that much of the far right's message and actions fall under my definition of neo-fascism, and I do believe it's spreading, and I hope people can talk about it and sort it out and get back to fixing the country instead of spreading lies and attacking each other.
So thanks again for the thoughts and prayers, and mine go out to you Frank.
Thanks for your prayers, GG. You've been a solid supporter of me (and this newsletter) from Day One, even though we disagree and so many things. I think that's a wonderful situation, to maintain strong friendship with someone you disagree with. That's the kind of healing we need now.
Interesting too that you mentioned happiness, because to be honest, this whole whirlwind does get me down, and I see parallels in our society which sadden me, and just being in the hospital is a total downer. On the other hand, when the medical staff provide assistance I could care less if they're Dems or Repubs or Communists or MAGAs; they are People who are Helping me, and for that I am truly grateful.
That old line ("There's more that unites us than divides us") is so evident in the hospital. We're all in this together.
Thanks again GG, and I'm looking forward to disagreeing with you about politics again!
You and your wife have a wonderful relationship, and I'm thankful for that for you both.
It's unusual, as you probably know.
I wish you both well, and cancer free. I'll think positive.
And kudos to you for continuing to warn about the cancerous ideology of neofascism taking root in our body politic. I am truly surprised how willingly blind so many otherwise bright people seem to be about this. I think we've become so accustomed to our binary system of left-right, Democrat-Republican, liberal-conservative, that when a third force arises it slips in almost un-noticed. We want to fold it into one of our pre-existing categories.
As a consequence, liberal Democrats dismiss the far-right MAGA extremists as just extra-looney Republicans. And conservative Republicans talk about "the base", as though an armed assault on the Capitol and denying the legitimacy of elections, banning books and targeting Muslims, are all sort of like opposing a wealth tax or favoring individual retirement accounts.
Both parties seem blissfully unaware that neofascists do not self-identify as such precisely because the term carries so much negative baggage. But you can be sure they are as contemptuous of the Republican party as they are of the Democrats. And while they have an alliance of convenience at the moment with Kevin McCarthy, there is not a shred of loyalty to him or his party.
For those who think Abraham is using the term neofascism inaccurately, I recommend reading this fairly comprehensive but still brief summary of the 75-year history of the neofascist movement as it arose in post-war Europe, and then spread through Asia and South America:
https://www.britannica.com/topic/fascism/Neofascism
You'll find that the characteristics of neofascism are exactly those that Abraham is warning are also characteristic of this still minority faction: authoritarianism, xenophobia and ultra-nationalism, hatred of marginalized groups, hostility to the press and denial of factual reality, contempt for democratic values (obstruction of legislative procedures and undermining democratic elections), willingness to resort to organized mob violence for political ends, and yes book-banning.
Again, these are not conservative or Republican values. This is something different. This is the cancer of neofascism. And it needs to be properly identified, named, isolated and disempowered so we can go back to arguing about taxes, defense spending and energy policy.
.
I am so sorry about the return of your cancer, Abe, and that of your wife's. It's so true what you say about the weary routine that accompanies that malicious intruder : the endless cycle of tests and appointments, hospital stays, procedures and, most disruptive of all, the worry. I hope you can draw strength from each other, and from the heartfelt wishes of those here and IRL.
.
Thanks, Jerry, for your kind words and heartfelt wishes.
Knowing that others are supportive in their thoughts and prayers is definitely helpful; it's good to know we're not alone in this. Thanks again.
May you and your wife recover completely and quickly! Sending healing and calming vibes in your direction.
Thanks, Ian, for your kind words and heartfelt wishes.
Healing and calming vibes are felt, and definitely helpful; it's good to know we're not alone in this. Thanks again.
It is a hard battle and I am honoured to support you.
I wish you better health and a cure for your cancer. I'm terribly sorry for you both.
I have covid at this moment. But at least there's an end to it. Thankfully, I have 5 shots.
I have missed your articles. Thank you.
I read the next letter. Does it not make a person wonder when there are obvious riots and beatings, gerrymandering trying to limit voting that it's more than a little more than alternative views and perspectives? I think he underestimates his
side of things.
Thanks, Patsy, for your kind words and heartfelt wishes.
Glad to hear you got your shots - I wish more people understood that vaccines don't stop you from getting sick, they stop you from ending up in the hospital or dying. Hope you feel better soon.
You mentioned your wish for a cure for cancer; honestly I don't know if there will ever be a total cure, but there are great advances in treatments; I should have been dead 5 years ago but the treatments kept me going this long, and I am feeling much better today and hoping for another 5 years, for both myself and my dear wife of 50 years. We've been through a lot together and I think I would have given up long ago without her.
She's getting scheduled for another surgery soon (her fifth!) but she has such a positive attitude that we're feeling really confident. And she's so much braver than me.
One of my great fortunes in life is to have such a dear friend to lean on.
Thanks again Patsy, I've appreciated your support and comments here from the beginning.
Dear Abraham - We can agree on cancer. My thoughts and prayers go out to your and your wife battling it. I too am doing the same. Another day and yet another symptom or side-effect. Is it the cancer or the cancer drugs? Is it something else... maybe I am just getting old and this sort of thing happens. End of April I have a big procedure. Wish me luck.
Where we cannot agree is the definition of "fascism" and your repeated inaccurate use of it in this piece. And we also cannot agree with the practice of invective to negative brand those that oppose political views and ideas.
I see this happening much more on the left these days... farming talking points for media spin to character assassinate political opposition instead of just having a conversation. I think because it seems to have worked so well in the last two elections that Democrats have latched onto this approach as their ONLY tactic.
I just watched the House committee testimony from Matt Taibbi and Micheal Shellenberger and the Democrats on the panel went straight to character assassinate those two men instead of having a conversation about the pros and cons of government agencies involved in telling private tech companies who and what to censor and ban from their platforms.
Here is the thing... it may make the base of Democrats happy for some reason to treat everyone outside of their ideological tribe as some devil... but the shine of that approach is wearing off quickly as the middle voters clearly see the disingenuous media spin factory and intellectual dishonesty at play. I mean, Taibbi and Shellenberger are not MAGA people (not that it should matter). Apparently they both voted for Biden.
You make a long list of historical people who's ideas you laud. I would bet that most of those people would disapprove of your divisive branding and labeling of others simply because they have different views.
I do agree with you about this other cancer, but I think it comes from those of us skipping the conversation and going straight to the throat. Is there really not any room in this world for alternative views and perspectives? Do we make a better world just destroying each other instead engaging in honest dialog?
Thanks for your thoughts and prayers Frank (I need all the help I can get), and I definitely wish you luck on your upcoming procedure.
I also appreciate your response to my political comments. I just couldn't help making the analogy between my medical experience and the current national conversation. I chose the title "metastasis" because that's what I'm experiencing - cancer spreading and taking root and gaining the upper hand.
My political comparison wasn't meant to denigrate one side or the other; I have no use for extremism in any case; the extreme left has gone too far into Wokism - sure we should be sensitive to the feelings and experiences of others, but not to the point where we need trigger warnings to avoid "hurting someone's feelings" - I want to say (shout) to the far left Grow Up. Life is tough; if you think the wrong pronoun hurts, try chemotherapy. At bottom, I am disillusioned with anyone or any party that puts their own agenda before the national agenda.
My greatest American line is JF Kennedy's "ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." That's what we need now, but what i mostly see is people on the left and the right who are just pursuing their own agendas.
And you're right about the character assassination and "disingenuous media spin factory and intellectual dishonesty at play" but I see that across the political spectrum. The recent FOX disclosures are the best example; they KNEW that Trump lost, admitted it, discussed it, then chose to pursue the lie that he won - for market share and profits. There's no patriotic redemption in that; that's pure selfish dishonesty for greed. Of course there are plenty of examples on the left, but the FOX disclosures crystallize the issue. I believe many of the Jan.6 insurrectionists honestly felt they were doing a patriotic duty to save America - because they believed the delusion pounded out by FOX. But FOX knew it was delusional, they just pumped out lies for profits. And are still doing it. I hope part of the settlement with Dominion will include plenty of prime-time on-air acknowledgement that they were lying for profit.
But to get back to my main response to your comments, I do indeed want to engage in honest dialog, and right now as I experience metastasis in my own body, I can't help but see it in politics - in this light: there's BS and opportunism everywhere, it's rewarded, it's the norm, and I think the far right (as represented by MTG, Boebert, Gaetz, Jordan) is on the ascendency, growing, spreading, metastasizing. That's my point. I'm not branding and labeling divisively because they have "different" views; I'm targeting them because I think they have "dangerous" views AND because they hold positions of power (because of Kevin McCarthy's vulnerability) from which that have influence far beyond their numbers - and their impact spreads further because FOX - that's the metastasis. Extreme dangerous (cancerous) views spreading aggressively because of dishonest opportunistic media who are in it for profit, country be damned.
Well Frank, I don't think I clarified my thought (I'm on way too many drugs!!!) but I'm just trying to say that I think most politicians are full of self-celebrating shit and when a small group (of any party) gets inequitable influence which is then amplified by opportunistic enablers - well, that's dangerous.
I recently had 17 lymph nodes removed - they are early warning signs of disease and help the body fight infection and cancer. When lymph nodes get infected they can become counter productive and start to spread the disease. So when the media (which used to be a kind of lymph node to alert the national body to trouble) when the media themselves become infected with lies, then the disease spreads. That's the analogy that came to mind when I was in hospital and saw the FOX disclosures. The FOX lymph nodes are infected with lies and are spreading delusion. That's the metastatic cancer analogy I was getting at.
Anyway, it's been spinning in my head, and maybe I expressed it poorly, and I agree with you that there's so much BS everywhere, but I do believe that much of the far right's message and actions fall under my definition of neo-fascism, and I do believe it's spreading, and I hope people can talk about it and sort it out and get back to fixing the country instead of spreading lies and attacking each other.
So thanks again for the thoughts and prayers, and mine go out to you Frank.
Abe,
Sorry to hear of your continuing battle. I pray for your strength.
Regardless of the outcome, I pray mostly for your happiness.
Thanks for your prayers, GG. You've been a solid supporter of me (and this newsletter) from Day One, even though we disagree and so many things. I think that's a wonderful situation, to maintain strong friendship with someone you disagree with. That's the kind of healing we need now.
Interesting too that you mentioned happiness, because to be honest, this whole whirlwind does get me down, and I see parallels in our society which sadden me, and just being in the hospital is a total downer. On the other hand, when the medical staff provide assistance I could care less if they're Dems or Repubs or Communists or MAGAs; they are People who are Helping me, and for that I am truly grateful.
That old line ("There's more that unites us than divides us") is so evident in the hospital. We're all in this together.
Thanks again GG, and I'm looking forward to disagreeing with you about politics again!
All the best
Thanks, Libor, for your kind words and heartfelt wishes.
Like you say, "we fight, we do not quit, till our last breath is spent".
Knowing that others are supportive in their thoughts and prayers is definitely helpful; it's good to know we're not alone in this. Thanks again.