While people wonder how Americans can be pro-Nazi or how we've gotten to a point where fascism is rising in the US, we probably should talk about how Nazis were inspired by America and how quickly we welcomed former Nazis into our fold. 1/
washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/12…
washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/12…
First off, the idea that Americans can't be Nazis or that Nazism is inherently anti-American is ridiculous. Fascism is a human condition and any idea that we're somehow immune to fascism is ABSURD. It's a byproduct of the myth of American exceptionalism and it's dangerous. 2/
Believing that Americans can't be fascist because we're Americans has protected fascists and fascist movements for generations. It legitimizes movements like Trumpism and hides it behind patriotic fervor. 3/
The truth is that America inspired Nazism in multiple ways. Hitler looked at our genocide of the Native Americans. He read books by American eugenicists. He admired Henry Ford's industry and anti-semetism and even kept a portrait of him in his office. 4/
In fact, Hitler believed the post-WWII world would look a lot like the Confederate States of America. He admired that the CSA was an intentionally stratified society. He even admired that post-Civil War America kept segregation as an intentional state. 5/
As Nazi Germany began killing its citizens, it invited American eugenicists over to watch the work and report on it to the rest of the world. American eugenicists were celebrities, gaining press and fawned over. Before the war, they were singing Nazi's praises in the press. 6/
Before Pearl Harbor, the American First group was an isolationist party featuring Charles Lindbergh telling America they should unite with Nazis to fight off minorities. It was extremely popular. The attack on Pearl Harbor changed that, but fascism took root here. 7/
So. We go and fight Nazism and start telling the story that American is inherently anti-fascist. BUT THEN, when the war isn't even over, we see communism as the main villain, so we start bringing Nazis over to our side in Operation Paperclip while the fighting is still going. 8/
We forgave Nazis when it was convenient and brought to America to stock our weapons programs and start our nascent space program. They were useful allies for us and we simply forgave the whole fascism thing so we could face off with communism. 9/
Fun aside: Doing research, I came across ABC's coverage of Disneyland's opening. In the middle, I recognize their chief science director. Turns out? Nazi Heinz Haber. Walt Disney put a Nazi on his programs like an early Mr. Wizard. 10/
Okay. Flash forward. We get into the 2000's. Demographics start shifting. Guess what happens when a power group is afraid they'll lose power? They turn against democracy and embrace fascism. That's the easy math of fascism. 11/
Power groups are often only as dedicated to democracy and liberty as long as they have the electoral math on their side. When that shifts, the power group, in this case white Americans, reject the electoral math and embrace authoritarianism and anti-democratic ideas. 12/
What happens is that the power group in decline accepts authoritarian, anti-democratic principles and conspiracy theories about ascending groups that might unseat them. In this case, it's immigrants and minorities. 13/
It's not pleasant, but it's the truth. America opposed Nazism when it was convenient. American accepts Nazism when it's convenient. We can't hide behind myths of exceptionalism or pretend we're immune. Fascism is a human condition that can pop up anywhere at any time. 14/
People get nervous when you talk about Nazis because it's often overused, but that doesn't mean we have to hide our heads and play pretend when legitimate fascism pops up. America isn't immune and it's quite susceptible. We have to understand that and be cognizant. 15/
There are Nazis in America. There are Nazis all over the world. Some wear the uniform, others don't. The truth is that Nazism is a state of mind. We can't hide behind the American flag and pretend that we didn't partly inspire it or that we didn't harbor them. We just can't. 16/
The story we tell ourselves about American exceptionalism is as dangerous as it is wrong. To get better, we have to look at where we've failed. To improve, we have to look at where we've fallen short. Nazism and fascism are here and they've always been here. 17/17
