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Hurling insults is not a political argument

EDITOR:

I read a letter from Jim Morrison that was published in your paper yesterday, and have some major concerns regarding a letter of mine that was published in your paper in November. In his letter, Mr. Morrison states that my letter, “reads like a defense of fascism and its largest manifestation.” It is obvious that he missed the point of my letter, and I take offense that he would attempt to label me as a fascist. I feel that Mr. Morrison truly doesn’t understand who I am, or what my political beliefs are.

My point is my November letter is that in our current political climate negative terms are thrown around with little thought simply because someone doesn’t like someone else’s political views. I also pointed out that this is often done with careless disregard for historical facts or reference. Mr. Morrison also never actually addressed any arguments that I made in my letter that the term “Fascism” is essentially meaningless in 1944 when his native Britain was at war with Mussolini’s Italy. Perhaps, Mr. Morrison should read, “Animal Farm,” or “1984,” if he wants to know what Orwell’s views on totalitarianism were.

Mr. Morrison in his letter eludes in his letter to the Holocaust. I hope that Mr. Morrison in not trying to state that my political beliefs would in any way, shape, or form support the mass murder of other people. When I was in college, I studied political science and the German language. In both areas of study, I was exposed to extensive amounts of information on the Holocaust, Nazi Germany, and Communism. I actually have visited former East Germany, and have seen what the aftermath of Communism looks like. I do not want to have any kinds of totalitarian regime in this country, because I have actually seen the wreckage left in the wake of Communism. These experiences made me into a critical thinker and convinced me not to blindly follow any form of political ideology.

I feel that history has been glossed over in labeling others fascist or Nazi. Mussolini seized power in Italy by having the Fascist Party march on Rome forcing King Victor Immanuel to cede power to him. Adolf Hitler became chancellor after he was appointed by President von Hindenburg, who defeated Hitler in the previous presidential election, following several votes of no-confidence in the two prior proposed chancellors. I also have to point out that both Hitler and Mussolini advocated violent overthrow of the government as a method to seize power. In this last election, Donald Trump was elected president in a democratically held election. Nothing President Trump stated in his campaign was advocating the violent overthrow of the United States government, and he did not state he would install a totalitarian regime.

To sum up my argument, I will not only re-emphasize the point I made in my last letter, but add to it. Hurling insults at others is not a political argument. In addition, people should research and critically analyze issues instead of blindly following labels.

John M. A. Bergman

Rapid River

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