Wednesday, August 30, 2006

"Islamofascism"

So now there's Islamofascism. Can we can also use Christofascists, Hebrewfascists, Hindufascists, Buddafascists, Taofascists? Can we break them down by sect? How about Catholfascists? Baptifascists? Episcofascists? JehovahWitnofascists? Hey, this is fun!

But seriously, the major problem I see with the term "Islamofascism" is that it lumps together groups with very different objectives and methods of operation. For example: al-Qaeda is a Sunni group that uses terrorist tactics in its pursuit of restoring the Caliphate. Hezbollah is a Shite organization which has created a functioning mini-state within Lebanon. Hamas is a Sunni group that is focused strictly on the Palestine situation. The Taliban are an uniquely Afghan group that has more to do with Pashtun tribalism than Islam. And there are dozens of other Islamic groups that sometimes use terrorism but have no connection with each other. How does lumping all of these groups under one label help us to defeat them?

Early Warning Signs of Fascism

1. A powerful and continuing nationalism
2. Disdain for Human Rights
3. Identification of enemies 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 intertwined
9. Corporate power protected
10. Labor Power Suppressed
11. Disdain for intellectuals and the arts
12. Obsession with crime and punishment
13. Rampant cronyism & corruption
14. Fraudlent elections

Perhaps Bu$hCo is just trying to justify it's actions by "demonizing" its enemies. Or maybe it's a strictly emotional term meant for the incredibly large number of people who depend on cliches and catch-phrases as substitutes for thinking.

1 comment:

lemming said...

In my day-dreams, we all stop the world long enough to stop, ponder and redefine ourselves. Far too many amorfous terms floating around - the 24 hour news cycle means that we jump rather than standing up.