An Attack on our Democracy

 Today I was robbed.  It wasn’t a robbery of valuable personal property or an invasion into my home.  It also was not an attack on my person or a threat to my life.  It was far worse. 

 Today, a constitutionally guaranteed right of citizenship, Freedom of Speech, was attacked. Freedom of Speech is a foundational right from which our Democracy is derived and thrives.

Freedom of Speech, especially during times of our National elections, is the keystone to our Democracy.  Without it, we are nothing more than a Banana Republic struggling to survive the whims of those in power.  Every four years we hold a public debate on the issues of our time in order to decide who will lead us.  This debate is a crucial element of the decision-making process.  It is designed to allow every citizen an opportunity to express their opinions on whatever topic they deem important.   In this arena of public debate where ideas flow and decisions are made.  This public examination of issues allows us to dream of a better future and set the priorities in how to attain it.

 At the end of the debate a leader is chosen and we experience one of the most unique and important aspects of our democracy – a peaceful transition of power.  The election of who becomes President is an expression of the Will of the People as realized in public expressions of opinions and through participation in the voting process.  Both elements of this process are critical.

 How was I robbed?  Someone decided to take away my right to post a sign in a public place that expressed my views and opinions.  Everyone who participates in the theft or vandalism of a legally posted yard sign is robbing people of their rights to Free Speech which, in turn, tears down the fabric of our Democracy.  Yes, you should have passion for your beliefs, but when you also honor the beliefs of others and allow for that expression to exist you are building a stronger Democracy.

 

48 hours later…

 OMG! The sign was returned and put back into position.  At least it looks somewhat like my sign from what I can read between the spray-painted letters “Antifa”.  We have now elevated this crime from simple larceny to an act of fear-mongering and threat.

 As many you have learned over the past couple of years “Antifa” stands for a loosely organized group of militants that have taken it upon themselves to stand up against the presence of Fascism, where ever it may raise its ugly head in the world.  Fascism is a loosely used term such as “They are Left-wing Fascists”  which I believe Trump was responsible for saying but I could be wrong.  Fascism is a very real, definable term.  “Fascism is a political philosophy, movement, or regime (such as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition.” By Merriam Webster.  Antifa or Anti-Fascism, by definition, is the opposite of Fascism.

 To infer, as the painter of the sign has done, that Antifa is some evil threat against our democracy is to align himself with Fascism, instead.  Only those with ill-intent would want to known as Fascists… unless, of course they truly are Fascists.

The most common example to come to mind when talking about Fascism is Adolph Hitler.  Millions of people were killed by his henchmen, the SS, in the name of race superiority and the willingness to destroy everything and everyone who did not agree with you. Hitler has not been the only fascist in history and to have a better understanding of how fascism arises and where it has occurred in modern history, I highly recommend reading Madeleine Albright’s book Fascism: A Warning.

 Fascism is the worse rendition of governance that humankind can inflict on each other.  Not only do the leaders want to gain power and riches, they want to annihilate an entire race or group of people in the process.  They gather their forces together under a flag of pure hatred.  The enemies are de-humanized to the point that the only logical result is to wipe them from the face of the earth.  Rwanda’s Armed Forces in the early 1990’s referred to the Tutsi as cockroaches as they murdered 500,000 to a 1,000,000 of them over a 100-day period.  This is always the goal and objective of Fascism, to wipe out the people they perceive to be less-than human and a scourge on the earth.

 Fascism is alive in many parts of the world today, including in the United States.  The proliferation of Nazis and Confederate flags are proof.  The White Nationalist rally in Charlottesville, VA in 2017 was a prime example of hate-filled rage where the marchers chanted “Jews will not replace us.” Trump is also creating a group of henchmen referred to TT or Trumps Troops that are being sent out to deal with the plague of liberalism.  Because of its ever-present threat, a group such as Antifa is a natural response.  Those who have been victimized by the pure and odium loathing of Fascism will naturally stand up and say, “Never again.”  If they don’t, if no one stands up, Fascism will rear return again and again.

 So, I have decided to leave the sign standing as long as it will be left alone in order to reveal the true feelings that lie in the heart of the perpetrator.  He is filled with hate and he wants to instill fear in the supporters of Biden.  If you think this is an isolated case, then you have not been reading the newspaper.   Trump rallies are filled with hate-spewed fans, yelling at the top of their lungs “F$CK Liberals.”  Yes, liberals are the cockroaches in the Trump world, and they see us as disease that must be eliminated.  They are lining up at voting areas to intimidate voters from voting.  They are doing everything in their power to eliminate us as a threat to their Supreme Leader and they believe we must be eliminated.

 If the intimidation and hate-spewing does not do the job, their AK and AR machine guns will.  They will not allow a peaceful transition of government should Biden win the election.  They will destroy everything they can touch. 

 And the proof they are living in our own quiet neighborhoods in middle-class America is the picture of their artwork on my effort at Free Speech and my view that Democracy is worth fighting for.