100 years ago, Mussolini‘s violent, youthful movement came to power.
In late October 1922, Benito Mussolini’s National Fascist Party assumed power in Italy. Understanding the rise of fascism 100 years ago, and what it meant, remains more important than ever. Not, as is the fashion today, to highlight the supposed parallels between its rise and that of populism – but to show how very different fascism was to all that is damned and demonised in its name today.
“Fascism is characterized by dictatorial power, forcible suppression of opposition, bigotry against a demonized ‘other,’ and strong regimentation of society.”
— Trudeau government suppress opposition by demonizing Canadians as racists and bigots. Government and media create community of “others” among anti-Vaxxers. Society regimented like never before via Covid pandemic edicts.
“Fascism is hostile to classical liberalism and its individual freedoms of expression, conscience, association and peaceful assembly. Fascism creates a divide between ‘us and them,’ to deny equality to members of the bad minority.”
— Trudeau government utilize Covid to suppress individual freedoms. Government and media establish “us and them” society through Vaxxer versus anti-Vaxxer communities. Denial of equality established through Emergencies Act and its “frozen bank account” measures.
The Canadian military’s efforts in the Second World War are often mythologized so as to portray opposition to fascism as a cross-class trait, shared by workers, bosses and politicians alike. The disturbing reality, however, is that well into the late 1930s, a significant section of Canada’s elite admired fascism in Italy and even in Germany.
As Canadian society continues along a path of an erasure of personal freedoms, a piece of the puzzle becomes worthy of analysis. Could Canadian Liberalism reach a stage where it is equally as oppressive as historical forms of totalitarianism?
