By Brigitte L. Nacos
In “1984,” George Orwell describes the fascist regime’s daily propaganda program “Two Minutes of Hate” that whips up audiences into “uncontrollable exclamations of rage” and “a desire to kill, to torture, to smash faces with a sledge hammer…” All that is achieved within 120 seconds by the big screen hate machine fueled by Big Brother’s totalitarian machine. I thought of Orwell’s post-WW II warning of fascism earlier today, when I scrolled through some of the many “patriotic” online warriors raging against the evil enemies of their America—no longer un-American socialists but now communists in the global cabal of “The Great Replacement” of white supremacy. Today, we do not have the Orwellian two minutes of Hate once a day but a 24/7 frenzy of Hate.
Politics has never been a showcase for moderation, morality, and humanity. But the relentless vilification of the political opposition and the passionate support of liars and law breakers within their own ranks sets certain individuals, leaders and followers far apart from democratic norms. Just think of the consistent support for the Big Lie concerning the legitimate results of the 2020 presidential election. Or the silence of leading Republicans after Donald Trump’s “death wish” threat against Mitch McConnell of his “Death Wish” and racial slur against McConnell’s Chinese-American wife.
Last night, James Carville said in an interview on MSNBC that immigrants are needed in this country. By farmers, for example. And now—in South-West Florida. He is right. But the hate and rage against immigrants by too many Americans is far greater than the rational choice that Carville suggested.
And then there are leaders who stir that Hate.
According to the New York Post, Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis said on Tuesday that most looters in post-Ian Florida were illegal immigrants and he would like to “drag them out by the collars” and “send them back to where they came from.” To be sure, looting is always despicable, especially in the midst of a catastrophic crisis, and should be punished. However, the outrage of the anti-immigration America First online army is equally despicable. Here are some sample comments to the alleged looting by illegal immigrants on a social media site I will not identify and thereby promote:
- They should consider themselves lucky they’re still alive. Now please tell us how they were simply looking for “bread” to feed their families, AOC
- Bullet to the head, simple.
- When the lootin [s] starts the shootin [sic] starts.
- Filthy fucking people!
- We used to just hang people like this.
Some of these statements are very similar to those made by a former president during his campaign and presidential mass rallies. Obviously, his fans remember.
Comments