Vibes Aren’t Gonna Save Us From Fascism

Why are we worried about fascism *in the future*, when it is on our doorstep now? Saira Rao breaks down the definition of fascism in the context of the DNC.

The chanting of USA USA USA, with the sea of accompanying signs at the DNC

The DNC is happening right now, on the heels of the Olympics and the RNC. All three wildly expensive, grotesque spectacles of nationalism, opulence, celebrity and yes . . . fascism.

These wildly expensive, grotesque spectacles as the world has spent nearly a year funding, supporting, watching or choosing to ignore a livestreamed genocide of Palestinians. This same world welcomed Israel and America to the Olympics, the same Israel and America that MURDERED many dozens of Palestinian Olympic athletes who weren’t there to compete . . . because they were murdered by Israel and America. 

And God forbid Paris not look absolutely dapper for its moment in the sun. This according to the AP News: “Carrying backpacks and small children, hundreds of people sleeping on the streets of Paris climbed aboard buses surrounded by armed police on Thursday, the latest group of migrants and homeless people to be driven out of the city ahead of the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympics.”

Yes, France kicked migrants and houseless people off the streets so that the world wouldn’t have to see them, as though their mere existence was a stain.

Then there was the RNC with hordes of weirdos in idol worship of their racist rapist God. Some even came with maxi pads strapped to their ears in solidarity with Trump who’d survived a recent assassination attempt. A live streamed assassination attempt of a former President, current Presidential nominee that came and left the news cycle in a few days flat.  

Republican delegates wearing “bandages” on their ears during the RNC

Not a good sign folks.

But the Republicans have hardly cornered the market on being weirdos. The DNC is a variety show of weird fuckery: some magical mix of the Oscars, Grammys and Super Bowl, only with hordes of cops, guns, batons, dolled-up liberal actors and influencers idol worshiping their own political gods and goddesses – Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. 

Who are, incidentally, all war criminals.

Would love for just one person to explain to me how war criminals actively committing fascism are gonna save us from fascism. Would you ask Hitler, Mussolini or Stalin to roll up their sleeves and do the same?

Here’s how fascism is defined on Wikipedia: Fascism is a far-right, authoritarian, ultranational political ideology and movement, characterized by a dictatorial leader, centralized autocracy, militarism, forcible suppression of opposition, belief in a natural social hierarchy, subordination of individual interests for the perceived good of the nation or race, and strong regimentation of society and the economy.

In the context of the DNC.

Ultranationalism: The chanting of USA USA USA, with the sea of accompanying USA signs, the red white and blue that’s practically wallpapering Chicago (see the first image of this article). 

Militarism/Forcible suppression of opposition: The armies of cops with guns and batons . . . assaulting people peacefully protesting genocide.

Speaking of genocide, it’s now considered far left to be against genocide. The current genocide in Palestine is happening because President Biden and Vice President Harris have decided to fund and support it. That’s it. Biden and Harris are 100% responsible for this genocide.

If being against genocide is far left, it follows that being pro genocide is far right. Therefore Biden and Harris are . . . far right. 

Authoritarianism: Millions of folks have protested, marched, called, emailed, everything to get Biden/Harris to stop sending arms and money to Israel. What have they done? Sent more arms and money. Welcomed war criminal Netanyahu to Washington DC. And spare me the “it’s Biden not Harris” bullshit. First, Kamala is the Vice Fucking President, not some intern. And secondly, Kamala is the Democratic candidate for President and she has publicly voiced her ongoing dedication via arms and money to Israel to continue its genocide. 

Kamala Harris has stated her support for Israel’s genocide out loud. Her actions as Vice President confirm her stated support for Israel’s genocide. This is not a reading-the-tea-leaves-I-have-a-feeling situation. This is REALITY.

Folks who claim Kamala Harris as Presidential candidate has a different policy than the current policy she is supporting as Vice President are (a) liars (b) stupid (c) Muslim-hating, Palestinian-hating, Arab-hating racist genocide supporters or (d) ALL OF THE ABOVE. 

I’ll go with D.  

And what do you call forcibly yanking houseless people out of their tents and confiscating everything they own? What do you call the criminalization of homelessness? A Democratic darling, California Governor Gavin Newsom recently took to the streets to rob houseless folks of their only belongings and he had the gall to drag a camera crew along to memorialize his “valiant” acts.  

Governor Newsom issued an executive order to tear down homeless encampments, where human beings were living, in California. And don’t forget the photo op of him ‘cleaning’ afterwards.

Violent, WEIRD – fascist.

Folks are lamenting the end of DEI or claim that DEI is under attack. I have a different take. We are in the Golden Era of DEI.

A Black Indian woman taking the helm as Chief Genocidal Imperialist. A Black Indian woman on the brink of becoming the most powerful person in the world.

Same violent policies, only now the head honcho is a Black Indian woman rather than a white dude.  

Is THIS what we’ve been fighting for? I was under the delusion that we were after collective liberation rather than fighting to become the oppressor. 

WEIRD . . . Also violent as hell.

We talk about America having a “two party system” but that’s simply not the case. Both parties are far right fascists. 

A Black Indian woman sending bombs and money to Israel is still genocide.

A Black Indian woman refusing to end guns in America is still killing American kids.

A Black Indian woman refusing to pass universal healthcare, supporting more cops, more drilling, more military is more of the same white patriarchal death machine that’s always been America.

It’s just . . . diverse, equitable and inclusive fascism.

You don’t have to be a dude to uphold patriarchy. You don’t have to be white to uphold white supremacy. And I can’t believe I have to say this but I do considering all the nonsense coming out of the DNC this week . . . VIBES aren’t gonna save us from fascism. VIBES aren’t going to end genocide or ecocide.

VIBES ARE NOT DEMOCRACY.

Oprah, Mindy Kaling and Tony Goldwyn blowing air kisses to Kamala Harris’ adoring masses while forbidding even one Palestinian from taking the DNC stage will go down in history as one of the cruelest, most violent and ghoulish episodes of The Fall of American Empire. 

Do let it hit your clicks, likes, and award shows on its way down.