Issue No. 24 | Wanderlust
9 February 2010 3:58pm PST
9 February 2010 3:58pm PST
This Machine Kills Fascists
There’s a lot of talk about bigoted Americans in politics, but there’s rarely any talk about what’s going on in Europe, which most people assume is progressive and high-minded. While that may be true to some extent, countries like the United Kingdom still have their wacko fringe groups, and sometimes people like Nick Griffin—chairman of the whites-only, anti-Muslim, anti-gay and fascist British National Party (BNP)—get elected into Parliament. As of late, the BNP has angered quite a few musicians over their attempts to co-opt British folk music as a way of legitimizing their brand of racialized politics. Needless to say, the British folk community is not happy, and they’re fighting back.
Folks Against Fascism is an organization dedicated to preserving the inclusive and peaceful message of folk. They are committed to fighting off slimy racists like Nick Griffin who are trying to claim folk music as part of an “indigenous” British heritage. In the next year, FAF will be organizing large-scale concerts in protest against the BNP. You can help them out by getting involved and fighting fascism at home.
“Maybe I should talk to you about fascism. It is a big word and it hides in some pretty little places. And it is nothing in the world but greed for profit and greed for the power to hurt and make slaves out of the people. Fascism and freedom are the only two sides battling.”
- Woody Guthrie
Comments:
Racism begins with our families, parents, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, grandparents, people we admire, respect and love.
However, as we grow and mature we come to the realization that what we were told by our family when we were children were slanted lies base on their prejudices. We realize that most people are like ourselves and not so different and want the same things, like a home, steady work, a Medicare plan and schools for our children (if you travel you will see this). We realize that most people are of good hearts and goodwill.
This reminds me of a parable from the good book where a Levite and Priest come upon a man who fell among thieves and they both individually passed by and didn’t stop to help him.
Finally a man of another race came by, he got down from his beast, decided not to be compassionate by proxy and got down with the injured man, administered first aid, and helped the man in need.
Jesus ended up saying, this was the good man, this was the great man, because he had the capacity to project the “I” into the “thou,” and to be concerned about his fellow man.
You see, the Levite and the Priest were afraid, they asked themselves, “If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?”
But then the Good Samaritan came by. And he reversed the question: “If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?”
That’s the question before us. The question is not, “If I stop to help our fellow man (immigrant) in need, what will happen to me?” The question is, “If I do not stop to help our fellow man, what will happen to him or her?” That’s the question.
This current climate of blaming others for our woes is not new. We have had this before and we have conquered it.
Remember “Evil flourishes when good men (and women) do nothing”. Raise your voices with those of us who believe we are equal and we can win this battle again.