Thank you thank you thank you. I have been doing this with four close family members and friends. Three of whom I will probably never speak to again, as they are MAGA who continue to fully support this regime and I have POC in my immediate family. But at least I’ve planted a seed so it may be slightly harder for them to ignore future horrible events as they begin to impact their own lives. The fourth person is not MAGA, and I have to speak to because we share a home and children 😂. But I refuse to yield because I need to protect my kids and no human being deserves this crap. I’ve also stated the truth with two other friends who don’t like what is happening but are too people-pleasing to speak up. Your post should be shared far and wide.
Thank you! Earlier tonight I finally responded to my sister, who is an Evangelical Christian and Trump supporter. She keeps saying I shouldn’t have ended our relationship over “differences in opinion.” I have struggled to find words in response for months. What you just wrote gave me comfort and clarity after the fact. This is what I told her:
“I've been thinking about what you said. But we are no longer talking about differences in opinion. We've entered the realm of differences in morality, differences in reality, differences in truth, and even differences in the nature of good versus evil. I simply don't have the mental or emotional energy to debate those kinds of things. I’d rather simply accept that you have a polar opposite opinion on things, and let go.
It's sad and frustrating that it has gone this far but I'll always love you as my sister. and of course, if at any point, you or anyone in your family starts to feel like "Ok, this isn't what we signed up for. This isn't good" I'll be here. But after a lifetime of trying to have a family, I realize the differences are a chasm I can't excuse, rationalize or cross any more. “
I saw a clip when one of those groups like Truth Keepers or something like that arrive at a family based kings rally and jumped out of a U-Haul truck. The folks who were in the rally started yelling "Go Home" then " Go Home Facists" the group all dressed like a motor cycle gang soon backed off and got back in the UHaul and left. My first thought was call them like it is! And it seemed to back them down. The truck gang even kept trying to control their more ugly members who were about to fight. They kept saying Regroup regroup! Wish I could remember the name of the group and the community! I wanted to look up info on them.🧐
Wait, am I missing something? Did democrats not run their campaign (unsuccessfully) on threats to democracy? Did Mark Milley NOT call Trump a fascist in public interviews and articles? Most Americans don’t have a concept of what fascism is beyond “fascism bad.” It is not a concept most Americans have experienced, nor is the definition precise. Yes, we should call out Trump for what he is, but if we want to get people on our side (which we need), we are going to get more traction talking about the fact that eggs are still astronomically expensive. This election was won on the economy because it’s a concrete concept that has affected most Americas. Democrats lost by pointing out threats to democracy because calling people fascist enablers usually doesn’t work. We need a big tent with lots of ideas if we’re gonna come outta this. Calling out fascism isn’t working to get anyone on our side and it isn’t worked since 2016. Plain language is great… if it works.
This is brilliant and so helpful. The power of naming cannot be underestimated. Several months ago I wrote about the evil of the Trump regime and the importance of using that word to accurately describe his actions and him. https://backbonereport.substack.com/p/trump-and-his-regime-are-evil
In this post-truth, post-reality world in which we find ourselves, we must have the courage to use language clearly and concisely.
Channeling Ilana Redstone, here’s a flaw in this: “They’d rather maintain the illusion of reasoned discourse than confront the reality that one side has abandoned reason entirely.”
If one believes that half the country has abandoned reason entirely, then you don’t believe in democracy. You’re saying that half the country shouldn’t have representation because I have declared that they have abandoned reason.
We have to take that our counterparts are capable of reasoning and, as Zachary Elwood would say, we must then be persuasive with arguments that speak to their concerns. The fascism label is probably not helpful in that goal.
Everyone should read Jason Stanley’s “How Fascism Works” — it should be required high school material. Your piece here, Mike, is part of this crucial discourse and it is a tactical guide.
Language is always a “game” with authoritarians and fascists — who are usually unalloyed narcissists. They play it with aplomb, enjoying the way they destabilize truth, and relentlessly accuse others of things to push them onto defensive ground.
When we NAME these behaviours, it defangs their manipulative approach — though narcissists will still work to smear opponents and claim their pre-tense of victimhood.
It’s an exhausting game, but LINGUISTIC CLARITY and NON-COMPLICITY remain the keys to holding moral ground.
Thank you thank you thank you. I have been doing this with four close family members and friends. Three of whom I will probably never speak to again, as they are MAGA who continue to fully support this regime and I have POC in my immediate family. But at least I’ve planted a seed so it may be slightly harder for them to ignore future horrible events as they begin to impact their own lives. The fourth person is not MAGA, and I have to speak to because we share a home and children 😂. But I refuse to yield because I need to protect my kids and no human being deserves this crap. I’ve also stated the truth with two other friends who don’t like what is happening but are too people-pleasing to speak up. Your post should be shared far and wide.
Thanks for pointing out that moral clarity has become a rarity and the resulting sensation of ennui we inevitably experience.
Being labeled, “AntiFa” is a compliment although it’s twisted as a negative by the “Fa’s”.
Propaganda is sloppy, requires distinction, research, verification.
Those “Faux News” viewers lazily sit, absorb, and never consider other sources.
I’m thankful for Substack as a wealth of information!
As always, thanks, Mike!
Excellent, thank you. Damning too :-)
Thank you! Earlier tonight I finally responded to my sister, who is an Evangelical Christian and Trump supporter. She keeps saying I shouldn’t have ended our relationship over “differences in opinion.” I have struggled to find words in response for months. What you just wrote gave me comfort and clarity after the fact. This is what I told her:
“I've been thinking about what you said. But we are no longer talking about differences in opinion. We've entered the realm of differences in morality, differences in reality, differences in truth, and even differences in the nature of good versus evil. I simply don't have the mental or emotional energy to debate those kinds of things. I’d rather simply accept that you have a polar opposite opinion on things, and let go.
It's sad and frustrating that it has gone this far but I'll always love you as my sister. and of course, if at any point, you or anyone in your family starts to feel like "Ok, this isn't what we signed up for. This isn't good" I'll be here. But after a lifetime of trying to have a family, I realize the differences are a chasm I can't excuse, rationalize or cross any more. “
I ❤️ THIS! Best of everything to you.
I dared talk about Fascism before Trump even got elected
https://pete843.substack.com/p/lets-talk-about-fascism
Nobody wants to hear it though. Those on the right just tune you out
Thank you. Again well said.
Not naming things clearly is also hurt by this incessant "What about-ism". They use it to sound reasonable and distract you from clarity.
I saw a clip when one of those groups like Truth Keepers or something like that arrive at a family based kings rally and jumped out of a U-Haul truck. The folks who were in the rally started yelling "Go Home" then " Go Home Facists" the group all dressed like a motor cycle gang soon backed off and got back in the UHaul and left. My first thought was call them like it is! And it seemed to back them down. The truck gang even kept trying to control their more ugly members who were about to fight. They kept saying Regroup regroup! Wish I could remember the name of the group and the community! I wanted to look up info on them.🧐
And the inscription on Woody Guthrie’s guitar? “This machine kills fascists.” Not autocrats. Not authoritarians. Fascists.
Wait, am I missing something? Did democrats not run their campaign (unsuccessfully) on threats to democracy? Did Mark Milley NOT call Trump a fascist in public interviews and articles? Most Americans don’t have a concept of what fascism is beyond “fascism bad.” It is not a concept most Americans have experienced, nor is the definition precise. Yes, we should call out Trump for what he is, but if we want to get people on our side (which we need), we are going to get more traction talking about the fact that eggs are still astronomically expensive. This election was won on the economy because it’s a concrete concept that has affected most Americas. Democrats lost by pointing out threats to democracy because calling people fascist enablers usually doesn’t work. We need a big tent with lots of ideas if we’re gonna come outta this. Calling out fascism isn’t working to get anyone on our side and it isn’t worked since 2016. Plain language is great… if it works.
This is brilliant and so helpful. The power of naming cannot be underestimated. Several months ago I wrote about the evil of the Trump regime and the importance of using that word to accurately describe his actions and him. https://backbonereport.substack.com/p/trump-and-his-regime-are-evil
In this post-truth, post-reality world in which we find ourselves, we must have the courage to use language clearly and concisely.
Channeling Ilana Redstone, here’s a flaw in this: “They’d rather maintain the illusion of reasoned discourse than confront the reality that one side has abandoned reason entirely.”
If one believes that half the country has abandoned reason entirely, then you don’t believe in democracy. You’re saying that half the country shouldn’t have representation because I have declared that they have abandoned reason.
We have to take that our counterparts are capable of reasoning and, as Zachary Elwood would say, we must then be persuasive with arguments that speak to their concerns. The fascism label is probably not helpful in that goal.
Profoundly important this piece of writing.
Everyone should read Jason Stanley’s “How Fascism Works” — it should be required high school material. Your piece here, Mike, is part of this crucial discourse and it is a tactical guide.
Language is always a “game” with authoritarians and fascists — who are usually unalloyed narcissists. They play it with aplomb, enjoying the way they destabilize truth, and relentlessly accuse others of things to push them onto defensive ground.
When we NAME these behaviours, it defangs their manipulative approach — though narcissists will still work to smear opponents and claim their pre-tense of victimhood.
It’s an exhausting game, but LINGUISTIC CLARITY and NON-COMPLICITY remain the keys to holding moral ground.
Again, big thanks for pushing this conversation.