How Does the Fascism Look? - A Tribute to Mr. Leonard Cohen

                We keep hearing about the advent of fascism, and the need to fight it tooth and nail. The problem is that we cannot recognize the fascism when we experience it. It is often clocked in various themes like patriotism, nationalism, racism, religious superiority, or charity. Even worse, at times, it is just the plain ‘normal’.

                The legendary writer of rock music, Mr. Leonard Cohen, who passed away a few hours ago, had written a poem that demonstrates the challenges of recognizing fascism. As a tribute to the great writer, and as an all-time reminder on what fascism doesn’t look like, let me quote Mr. Cohen’s poem on the infamous Nazi-SS commander, Adolf Eichmann, who was among those responsible for organizing the Holocaust:

All there is to Know About Adolph Eichmann EYES: ………………………………… Medium HAIR: ………………………………… Medium WEIGHT: ………………..…………… Medium HEIGHT: ………………….………….. Medium DISTINGUISHING FEATURES: ….... None NUMBER OF FINGERS: ……………. Ten NUMBER OF TOES: ……………….... Ten INTELLIGENCE: …………………….. Medium What did you expect?         Talons?         Oversize Incisors?         Green Saliva?         Madness? -Leonard Cohen

(Source: http://apoemaday.tumblr.com/post/46510952657/all-there-is-to-know-about-adolf-eichmann)

                

         The fascism, Nazism, and other inhuman ideologies are not practiced by somebody with talons, oversize incisors, or green saliva, but ordinary looking people like you and me. It makes it all the more difficult to recognize such dangers to humanity, until it is too late. The only way we can save humanity from such evilness is to be on guard, at all times. Our complacency today could land us in concentrations camps, tomorrow!