With the invasion of Ukraine, Evelyn Uddin-Khan’s recent opinion reminds us to heed the warning signs of the past.

One day in the summer of 2004 I was wandering around downtown Manhattan, waiting for out-of-town family and a visit to the theater.      

I wandered into a bookstore, bought a few books and found this post card entitled “EARLY WARNING SIGNS OF FASCISM”. On the front of the postcard were the following:

POWERFUL AND CONTINUING NATIONALISM

DISDAIN FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

IDENTIFICATION OF ENEMIES AS A UNIFYING CAUSE

SUPREMACY OF THE MILITARY

RAMPANT SEXISM

CONTROLLED MASS MEDIA 

OBSESSION WITH NATIONAL SECURITY

RELIGION AND GOVERNMENT INTERTWINED

CORPORATE POWER PROTECTED

LABOR POWER SUPPRESSED

DISDAIN FOR INTELLECTUALS & THE ARTS

OBSESSION WITH CRIME & PUNISHMENT

RAMPANT CRONYISM & CORRUPTION

FRAUDULENT ELECTIONS

The following quote was on the back of the postcard:

“Based on research of seven fascist regime including Hitler’s Nazi Germany nad Mussolini’s Italy. The Bush / Cheney regime exhibits all of these traits. Work to stop them while you still can.”  Dr. Laurence W. Britt, SCW copyright 2004

That was 2004. That was the Bush / Cheney regime.

Here we are in 2022 and we are now facing the Trump regime, the continuing Big Lie of fraudulent elections, and a Republican attempt to take the voice of the people out of our voting process in ways detrimental to small d democracy. 

In order to stop the Trump fascists taking over this country every American citizen must speak out and join the fight to save our democracy.

If we the American people believe in Democracy, believe in freedom of speech, believe in liberty and justice for all, then throw in equality and all those good things we enjoy. The time to stop Donald J. Hitler and Trump Mussolini is now. 

America and democracy are up for grabs. Commit to doing something in 2022. We have no time to lose.

Evelyn Uddin-Khan