BIG. RED. WARNING. FLAG.
It’s the seemingly innocuous picture that has been retweeted over 7000 times in less than 24 hours.
The photograph is of a list outlining the ’14 Signs of Fascism’ from the US Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC. And in the early days of the Trump administration, it has gone viral with people drawing haunting similarities to the new President’s politics and beliefs.
It will send shivers down your spine.
The ’14 Signs of Fascism’ post was shared by comedian Felonious Munk (aka Dennis Banks), who uploaded the list alongside the caption,”This is the list. It’s in the holocaust museum. Tell me you can’t check most if not all of these off. Then tell me we’re ok.”
The list includes the following:
- Powerful and continuing nationalism
- Disdain for human rights
- Identification of enemies as a unifying cause
- Supremacy of the military
- Rampant sexism
- Controlled mass media
- Obsession with national security
- Religion and government intertwined
- Corporate power protected
- Labour power suppressed
- Disdain for intellectuals & the arts
- Obsession with crime & punishment
- Rampant cronyism & corruption
- Fraudulent elections
Yeah, well, crap.
Adolf Hitler was a fascist, and founded the Nazi movement to create national unity, and a stable and orderly society following their losses in WWI.
And then there’s Donald Trump.
In the week since Trump has officially taken office, he has caused widespread panic for his dramatic actions and polarising policies. In less than seven days, he has introduced a Muslim travel and immigration ban, fired his Attorney General Sally Yates, and removed funding for abortion organisations. (To name just a few.)
Needless to say, his actions have caused widespread comparison to a Fascist regime.
Ominously, Felonious Munk followed up his viral tweet with another one warning that these acts of Fascism are ‘already happening’.
Twitter: the strange duality of simultaneously acting as Donald Trump’s soapbox…and our lifeline to news and education on surviving his presidency.
History doesn’t lie.