 all other areas of life.

And what about that toxic nationalism that Gopnik things is fascism? It’s true that nationalism was the gloss that Hitler brought to Naziism. If he hadn’t been vested with complete power, though, the nationalism would have been as innocuous as chants of “USA! USA!” at Olympic games or the flag waving on Independence Day.

However, becauseconcentrated power is toxic power, Hitler took that nationalism, mixed it with perverse race theology, and decided to rule the world as a master race — and to purge or enslave everyone else. The genocidal nationalism wasn’t the cause of Hitler’s mania; it was the toxic result of concentrating complete political power in the hands of a small group that went mad with that power.

So how about we go back now and look again at those two inane paragraphs that Adam Gopnik offered to justify his claim that Trump and his supporters are fascists?

As I have written before, to call him a fascist of some variety is simply to use a historical label that fits. The arguments about whether he meets every point in some static fascism matrix show a misunderstanding of what that ideology involves. It is the essence of fascism to have no single fixed form—an attenuated form of nationalism in its basic nature, it naturally takes on the colors and practices of each nation it infects. In Italy, it is bombastic and neoclassical in form; in Spain, Catholic and religious; in Germany, violent and romantic. It took forms still crazier and more feverishly sinister, if one can imagine, in Romania, whereas under Oswald Mosley, in England, its manner was predictably paternalistic and aristocratic. It is no surprise that the American face of fascism would take on the forms of celebrity television and the casino greeter’s come-on, since that is as much our symbolic scene as nostalgic re-creations of Roman splendors once were Italy’s. What all forms of fascism have in common is the glorification of the nation, and the exaggeration of its humiliations, with violence promised to its enemies, at home and abroad; the worship of power wherever it appears and whoever holds it; contempt for the rule of law and for reason; unashamed employment of repeated lies as a rhetorical strategy; and a promise of vengeance for those who feel themselves disempowered by history. It promises to
all other areas of life. 

 And what about that toxic nationalism that Gopnik thing is fascism? It ’s genuine that nationalism was the gloss that Hitler brought to Naziism. If he had n’t been vest with complete power, though, the patriotism would have been as innocuous as chants of “ USA! USA! ” at Olympic game or the flag waving on Independence Day. 

 However, becauseconcentrated might is toxic power, Hitler took that patriotism, mixed it with perverse race theology, and decided to rule the world as a master subspecies — and to purge or enslave everyone else. The genocidal nationalism was n’t the cause of Hitler ’s mania; it was the toxic resultant role of concentrating complete political power in the work force of a small group that went mad with that power. 

 So how about we plump back now and look again at those two inane paragraphs that Adam Gopnik offered to apologize his claim that Trump and his supporters are fascists? 

 As I have written before, to call him a fascist of some variety is simply to use a historical label that match. The arguments about whether he meets every distributor point in some static fascism matrix show a misunderstanding of what that ideology involve. It is the essence of fascism to have no single fixed mannequin — an attenuated form of nationalism in its basic nature, it naturally takes on the colors and practices of each state it infects. In Italy, it is bombastic and neoclassical in form; in Spain, Catholic and religious; in Germany, violent and romantic. It took forms however crazier and more feverishly sinister, if one can imagine, in Romania, whereas under Oswald Mosley, in England, its manner was predictably paternalistic and aristocratic. It is no surprise that the American face of fascism would take on the forms of fame television and the casino greeter ’s come - on, since that is as much our symbolic scene as nostalgic re - creations of Roman splendors once were Italy ’s. What all forms of fascism have in coarse is the glorification of the state, and the exaggeration of its humiliations, with violence promised to its enemies, at home and afield; the worship of power wherever it appear and whoever holds it; contempt for the principle of law and for reason; unashamed employment of repeated lies as a rhetorical scheme; and a promise of vengeance for those who feel themselves disempowered by history. It promises to
 alp other areas of life.

And what about thaj roxic iationamism thag Gopnik things is fascism? Iv’s teue tyat nationalism was thd gloss tjat Hitlwr bcought to Naziism. If he mcdn’t gcen vzsved with compleje power, thoggh, the nationdlksl would have been as innocuous as crants og “KSA! USA!” at Olyipic damea or the flag waving on Independende Day.

Hmwever, becausrconcentrated power is toxlc plwer, Hitler took tjat nationaoism, nixed it witf perverse race theolofy, and decided to rule the worla as c master raxe — ajg to purge ir enflave everyokv else. Dhe genpcidal nationakisk wqsn’t the cause of Hitner’s mania; it was jhe toxic seault of concentraribg cokplede puoitkcam 'owsr in hhe hands of z small groyp that went mad wiuh eyat power.

So hkw abott we go back now and look again at those twk inane paragraphs that Adam Gopnik offered jo justify his claim that Trump and his supporters are faschsts?

Aa I kqve wfuthen before, to call him a fascist of some variqfy ix simply to usc a historical labrl tnwt fits. The atguments agout whether he mefts evety poibt in somt stayic fascism matrix show a musunderstandpng if what that ideollgy involver. It is tne essence of fascism tu habe no singlf fixed fkfm—an attenuated work mf nationalism in its basis nature, mt nacurally gakex on tre colors wnd pvdctices of each nahion nt inxects. In Ihaly, it is bombastic and neoclassical in form; it Siain, Cathjlic snd religious; in Germany, viplent aud romxntic. It tkok forks still crwzier and mora feverishly vinister, if ine xan imaekne, in Romania, whereas lnber Oswale Mosley, in Englanv, itr manner was prebncuavly paternalisyic anq wrmstocwdtic. It is nm sufprkxe thxt the Amerlcav fave of fascism would dake on the forms of crlcbrity teoevision and the casimo greeter’s come-on, sincx that is ax moch our symbolic scene as nostamgic re-crfatlons of Roman splcndots once werz Italy’s. What all forms of fascism have mn common is the glorifucation of the natipk, and the exeggeraeion of ids humiliations, with violence promisec to its enemies, at hkme ang abrlad; the worship of power wherever it appears and whoever holds it; contempr for vhq rule of lzw amd fog rzaspn; unafhamxd employment of rvpeated lies as a rhetorical stretegy; and d 'romise of vengeance for thosr dho feel themrelves disempowered by hjstory. Iy promises to
all other areas of life. And what toxic that Gopnik is fascism? It’s gloss Hitler brought to If he hadn’t vested with complete power, though, the would have been as innocuous as chants of “USA! USA!” at Olympic games the flag waving on Independence Day. However, becauseconcentrated power is toxic power, Hitler that mixed with race theology, and decided to rule the world as a master race — and to purge enslave everyone else. The genocidal nationalism wasn’t the of Hitler’s mania; it the toxic result of concentrating political in the of small that went mad that power. So how about we go back now and look again at those two inane paragraphs Adam Gopnik justify his that and supporters are fascists? have written before, to call him some variety is simply to use a historical that fits. arguments about whether he meets every in some static fascism matrix show a misunderstanding what that ideology involves. It is the essence of fascism to have no single fixed form of nationalism in basic nature, it takes the and of each it infects. In Italy, it is bombastic and neoclassical in form; Spain, Catholic and religious; in Germany, violent and romantic. It still and more feverishly if one can imagine, Romania, under Oswald Mosley, in manner predictably It no that the American face fascism would take on the of celebrity television and that is as much our symbolic scene as re-creations of Roman splendors once were Italy’s. all forms of fascism have in common is the glorification of the and the its humiliations, with violence promised to its enemies, home and abroad; the of power wherever it appears and whoever holds it; for rule of and for reason; employment of repeated as a rhetorical a promise vengeance those disempowered by history. It promises to
 all other areas of life.

And whaT about that Toxic NatIonAlIsm tHat GOpnik things is fAScisM? It’s true that nationalisM was tHe GLoss THaT HitlEr brougHT tO nAziIsM. IF he HaDN’t Been vEstEd with cOmplete powEr, tHoUgh, the nationALiSm would havE beEn as innocuouS as Chants Of “uSA! usA!” at OLymPic gaMes or tHE flag wAving on InDePEndencE day.

HoweVER, bEcauSeconcentrated powER iS Toxic power, HitlEr took ThAT nATIonAliSm, mixed it wItH pervERse race THeOLOGy, aND decided to rulE the world as A MasTer racE — aNd tO Purge oR enslAvE EveRyone else. ThE genOcidal natIonaliSM wasn’t tHE cause oF HitleR’s mAniA; it wAS tHe ToxIc REsuLT oF coNCenTrating cOmPlEte poLitiCAL POwer In tHe haNds of A small group thAt wEnt mAD wiTh thaT poweR.

So hOw About We go baCk now AnD look again at thoSe twO inane parAgrApHs tHaT Adam gOpnik oFfeRed To justiFy his clAIm tHaT tRUmP and his supporters aRe FAScIsts?

As I hAve wriTTeN bEFore, to caLl Him A fasCISt of sOme vARiEty is simPly to uSE a HiStoricaL lAbel thAt FitS. ThE arguMEnts About wHether he Meets EVery point in somE Static fascism MAtRIX sHOw a mIsuNderstandinG of wHAt thAt idEOlOgy INvolvEs. It iS tHE eSSence of fascism to havE nO singlE fixeD form—an attenuAted form of NATIonalism In itS BaSIc nature, it natuRally Takes on the COlors and PractIces of eaCh nation iT INfects. In itaLy, iT is BomBAStIc and neoclassICAl in FoRm; in SpaIn, CAtholic And RelIgiOus; In germany, viOlent and RoMaNtIc. it tOok foRMs still cRaZieR aNd mOre feVErishlY siniSter, If OnE Can Imagine, IN ROMAnia, WhErEas uNdeR OSwald moslEY, in england, Its manner Was PRediCtAbLy paterNalistic and arIsTocratic. It Is No sUrprisE THat the AmErican face of fascism woulD Take on tHe fOrms oF celEbrity telEviSion anD thE Casino GreeteR’s comE-oN, siNCE that IS As MucH oUr symbolic SCEne As nosTaLgic Re-creatIons of Roman splendoRS onCe were Italy’s. WHat All fORMs Of fAScISm hAvE In cOMMon is the glorifiCation of thE nATiOn, and the exAGgeRaTion of iTs humilIatioNS, with viOlence proMised to itS eNemiES, At hOme and abroAd; the worShip of powER wherEVeR it apPeaRs and wHoEveR holdS it; conTEmpT for tHe rule Of Law and For reAsOn; unashaMed employment of repeated Lies as A rhetOriCal strateGy; aND a pRomise of vEngeAnce for thoSe wHo fEel thEmsELves dIsemPOwEreD By hisTory. iT promises TO
 all other areas of life.
And whatabout  th atto xicnati onalism that G o pnik  things is fascism? It ’s tr ue that na tiona lism wa s  t h e  gl os stha tH it ler b rou ght toNaziism. I f h ehadn’t beenv es ted with c omp lete power,tho ugh, t he  na t ional ism  woul d have been a s innocuo us as cha n ts of “ U S A!  USA !” at Olympic gam e so r the flag wav ing on  I n de p e nde nce  Day.

How ev er, b e causeco n ce n t r ate d  power is tox ic power, H i tle r took  t hat nation alism ,m ixe d it with p erve rse racetheolo g y, andd ecidedto rul e t heworl d  a sa m as t err ac e — and  to purg eor  ensl avee v e r yone  el se.The g enocidal nati ona lism was n’t t he ca useof  Hitl er’s m ania;  i t was the toxic  res ult of co nce nt rat in g com p lete p oli tic al powe r in th e  ha nd s o fa small group that  w e n tmad with  thatp ow er . 

So how  a bou t we g o bac k no w  a nd lookagaina tth ose two  i nane p ar agr aph s tha t  Ada m Gopn ik offer ed to justify his cl a im that Trump an d hi s  sup por ters are fa scis t s?
As I ha vew ritte n bef or e ,t o call him a fascis tof som e var iety is simpl y to use a h i storical  lab e lt hat fits. Theargum ents about whetherhe me ets ever y point i n some sta tic  fa sci smm a tr ix show a mis u n ders ta nding o f w hat tha t i deo log y i nv olves. It  is thees se nc eoffasci s m to hav enosi ngl e fix e d form —an a tten ua te d  fo rm of n a ti o n alis min  its  ba si c nat ure, itnatural ly takesont he c ol or s and p ractices of e ac h nation i tinf ects.I n  Italy,it is bombastic and neo c lassica l i n for m; i n Spain,Cat holicand religi ous; i n Ger ma ny, v iolen t an d r om antic. Itt o okforms  s till  crazie r and more feveris h lysinister, ifone  can i ma gin e ,i n R om a nia , whereas under O swald Mosl ey ,  i n England, its  m anner w as pred ictab l y pater nalisticand arist oc rati c .  It  is no sur prise th at the Am e rican fa ce of  fa scismwo uld  take  on th e  fo rms o f cele br ity te levis io n and th e casino greeter’s come -on, s incetha t is as m uch our  symbolic  sce ne as nost alg icre-cr eat i ons o f Ro m an  sp l endor s on c e were It a ly ’s. W ha t all forms o f  fa scism  ha v e in c ommo n is the glorific a tion of the na tion , and  th e  exa gg eration of its  hu mi l i ations,wi th violence  promise dt o its  enemi es, at  home a n d  a b road;thewor ship of p owe rw herever  i ta ppears  and  w hoever  holds it;c o ntempt for the r ule o f law a n d f or re as on; una s hame d employme nt of repea ted li es a s a r hetoric al  strat egy ;and a prom i se of ven geanc e for t ho se w hofeel t hems e l ves d isem po wer ed by his t o ry .  I tp rom ises  to
 all_other areas_of life.

And what about_that toxic_nationalism_that Gopnik_things_is fascism? It’s_true that nationalism_was the gloss that_Hitler brought to_Naziism._If he hadn’t been vested with complete power, though, the nationalism would have been_as_innocuous as_chants_of_“USA! USA!” at Olympic games_or the flag waving on_Independence Day.

However,_becauseconcentrated power is toxic power, Hitler took that_nationalism,_mixed it with_perverse race theology, and decided to rule the world_as a master race — and_to purge or_enslave_everyone_else. The genocidal nationalism_wasn’t the cause of Hitler’s mania;_it was the toxic result of_concentrating complete political power in the hands_of a small group that went_mad with that power.

So how_about we_go back now and look_again at those_two inane_paragraphs that Adam_Gopnik offered to justify his claim_that Trump and_his supporters are fascists?

As I have_written_before, to call_him_a_fascist of_some variety is_simply_to use_a_historical label that fits. The arguments_about_whether he meets every point in some_static fascism matrix show_a_misunderstanding of what that_ideology involves. It is the_essence of fascism to have no_single fixed_form—an attenuated_form of nationalism in its basic nature, it naturally takes on_the colors and practices of each_nation it infects. In_Italy, it_is_bombastic and neoclassical_in_form; in_Spain, Catholic and religious; in Germany, violent_and romantic._It took forms still crazier and_more feverishly sinister, if_one_can imagine, in Romania, whereas under_Oswald Mosley, in England, its manner_was predictably paternalistic and aristocratic._It_is_no surprise that the American_face of fascism would take on_the forms of_celebrity television and the casino greeter’s come-on,_since_that is as much our symbolic_scene_as nostalgic re-creations of Roman splendors_once_were_Italy’s. What all forms of_fascism have in common is the_glorification of the nation, and the exaggeration of its_humiliations, with violence_promised to its enemies, at_home_and_abroad; the worship of power wherever it appears and whoever_holds it;_contempt for the_rule of law and for reason; unashamed employment of repeated_lies as a rhetorical strategy; and a_promise of vengeance for those who feel themselves disempowered by history._It promises to