Dr. Lawrence Britt has examined the fascist regimes of Hitler (Germany), Mussolini (Italy), Franco (Spain), Suharto (Indonesia) and several Latin American regimes. Britt found 14 defining characteristics common to each:
1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism - Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.
2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights - Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of “need.” The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc.
3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause - The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial, ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc.
4. Supremacy of the Military - Even when there are widespread domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized.
5. Rampant Sexism - The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Divorce, abortion and homosexuality are suppressed and the state is represented as the ultimate guardian of the family institution.
6. Controlled Mass Media - Sometimes to media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is controlled indirectly by government regulation, sympathetic media spokespeople, or its executives. Censorship, especially in wartime, is very common.
7. Obsession with National Security - Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.
8. Religion and Government are Intertwined - Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government's policies or actions.
9. Corporate Power is Protected - The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.
10. Labor Power is Suppressed - Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed.
11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts - Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts and letters is openly attacked.
12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment - Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations.
13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption - Fascist regimes are almost always governed by a group of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders.
14. Fraudulent Elections - Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.
Paul if I misconstrued the meaning of your photograph, title, and about section in correlation with each other, then I apologize. I also feel you have the right to feel anyway you please so it was not meant to be a scornful comment. I think every nations’ people in the majority feel the same way about their symbolism and that sometimes goes against the grain of what they feel of their leaders. My regards, Garold
I usually do not comment on a photograph without feeling something. I take your photograph and look at it in and of itself and I find the clouds with the rough edged texture to the clouds and distracting colors along with the pale overexposed look unpleasing. This is of course an armatures' viewpoint. I then take the photograph and its title along with the information given and find that I do get an emotion from it. I think that the sense of national pride may fluctuate from time to time but it is my homeland and will always be that. Maybe a person should consider why the flag is so tattered and why that should cause a beautiful symbol to be disdained. I think that someone should consider that the flag that you hold in such contempt is also the symbol of the same country that opens itself to every nationality to come and live. I do not always agree with the policies of the leaders, but it is a revolving government and that is the beauty of it. It is revolving and can always follow a different pathway unlike places that have national leaders for a generation or more of people. Paul I do not usually comment politically on photographs so don't take me wrong, but the beauty of the flag that you find so displeasing is the same flag that people left other places of less tolerance to begin a new home and have shed blood to protect the very tolerance and freedoms that the flag symbolizes. The very fact that you can post this photograph and your viewpoint about the fascism of this government is evidence of the freedom founded and engrained in this flag. I am happy that you have posted this photograph because it proves that our freedoms we enjoy though at times strained are still alive and well. My regards, Garold
wow i like the flag image - I think my flag fascination started when I left the motherland - til then I had just taken flags for granted and had not appreciated the enormous importance we/us /them regard them. I took my own tattered flag pic I will post for altogether different non political reasons
i am also amazed by all the comments here but I will take the apolitical non commital stance and just admire the photo!
Just came across your little rant... interesting to note, my first reply got caught by the email N@zis of Usefilm because I must of used language like dumba$$ and cr@!p and the words weren't even aimed at you. There's your freedom for you.
I will grant you that big government needs to watched and there are some reason for concern but you must have taken a beating on Enron stock scandal or love the liberal Kool-aid.
This is my suggestion. Take your theory and meet with Kim Jong-Il to discuss further. I have heard he is very lonely and probably love to hear from you. He will probably offer u tenure at one of his Reeducation centers with thousands of his "hungry" for knowledge students. There u can do unlimited research on Facism or would that be communism or maybe Kimmieism. Check out Cuba, Iran, Russia, China for some good one leftist human rights while ur at it.
Paul the glory of the flag and this country is still great... when our soldiers do wrong, guess what, we put them on trial and deal with it. When terriorist thugs blow up cilivians, woman and children, other nations celebrate. There is a difference and I perfer the place I celebrate the good grace to live in on the Fourth.
Great capture.. the composition can be interpreted many ways which is what makes for a good photo. I really like the image and how strong it is regardless of how you view it. Good work.
As to your about... well. I have no idea what you are trying to say because there is no comparison to anything that is happening in the U.S. and what Hitler and other fascist states have done.... after just seeing auschwitz you can really see what the face of evil looks like. This country is never as good as people think... and never as bad. I am not a bush fan... but I was not a Clinton fan either. The right and left just seem to be extremes to me and we are at our best when we meet in the middle. Anyway, good photo... As to everything else, well.. I wish politics would be left out of UF but I guess it is impossible.... :)
Being of Native descent,i am not 100% in agreement about Old Glory's "proud past"... ~ Slavery existed far longer under Old Glory than under the Confederate stars n' bars ~1838 Trail of tears...American genocide ~US troops used "the flag" as a battle emblem when they attacked Native Americans.....
Of course there are many more instances where Old Glory didn't shine,but there is always hope... peace,gayle
Message to terrorists:_____________________ It is simply untrue that all our institutions are evil,... that all politicians are mere opportunists, that all aspects of university life are corrupt. Having discovered an illness, it's not terribly useful to prescribe death as a cure. Message to Americans:_____________________ True love of country is not blind obedience but a willingness, a strength and a courage to call her to a higher standard. Message to All People:_____________________ "I still believe people are basically good at heart." -- Anne Frank
Hey! I know them guys that’s redistributing all the wealth ........ they’re the same ones that’s making all those gigantic circles in the cornfields at night.
Pretty pic...... BTW. Pastel coloring gives it a very 18/19th century Romantic sensibility. I can easily see it [ with a few less stars ] as the battle scared flag flying from the mast of the Bon Homme Richard after it prevails over the Serapis.
And the saddest thing of all, Akite, is that their manipulations of flag, God, Gays and Guns are not about those issues at ALL. Those are just hot-button topics to inflame and distract the base from their REAL intent, which is to re-distribute this nations wealth to the top .01% where THEY feel it 'belongs'.
"Interesting deffinition of "true" patriot: one who burns the flag of his or her country. "
Interesting, indeed, that you read that into my comment on this image, Randy. I re-read what I wrote and still don't see anything about a patriot being one who burns the flag. Or are you just raising that old canard as some sort of provocation? No, a true patriot is one who defends the principles this country stands for and rallies against the perversion of those principles. Respect for such symbols as the flag can't be imposed, but must be earned. This image is, to me, a symbolic depiction of the assault, by the right, against the real values that this country is supposed to represent. I don't see as patriotic those who refuse to accept or confront the many negative things being inflicted on my country by this administration and its supporters. There are many, many of us who have much higher aspirations for this, our nation, than those trying to drown our voices with blind nationalism. May we hold our heads high because we deserve to, not because someone will kick our a$s if we don't. God bless the U.S.A.!
I really like the subtle tones used for this shot Paul - it helps to deepen the impact and meaning of the capture. Also, a very tnteresting read - thanks for sharing.
> Akite- It should be clear to any reasonable person to see who has been the most "shrill" in this thread. Interesting deffinition of "true" patriot: one who burns the flag of his or her country. Anyone who disagrees with you: shrill, unpatriotic, lacking capacity to understand, lock-step groupthinker, imbecile Study words for you to look up; discourse, manners, tolerance
Excellent photo for its symbolism and message! Thank goodness there are still some *true* patriots like you left in this country, a true patriot being one who stands up and sounds the alarm when he/she sees his/her country's "values" being eroded, its reputation and good name being tarnished, its very constitution desecrated! It's beyond the capacity of the lock-stepping groupthinkers to understand the nobility of people who are willing to say and do what is necessary to make things right, even in the face of the shrill imbeciles wrapping themselves in the flag and shrieking "America, love it or leave it!" America is proud of you. Thank you!
You taken a very profound image in many ways that will remind many of us just what the American flag stands for. I have to say, that Rob's comment was well said.
Paul, that's an interesting title. You were proud of America, but now you're not? When were you proud, sometime between the assassination of Kennedy and the moon landing? Were you proud when Clinton was in office, but now that Bush is president, the U.S. (because of your complete hatred of him) the U.S. is a country to be scorned? > Gary, there may be a disproportionate number of "straight" images of American flag on UF. There certainly is a disproportionate number of caustically presented images of the American flag presented. I posted a "strait" shot, only in response to and as a counter to, the negative displays. I guess if my flag were set afire or trampled upon, my image could be considered "artistic. (why didn't I think of that!) > Kambiz, now that you're in the U.S., why don't you elaborate a bit on the faults of your home country,Iran, rather than exclusively on those of the country you chose to come to? If U.S. is so bad, what brought you here? > Yes Ed, America is a totally different country because Bush/Cheney are in office. Can't bring yourself to say anything positive about the U.S.A. now, can you. Oh save us Kerry! > Rob,good that you told them to "pound sand". Good that you could say that, that you weren't cuffed and taken away to a political prison. In so many countries around the world, that would be the case. I've always loved the joke- "Just because your paranoid, it doesn't mean that someone isn't really after you". 9/11 gave us a reason to be paranoid, and an outcry followed; "why didn't the government stop this from happening, we need to take steps to stop this from ever happening again". Now, years later with no further attacks carried out within our borders, there are those(including the ACLU) trying to stop any tools we have to thwart those who wish us harm. Your evenhanded views are to be commended.
Paul, of course the 14 points displayed sound familiar. Parts of each have existed throughout our history, going back 230 years. And they are common to virtually every country (virtuous or evil) in the world with a GNP larger than Texas.
I would take Rob's words to heart- "I have lived a great many places all over the world; can you think of a single country that is better? We have to make sure that what we have doesn't deteriorate." Your image seems to gloat over deterioration. Other words to live by- "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country".
How's this for free speech on our "Indepenence Day"?
A comment I shared with someone we both know...
Kambiz,
I'm sorry, but we don't seem to read the same "Bible"...
I have never read anything in the "Holy Bible", about all men being equal... Please tell me the chapter and verse, of where you found this in the "Word of My Living God"!
Any version will do: The Corinth, Torah, KJV, NIV, NKJV, NWI, Living, or any other version will do? In any language you prefer, such as Greek, Hebrew, or Chaldee…
“Show Me Please”…
King David was the "Apple of Gods Eye" and he had to use certain killing tools commanded by God... Samson used the jaw bone of an ass to straighten out the "Philistines"... Jesus even used a whip to correct the Pharisees, Sadducees, and the Sanhedrin…
Even, though David and Samson were, liars, adulterers, and murderers, God still loved them...
It seems to me Blood has always covered sins, in the Old Testament, as well as the New Testament... I didn't write the rules, I just study them...
Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior, which he died on the Cross to prove His Love for Me and the Whole World... He shed His blood for me and everyone, as a sacrifice for all of our sin's...
In His Service,
Martin
PS. I'm with Rob, as we should "Take care of all the infidels and let God sort them out"... Love it, or leave it...
Get out! Paul... By the way this capture is a crying shame to all humanity... Learn how to shoot!
How's this for free speech on our "Indepenence Day"?
A comment I shared with someone we both know...
Kambiz,
I'm sorry, but we don't seem to read the same "Bible"...
I have never read anything in the "Holy Bible", about all men being equal... Please tell me the chapter and verse, of where you found this in the "Word of My Living God"!
Any version will do: The Corinth, Torah, KJV, NIV, NKJV, NWI, Living, or any other version will do? In any language you prefer, such as Greek, Hebrew, or Chaldee…
“Show Me Please”…
King David was the "Apple of Gods Eye" and he had to use certain killing tools commanded by God... Samson used the jaw bone of an ass to straighten out the "Philistines"... Jesus even used a whip to correct the Pharisees, Sadducees, and the Sanhedrin…
Even, though David and Samson were, liars, adulterers, and murderers, God still loved them...
It seems to me Blood has always covered sins, in the Old Testament, as well as the New Testament... I didn't write the rules, I just study them...
Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior, which he died on the Cross to prove His Love for Me and the Whole World... He shed His blood for me and everyone, as a sacrifice for all of our sin's...
In His Service,
Martin
PS. I'm with Rob, as we should "Take care of all the infidels and let God sort them out"... Love it, or leave it...
Get out! Paul...
By the way this capture is a crying shame to all humanity... Learn how to shoot!
You always manage to foster intriguing debates with these type shots. I wholeheartedly believe in free speech...it's one of the reasons I was in the military. I would die to allow a dissenting opinion; that's what freedom is allow about. I don't like how unbalanced things are becoming in this great country. I believe in safety and security but not to the point where our liberty's are taken from us. For example...I was taking pictures not too long ago right across the street from me when I had Police, FBI, Secret Service all over me within seconds for taking pictures of a building, A PUBLIC BUILDING! I have to say that I was pretty shocked by the events. There were no signs saying that photography was forbidden. They wanted to take my camera away from me. I told them to pound sand. The building I photographed turned out to be a DARPA building in my own backyard. I was so upset that I thought of going to the ACLU and I'm not that big of a fan of them. I wish that we could truly differentiate between liberty and those things that are just wrong/immoral. I think too often people do things that just aren't right and do it in the name of Liberty. I think we all could agree that murder is wrong; but when it comes down to it isn't murder a moral opinion? If one believes in "Survival of the Fittest", I don't, then murder isn't wrong. Funny how viewpoints change things. Can you remember a time in America when the above 14 items didn't fit? America has touched on all 14 of those things since its' inception, from George Washington to Present. So what is my point with all of this...Well it is to say that we still live in a country where our voices can be heard, allowed to have a dissenting opinion and where it is up to each and every one of us to make sure Liberty doesn't ebb away. I love our country & consider myself very patriotic. I get choked up at what the flag has represented in an eduring fashion from the outset...the flag is about a set of ideals that one should strive for; I will continue to get choked up until that point where our country has gone too far. Power corrupts and absolutely power corrupts absolutely; regardless of who is in power; mankind GLOBALLY is fallible but is capable of such beauty. I have lived a great many places all over the world; can you think of a single country that is better? We have to make sure that what we have doesn't deteriorate. Life...isn't it difficult to navigate?????
You know, Paul, I see a disproportionate number of images of American (as opposed to other) flags (straight images, not stylised)on usefilm and similar sites whose creators seem to think they are worthy of viewing just because of what they are. When will millions of Americans realise that there are many good people in the rest of the world who do not consider the United States America the same way as they do - and that chasm is widening fast. So thank you for posting this image and the accompanying comment. Regards, Gary
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