> This habit of using "fascism" as an
> all-purpose pejorative is
> worse than stupid -- it's dangerous.
A funny anecdote related to this.
I remember hearing Christopher Hitchens speak at Harold Washingon Library last year, and fielding questions at the end.
When it was his turn in line, someone had something to say about Henry Kissinger that was a bit of one-upmaniship concerning the history of just how bad Kissinger was. Sitting there more increasingly aghast, I watched Hitchens get in a lather because this guy presumed to offer some negative take on HK that wasn't in CH's path. It ended with CH saying something like, "I don't respond to fascists." The questioner, equally aghast, immediately exclaimed, "Fascist? I'm a pacifist!"
It was a laughably bunk use of the term.
Alec
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