From: Doug Henwood
Charles, if the U.S. really were "fascist," or on the verge of fascism, wouldn't you be in jail - or worse?
^^^^^^^ CB: Not to compare myself to him, but was Dimitrov in jail in 1931 or '32 ? No. Was Germany on the verge of fascism at that time ? Yes. Dimitrov was a more prominent radical than I am. As a matter of fact, the Left in Germany was freely running for national leadership of the country when it was on the verge of fascism. For that reason, would you and Carrol be saying in 1931 that Germany was not on the verge of fascism ?
What about the rumors that the Bush administration might postponne the elections ( after stealing the last one)? Might that be a warning sign ? What was one of the clear markers of Nazi fascism but that they cancelled all elections after 1932 ? Isn't it troubling that they could even fix their mouths to say publically that they are considering cancelling the elections ?
I mean Dimitrov was put on trial and won _under_ fascism. We all agree that was fascism when Dimitrov was framed and tried, right ?
Again, not to compare myself to him, was Gramsci immediately jailed upon the establishment of the Fascist government in Italy ? No.
Are you saying you don't see any possibility that the US could go to the level of repression that there was in Italy under Fascism ? Germany is not the only example of fascism.
If leftists being jailed is a test, was the U.S. in "fascism" in 1970 because Angela Davis was in jail ? Or "worse" when Jackson was killed in prison.
Was the U.S. in fascism in 1948 (?) when the entire Executive Committee of the Central Committee of the Communist Party was jailed under the Smith Act ? And Attorney George Crockett from Detroit was jailed by Judge Medina for contempt in defending them ? What would you call that ? Tiddly Winks ?
Was it fascism or on the verge when Paul Robeson's passport was revoked and W.E.B. Dubois was threatened with criminal prosecution in the fifties ? When Robeson was threatened by rightwing mobs in the Catskills ?
How about the 40 years of Detroit City Red files on everybody from the CP, Martin Luther King to the Panthers ( white and black) and Erma Henderson ? How about when the head of the White Panthers was sent to prison here in Michigan ?
Are you saying that the U.S. definitetly does not have contingency plans for sealing off the "ghettos" , plans that have been around since the 1960's civil disturbances ?
How about when Martin Luther King was assassinated ? Was that fascist ?
One trouble with "fascism" is that right before its fullblown advent, "everything" is still bourgeois democratic. It was historically a quantum leap, sudden, unexpected, but if you have a trend in that direction , you might anticipate a leap. Who in 1931 in Germany was saying "we are on the verge of 'fascism'! " ? Only the Communists, maybe ?