Just as this makes me feel that justice can prevail;
Quote:
The teachers union has been joined in a legal action against the school by the National Writers Union, headquartered in New York City.
...
The American Civil Liberties Union has become the legal arm of the lawsuit pending in federal court.
...the article finishes thusly:
Writers and editors who have spent years translating essays, films, poems, scientific articles and books by Iranian, North Korean and Sudanese authors have been warned not to do so by the U.S. Treasury Department under penalty of fine and imprisonment. Publishers and film producers are not allowed to edit works authored by writers in those nations. The Bush administration contends doing so has the effect of trading with the enemy, despite a 1988 law that exempts published materials from sanction under trade rules.
The witchfinder is alive and well, and has passed through the commies phase.
In "Fascism Anyone?," Dr. Lawrence Britt, a political scientist, identifies 14 characteristics common to fascist regimes. His comparisons of Hitler, Mussolini, Franco, Suharto, and Pinochet yielded this list of 14 "identifying characteristics of fascism."
1.)_ Powerful and Continuing Nationalism
Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.
_
2.)_ Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights_
Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need." The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc.
3.)_ Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause
The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial, ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc._
A scared populace is a compliant populace.
'
4.)_ Supremacy of the Military
Even when there are widespread domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized.
5.)_ Rampant Sexism
The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Opposition to abortion is high, as is homophobia and anti-gay legislation and national policy.
6.)_ Controlled Mass Media
Sometimes to media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.
7.)_ Obsession with National Security
Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.
\t
8.)_ Religion and Government are Intertwined
Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government's policies or actions.
9.)_ Corporate Power is Protected
The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.
10.)_ Labor Power is Suppressed
Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed._
11.)_ Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts
Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts is openly attacked, and governments often refuse to fund the arts.
12.)_ Obsession with Crime and Punishment
Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations
13.)_ Rampant Cronyism and Corruption
Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders._
14._ Fraudulent Elections
Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.
Seems to dovetail with the moronic "zero tolerance" policies schools have adopted towards the slightest whiff of conflict too. The "un-American" bit is dumb but just words too. Anyway, this principal has to answer to a superintendent and a school board, why no mention of this means of recourse? It would be hard to maintain a fascist state when you are not the final word on the matter. Taxpayers are ultimately the final word on the subject.
I haven't found this sort of behavior, despite hearing about it a lot, to be typical of Bush supporters, neocons or whomever though. I read about it a lot, just like I read about people on the opposite side of the debate who have rather ridiculous views on the matter. I've yet to meet anyone -- outside of AI of course -- who really thinks in these terms, but people do seem to latch on to this idea about their opponent rather easily.
I often demonstrate against nazis, danish nationalist parties, anti democratic muslim organisations etc. to heighten the awareness about what these groups stands for. Do I think Denmark is a fascist state or turning into a one tomorrow or think the right winged government here want to turn it into one? No of course not. But its importent to point out and protest against each time you encounter them. Only that way we can be conscious of the tendencies of fascism so we will never turn into a full blown one. Hence fascism watch `04.
At some point there must be a line that is 'crossed over'.
Is the US immune from this ?
No, but it's supposed to have procedures and elements in place to kill it where it starts. That's my point about the principal having to answer to someone: his superintendent, his school board, his parents and taxpayers, the courts, there's a whole line of defense against willful abuse of power. It's true at every level of our government too.
My only point in the quoted paragraph was that I find the behavior exceptional, that's all.
In "Fascism Anyone?," Dr. Lawrence Britt, a political scientist, identifies 14 characteristics common to fascist regimes. His comparisons of Hitler, Mussolini, Franco, Suharto, and Pinochet yielded this list of 14 "identifying characteristics of fascism."
1.)_ Powerful and Continuing Nationalism
Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.
_
2.)_ Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights_
Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need." The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc.
3.)_ Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause
The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial, ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc._
A scared populace is a compliant populace.
'
4.)_ Supremacy of the Military
Even when there are widespread domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized.
5.)_ Rampant Sexism
The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Opposition to abortion is high, as is homophobia and anti-gay legislation and national policy.
6.)_ Controlled Mass Media
Sometimes to media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.
7.)_ Obsession with National Security
Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.
\t
8.)_ Religion and Government are Intertwined
Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government's policies or actions.
9.)_ Corporate Power is Protected
The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.
10.)_ Labor Power is Suppressed
Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed._
11.)_ Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts
Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts is openly attacked, and governments often refuse to fund the arts.
12.)_ Obsession with Crime and Punishment
Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations
13.)_ Rampant Cronyism and Corruption
Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders._
14._ Fraudulent Elections
Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.
Did he leave anything out?
Sounds like the perfect explanation of most university campuses today. Of course the facism they project is entirely from the left, but it is indeed similar to the description here.
I do think the "fascism" word is being thrown around here rather casually in a paranoid kind of way. I mean, I have to wonder how some Italian alive in the 1930's would see this. We have a rather cozy place under a blue sky to make these assertions.
This guy is abusing his authority. Fascism is a widespread abuse of power. The grounds for rebuttal have not been exhausted so we can't say if it's systematic or widespread. The school principal is very limited i his power in the end. If it's supported from above, then we're getting somewhere on this charge.
I do think the "fascism" word is being thrown around here rather casually in a paranoid kind of way. I mean, I have to wonder how some Italian alive in the 1930's would see this. We have a rather cozy place under a blue sky to make these assertions.
This guy is abusing his authority. Fascism is a widespread abuse of power. The grounds for rebuttal have not been exhausted so we can't say if it's systematic or widespread. The school principal is very limited i his power in the end. If it's supported from above, then we're getting somewhere on this charge.
We don't have to wait for an completely fascist system of government to criticize fascist tendencies right now-- which I think the Principal definitely has. That's absurd. Your argument reduces fascism to just a system of government or some ill-defined "widespread abuse of power"-- when its ideology could be practiced by individuals within another system. So you're only using the word in a very limited sense.
Sorry, billy I have better uses for my time than to try to convince you against your will.
Nick
Nick, I too would love to hear about your sexist, militaristic universities where human rights are disdained, as are intellectuals and the arts.
Please expand, but don't forget to use the following as your reference as this is (you say) a 'perfect' description. At least, you're until called on it.
1.)_ Powerful and Continuing Nationalism
2.)_ Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights
3.)_ Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause
Comments
g
The teachers union has been joined in a legal action against the school by the National Writers Union, headquartered in New York City.
...
The American Civil Liberties Union has become the legal arm of the lawsuit pending in federal court.
...the article finishes thusly:
Writers and editors who have spent years translating essays, films, poems, scientific articles and books by Iranian, North Korean and Sudanese authors have been warned not to do so by the U.S. Treasury Department under penalty of fine and imprisonment. Publishers and film producers are not allowed to edit works authored by writers in those nations. The Bush administration contends doing so has the effect of trading with the enemy, despite a 1988 law that exempts published materials from sanction under trade rules.
The witchfinder is alive and well, and has passed through the commies phase.
1.)_ Powerful and Continuing Nationalism
Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.
_
2.)_ Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights_
Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need." The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc.
3.)_ Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause
The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial, ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc._
A scared populace is a compliant populace.
'
4.)_ Supremacy of the Military
Even when there are widespread domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized.
5.)_ Rampant Sexism
The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Opposition to abortion is high, as is homophobia and anti-gay legislation and national policy.
6.)_ Controlled Mass Media
Sometimes to media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.
7.)_ Obsession with National Security
Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.
\t
8.)_ Religion and Government are Intertwined
Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government's policies or actions.
9.)_ Corporate Power is Protected
The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.
10.)_ Labor Power is Suppressed
Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed._
11.)_ Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts
Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts is openly attacked, and governments often refuse to fund the arts.
12.)_ Obsession with Crime and Punishment
Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations
13.)_ Rampant Cronyism and Corruption
Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders._
14._ Fraudulent Elections
Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.
Did he leave anything out?
I haven't found this sort of behavior, despite hearing about it a lot, to be typical of Bush supporters, neocons or whomever though. I read about it a lot, just like I read about people on the opposite side of the debate who have rather ridiculous views on the matter. I've yet to meet anyone -- outside of AI of course -- who really thinks in these terms, but people do seem to latch on to this idea about their opponent rather easily.
Anyway. . . Daytona Beach. . . going there for the Pepsi 400 in July. (Not a NASCAR fan. . . it's on business.
Originally posted by segovius
At some point there must be a line that is 'crossed over'.
Is the US immune from this ?
No, but it's supposed to have procedures and elements in place to kill it where it starts. That's my point about the principal having to answer to someone: his superintendent, his school board, his parents and taxpayers, the courts, there's a whole line of defense against willful abuse of power. It's true at every level of our government too.
My only point in the quoted paragraph was that I find the behavior exceptional, that's all.
Originally posted by sammi jo
In "Fascism Anyone?," Dr. Lawrence Britt, a political scientist, identifies 14 characteristics common to fascist regimes.
[...]
Did he leave anything out?
- The redefinition of critizism as hostile and menacing to society.
- Places where people "vanish" from the rest of society and to which the civil legal system has no access.
- The death penalty.
Combine all three to effectively mute the opposition and propagate fear among the population.
Originally posted by Splinemodel
What kind of school has a "military liason?" That is weird.
I thought the same thing. Maybe they are referring to the Jr ROTC Instructor.
Originally posted by sammi jo
In "Fascism Anyone?," Dr. Lawrence Britt, a political scientist, identifies 14 characteristics common to fascist regimes. His comparisons of Hitler, Mussolini, Franco, Suharto, and Pinochet yielded this list of 14 "identifying characteristics of fascism."
1.)_ Powerful and Continuing Nationalism
Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.
_
2.)_ Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights_
Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need." The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc.
3.)_ Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause
The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial, ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc._
A scared populace is a compliant populace.
'
4.)_ Supremacy of the Military
Even when there are widespread domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized.
5.)_ Rampant Sexism
The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Opposition to abortion is high, as is homophobia and anti-gay legislation and national policy.
6.)_ Controlled Mass Media
Sometimes to media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.
7.)_ Obsession with National Security
Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.
\t
8.)_ Religion and Government are Intertwined
Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government's policies or actions.
9.)_ Corporate Power is Protected
The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.
10.)_ Labor Power is Suppressed
Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed._
11.)_ Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts
Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts is openly attacked, and governments often refuse to fund the arts.
12.)_ Obsession with Crime and Punishment
Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations
13.)_ Rampant Cronyism and Corruption
Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders._
14._ Fraudulent Elections
Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.
Did he leave anything out?
Sounds like the perfect explanation of most university campuses today. Of course the facism they project is entirely from the left, but it is indeed similar to the description here.
Nick
Sorry, try again...
This guy is abusing his authority. Fascism is a widespread abuse of power. The grounds for rebuttal have not been exhausted so we can't say if it's systematic or widespread. The school principal is very limited i his power in the end. If it's supported from above, then we're getting somewhere on this charge.
Originally posted by BuonRotto
I do think the "fascism" word is being thrown around here rather casually in a paranoid kind of way. I mean, I have to wonder how some Italian alive in the 1930's would see this. We have a rather cozy place under a blue sky to make these assertions.
This guy is abusing his authority. Fascism is a widespread abuse of power. The grounds for rebuttal have not been exhausted so we can't say if it's systematic or widespread. The school principal is very limited i his power in the end. If it's supported from above, then we're getting somewhere on this charge.
We don't have to wait for an completely fascist system of government to criticize fascist tendencies right now-- which I think the Principal definitely has. That's absurd. Your argument reduces fascism to just a system of government or some ill-defined "widespread abuse of power"-- when its ideology could be practiced by individuals within another system. So you're only using the word in a very limited sense.
Originally posted by billybobsky
No, nick... actually none of those describe a university...
Sorry, try again...
Sorry, billy I have better uses for my time than to try to convince you against your will.
Nick
Originally posted by trumptman
Sorry, billy I have better uses for my time than to try to convince you against your will.
Nick
Nick, I too would love to hear about your sexist, militaristic universities where human rights are disdained, as are intellectuals and the arts.
Please expand, but don't forget to use the following as your reference as this is (you say) a 'perfect' description. At least, you're until called on it.
1.)_ Powerful and Continuing Nationalism
2.)_ Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights
3.)_ Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause
4.)_ Supremacy of the Military
5.)_ Rampant Sexism
6.)_ Controlled Mass Media
7.)_ Obsession with National Security
8.)_ Religion and Government are Intertwined
9.)_ Corporate Power is Protected
10.)_ Labor Power is Suppressed
11.)_ Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts
12.)_ Obsession with Crime and Punishment
13.)_ Rampant Cronyism and Corruption
14._ Fraudulent Elections
Originally posted by Anders
http://www.news-journalonline.com/Ne...PN62051504.htm
Wow, I just looked at this thread . . . . this is dispicable!
What a horrible situation