Fascists need an “other” to demonize. They delight in the cruelty towards the “other”. The executive order gives them a sense of accomplishment, further strengthening the group bonds as they enjoy the suffering of the “other” together.
It really is as simple as “the cruelty is the point”. It helps them because they desire to inflict cruelty, and this gives them a method for doing so.
I don’t think he delights in anything but having people tell him how great he is. This is textbook fascism. You got the part right thay they need an other group to demonize, just don’t think there is even that much depth to them.
Oh I should have been more clear: Trump’s supporters delight in cruelty towards others. You’re right that Trump just does whatever makes his supporters cheer for him; he’s a textbook narcissist who craves attention. “Build the wall” for example, was a talking point his advisers gave him. He apparently thought it was stupid, but when his crowds of supporters cheered for it he went on to make it central to his campaign and identity.
And the lesson the rank-and-file never seem to learn is once the other is eliminated, the fascists always turn inward, and begin eliminating each other. Unfortunately, their death toll is always quite high once they implode – sometimes in the millions.
It’s a death cult, though, and no matter how white or pious or privileged you think you are, they will come for you once they run out of ‘proper’ enemies, because without an enemy, fascism is nothing.
Because it is a clear demonstration of “We can do whatever the fuck we want, and you can’t stop us,” as well as a warning: “Don’t piss us off, or we’re going to do it to you next.”
It gives justification for discrimination. To make people who disagree or are affected less than human and thus atrocities against them do not count as atrocities.
No different than colonization or slavery. “We know better and will show them the error of their ways/put them in their place by force and systematic discrimination”.
How? How does it help them?
Fascists need an “other” to demonize. They delight in the cruelty towards the “other”. The executive order gives them a sense of accomplishment, further strengthening the group bonds as they enjoy the suffering of the “other” together.
It really is as simple as “the cruelty is the point”. It helps them because they desire to inflict cruelty, and this gives them a method for doing so.
I don’t think he delights in anything but having people tell him how great he is. This is textbook fascism. You got the part right thay they need an other group to demonize, just don’t think there is even that much depth to them.
Oh I should have been more clear: Trump’s supporters delight in cruelty towards others. You’re right that Trump just does whatever makes his supporters cheer for him; he’s a textbook narcissist who craves attention. “Build the wall” for example, was a talking point his advisers gave him. He apparently thought it was stupid, but when his crowds of supporters cheered for it he went on to make it central to his campaign and identity.
And the lesson the rank-and-file never seem to learn is once the other is eliminated, the fascists always turn inward, and begin eliminating each other. Unfortunately, their death toll is always quite high once they implode – sometimes in the millions.
It’s a death cult, though, and no matter how white or pious or privileged you think you are, they will come for you once they run out of ‘proper’ enemies, because without an enemy, fascism is nothing.
Because it is a clear demonstration of “We can do whatever the fuck we want, and you can’t stop us,” as well as a warning: “Don’t piss us off, or we’re going to do it to you next.”
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Edit: Also a message to other fascists: “You can do whatever you want, and they can’t stop you.”
It gives justification for discrimination. To make people who disagree or are affected less than human and thus atrocities against them do not count as atrocities.
No different than colonization or slavery. “We know better and will show them the error of their ways/put them in their place by force and systematic discrimination”.
Denying science and memory holing it is actually massively beneficial for them.