I have not posted for many months hoping and praying that America would wake up in the nick of time before we all live in a police state under a dictator, one who treats us like he is our King, not our elected representative President for 4 years (until the next President is elected). With more fears than I can name, I think I will begin advocating for some truth-telling to ourselves. Christians should be able to tell the truth. It is an essential of our values.

The hardest thing is what I am being reminded of when I’ve done a little poking around in the history of the world’s leaders. Fascism related to what is happening in the US is not that familiar to me, so I looked it up and the application was too real. Here is the definition in the simplest terms:

Fascism is a far-right, authoritarian, and ultranationalist political ideology characterized by a dictatorial leader, centralized autocracy, militarism, and the forcible suppression of opposition. It promotes the supremacy of the nation or race over the individual, often utilizing scapegoating and severe social/economic regimentation. 

Key characteristics of fascism include:

• Dictatorial Leadership: A cult of personality surrounds a leader who claims to embody the national will.
• Extreme Nationalism: An obsession with national decline, humiliation, or victimhood, often emphasizing racial or cultural purity.
• Suppression of Opposition: Democratic, liberal, and community movements are actively suppressed, with no tolerance for dissent.
• Militarism & Violence: The state glorifies violence as “redemptive” and emphasizes national security and, frequently, racism.
• Control of Information: The state exerts control over mass media to manage public perception and undermine “truth”.
• Economic Regimentation: Fascist regimes often align with powerful business interests, forcing the suppression of labor rights while controlling industry. 

Does this feel close to the truth to you? It does to me.

What Happens When You Look Away from the Minneapolis Shootings