In Christina's September questions, i answered about discerning ignorance from malice.
After communicating that you have been harmed, if the other person(s) deny it, dismiss it, and attempt to silence you, then regardless of intent, they are acting maliciously. The answer to the dog whistle is the duck test.
To quote Wikipedia:
The [duck] test implies that a person can identify an unknown subject by observing that subject's habitual characteristics. It is sometimes used to counter abstract arguments that something might not be what it appears to be. [1]
In contrast to a Litmus test, the Duck test goes by multiple characteristics. Does it walk like a duck? Does it quack like a duck? Does it look like a duck?
I wanted to expand on what the Duck test might look like for dog whistles, which are usually coded to circumvent norms around facism, racism, and other social ills. Searching online, i found guidelines prepared by Lawrence George Jaffe, which are well thought-out and articulate.
Recognizing & Resisting Nazi and Fascist Ideologies by Lawrence George Jaffe Oct 26, 2024
History has shown us where extremist ideologies can lead. But history has also shown us that informed, engaged citizens are our strongest defense against extremism.
We live in crazed times, but it is not as if humanity has not had bouts of insanity through our intrepid history. It is probably safe to say that we have gone through insane times when opportunists (polite for bastids) have wanted to wield power over their brothers and sisters because they felt they were smarter and more worthy. To combat this arrogance, and it is arrogance, I have created this handy dandy guide to not only help you recognize but also resist extremist ideologies. But first let's look at two key terms and how they evolved.
Nazi is the shortened form of "Nationalsozialist" (National Socialist) which was the name of the German party known as Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (National Socialist German Workers' Party). The term Nazi evolved from the German male name Ignaz, which was derogatory for a backwards peasant. Political opponents of the Nationalsozialistische party started referring to them as the "Nazi" party as an intended insult. Party members preferred to be called "Nationalsozialisten" (National Socialists). There was nothing social about them.
The word fascist has an interesting history. It comes from the Italian word "fascismo," which derives from "fascio" meaning "a bundle" or "group," and ultimately from the Latin "fasces." The fasces were an ancient Roman symbol consisting of a bundle of rods tied around an axe, representing strength through unity and the authority of Roman officials. Mussolini adopted this symbol for his movement, which began in 1919 with the creation of the "Fasci Italiani di Combattimento" (Italian Combat Squads). The first organized fascist movement emerged in Italy under Mussolini's leadership, and the term later became generalized to describe similar ultranationalist, authoritarian movements and ideologies.
While both terms originated as specific references to the Italian Fascist Party and the German Nazi Party, they've since evolved in common usage to describe similar political philosophies that share characteristics with these regimes. Understanding these historical origins helps us recognize modern manifestations of these ideologies. Let's look at how to identify and resist similar patterns today.
We live in a complex world where extremist ideologies can sometimes be subtle and persuasive. Here's how you can recognize warning signs and protect yourself from being drawn into extreme ideologies.
Us vs. Them Rhetoric:
Be wary when groups constantly divide the world into "good" and "bad" people
Simple Solutions:
Distrust claims of easy answers to complex social or economic problems
Dehumanizing Language:
Watch for language that describes any group as less than human
Historical Revision:
Be cautious of attempts to rewrite or glorify troubled historical periods
Persecution Narratives:
Be skeptical when a powerful group claims they're being victimized
Emotional Manipulation:
Watch for content designed to provoke fear or anger
Echo Chambers:
Be wary if you're encouraged to only trust certain news sources
Conspiracy Theories:
Be skeptical of claims that vast conspiracies explain complex events
Coded Language:
Pay attention to seemingly innocent terms that carry hidden meanings
False Urgency:
Question messages that demand immediate action without time for reflection
History has shown us where extremist ideologies can lead. But history has also shown us that informed, engaged citizens are our strongest defense against extremism. Every day, we face choices: to verify or share blindly, to build bridges or walls, to question or accept, to include or exclude. These seemingly simple choices add up to create either fertile ground for extremism or a strong bulwark against it.
By recognizing these warning signs and choosing to act on them, we don't just protect ourselves--we strengthen our communities and our democracy. The time to be alert, aware, and active is now. Our shared future depends on it!
Lawrence George Jaffe is an internationally known and an award-winning writer, author, and poet. For his entire professional career, Jaffe has been using his art to promote human rights. He was the poet-in-residence at the Autry Museum of Western Heritage, a featured poet in Chrysler's Spirit in the Words poetry program, co-founder of Poets for Peace (now Poets without Borders) and helped spearhead the United Nations Dialogue among Civilizations through Poetry project which incorporated hundreds of readings in hundreds of cities globally using the aesthetic power of poetry to bring understanding to the world.