The End of Democratic Naivety.

A PERSONAL WORD OF EXPLANATION

Posting regularly on TikTok herein presents a somewhat different approach to the problem of how to deal with the advent of Trumpism in 2024 and how to convey the key message that needs to be conveyed, namely that Trump’s fascism is no laughing matter and is in direct line with the worst of the 20th?century, so much so that the Ancient philosophers would recognise it for what it is and would most probably be turning in their graves if they hadn’t been beheaded and nailed to the rostra of the forum in Rome.

As fun and as innovative TikTok may be, it does not necessarily allow for a detailed approach and analysis. That is why I wrote a book in April, “2024: A Call to Arms. It’s Fascism, Stupid”, that was updated in August following the entry of Kamala Harris into the presidential race.

?

The genesis of the book is the rapid change in world affairs and its impact on me. The coronavirus pandemic, with its travails, lockdowns and other such consequences, was by itself a one-in-a-lifetime occurrence. And yet, barely three years on, it has disappeared in the background, overtaken by another of the four horsemen of the apocalypse. War has taken centre stage over disease and death.

Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine is an existential threat to stability and peace in Europe. Ukraine is fighting not only for its freedom but, more importantly, for our freedom as Europeans and Americans. The Middle East is once again the scene of unimaginable violence, with the century-long conflict between Israel and Palestinians erupting anew, with a quasi-genocide happening on our doorstep. Climate change has a concrete impact on our daily lives, with wildfires never seen before, intense hurricanes, floods and heat waves galore. Each month breaks the record for the warmest seasonal temperature, and it is now a case of not if but when we will have reached the tipping point.

Reading the news on social media has become the art of doom scrolling – each day brings us closer to the end of the world.

So, what are we to make of this? Are we to let our politicians peddle their fare and promote their selfish interests through fear and despair? Should we hide our heads in the sand and hope for better times?

Or should we have a healthier reaction to take action and let our voices be heard?

The popular song by the 4 Non Blondes, “What’s Up”, from 1992, eons ago, is all the more relevant today.

As coincidence has it, I was just over 25 years old when the song came out and ?to quote the lyrics:

“25 years and my life is still

Tryin' to get up that great big hill of hope

For a destination

I realised quickly when I knew I should

That the world was made up of this brotherhood of man

For whatever that means”

When I wake up in the morning in 2024, I feel that it is time “to scream from the top of my lungs” and to ask, “What’s going on?”.

Each and every one of us has a voice that deserves to be heard. The main purpose of this book is to scream out as loud as I can from the top of my lungs and to “pray for revolution.” But fear not; I am no Robespierre. By revolution, I precisely mean to revolt against what I perceive as the biggest threat that exists today: the threat of small-minded, bigoted, and ultimately dangerous nationalism draped in the illusion of patriotism and a return to so-called Judaeo-Christian values.

The book focuses on American politics, and Donald J. Trump is the show's star, much to my regret, not for any intrinsic reasons per se but rather by simple virtue of aspiring to lead once again the largest liberal democracy in the world today, the world’s remaining superpower that has the singular power to influence world politics for the foreseeable future. The election of Trump in November 2024 will have far-reaching consequences not only for the United States of America but for the world at large.

When I was much younger, I thought witnessing the fall of the Berlin War was the most significant event I would ever experience in modern history. But it turns out that that event, as exceptional as it was, was simply a precursor for the changes to come. Today, my duty, our duty, is not merely to witness history unquestioningly but to report on it, to speak truth not only to power but to the masses, to try to make a difference, however small and insignificant it may be or appear to be.

I chose to use the only weapon I have: my writing. I want to convey my deep sense of urgency and the need to speak out as loudly as possible, inspire, provoke, and assemble. This is a call to arms, a call to defend what is the worst form of government with the exception of all others, to ensure that liberal democracy as we know it not only survives but flourishes so that it can improve and deliver for “the brotherhood of man.”

Much is made of the references to fascism and Nazi Germany in the book. I know that many people will cry foul and say such comparisons are wildly inappropriate. To that, I say, listen carefully to what Trump says, his expressions, and how often he uses them. Precisely, at the time of writing this final segment of the book in April 2024, Trump had just finished giving a speech to the national religious broadcasters where he said “that the greatest threat to the US is people from within our country”.[i]?It’s the people from within our country that are more dangerous than the people outside.” He reinforced this radical message over the course of the last month of his campaign, threatening to deal with this so-called enemy from within by using the US military against them, ?if needs be.

This concept of the enemy within is a copy-paste from Adolf Hitler himself, who for many years referred to “the Jewish poison” as “the enemy within”, responsible notably for the defeat of 1918 and the subsequent decline of the German Nation. In 1942, just before Hitler formalised the "Final Solution", a British intelligence report analyses Hitler’s state of mind as the war was starting to turn against him. According to this report, Hitler was obsessed with what he called “the enemy within”, namely the Jews.[ii]

It is impossible to remain unfazed and normal by Trump’s rhetoric. Something must be done, and although I cannot vote in the forthcoming US presidential election, I can at the very least say what I think and express my point of view and, most importantly, ensure that defeating Trump and the new form of fascism he represents becomes the central rallying cry of the 2024 election. “It’s fascism, stupid”.

To end on a more positive note, the moment of truth is upon us and election day is finally here. I am not in the business of making baseless predictions; I prefer to look at the situation with of as much an independent and objective eye as possible. Although, as mentioned previously, I cannot vote in the forthcoming election. However, it does not take a genius, or even a stable genius, to know my thoughts. ?

Ultimately, the American people, in their infinite wisdom and their majority, both popular and in the electoral college, will choose freedom rather than the alternative. I have faith in the American ideals and that the American people will remember that they are already a great nation and that they can build a better future with their friends and allies around the world to defend the principles that we have collectively fought for since the French Revolution and the Enlightenment. God willing, my faith in the American people will be vindicated by the results – even if, as we all know, Trump will cry bloody murder and refuse to recognise his defeat, claiming the election was rigged. But no matter, once we have a genuine electoral victory under our belt, we can deal with Trump’s megalomania and lies with our weapon of choice: the sword of Lady Justice that so powerfully?represents justice and the rule of law.

[i]?Alice Herman: ”Trump warns of enemies ‘within our country’ to Christian media gathering”, The Guardian, February 23, 2024, www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/feb/23/trump-national-religious-broadcasters-enemies-within-country

[ii] www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/inside-hitlers-mind?“Nazi Germany - An Enemy Within? - Hitler and the Jews N03c “, Timelines TV, https://youtu.be/u5CuRpwhw5M?si=jYmpmvfknn8G2QQv?