SEEING DARKNESS AND BEING LIGHT A Response to the Fascism of our Time

 

©Wendell Griffen, 2024

 

Heather Cox Richardson’s latest assessment on U.S. politics is worth pondering. https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/december-20-2024.

Historians will soon record that the 2016 and 2024 elections of Donald John Trump fueled an era of fascism in the United States that threatened the world for decades.

And, if Trump’s tenure as President of the United States does not ultimately result in the death of democracy, it could still leave democratic norms in shambles. Trump’s deference to Elon Musk, Musk’s fascist capitalism, and white pseudo-Christian fascism and Zionism already endanger women, indigenous people of color, LGBTQIA people, immigrants, and dissidents across the world, as well as the planet’s ecosystem.

Lust for greed, violence, domination, and self-worship does not make a society or its leaders great. It is a force that eventually consumes its host like metastasizing cancer or a raging virus.

It is important to remember that humanity has survived previous versions of fascism. However, it is equally important to remember that fascism came to power in every previous era because hateful religious beliefs gained mainstream acceptance or seized dominance over truth, love, justice, and peace. Hateful idolatry to greed, domination, violence, and bigotry is always a wicked religion.

Now, and always, people who are committed to truth, love, justice, and peace are the most needed force in the world. I encourage you to recognize that is who we must be, how we must live, and why we must not surrender to fears, doubts, and temptations to accept the setbacks we face as our destiny. 

Let our steadfast devotion to truth, love, justice, and peace be the antivirus to the fascist malware of hateful religion being spread in the world. This is no time for hand-wringing or halting faith. Now, as always, we are called to love boldly, hope fiercely, and live with prophetic lament, anger, courage, and daring.

Yes, this era is a challenging time. Let it be said by historians that we met the challenges, kept faith to truth, love, justice, and peace, and lived as forces of light that fascism and its evils could not put out in our time, the same way that fascism and its evils could not put them out in the past. This is the best legacy we can give future generations and the planet they will inherit from us. This is the best gift that, as the saying goes, “keeps on giving.”

Have a boldly loving and fiercely hopeful Christmas, and continue living that way in the coming year.

Faithfully,

Wendell Griffen

Comments

  1. Janine P.December 21, 2024 at 3:11 PM

    This is a beautiful and inspiring piece that urges us not to withdraw into despair and apathy. It's much needed (by me), and much appreciated.

    ReplyDelete

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