One of the antidotes to fascism is kindness, and our newest releases advocate exactly for that with our Kindness Is Free t-shirt and our Retro Be Kind t-shirt.
Fascism is a far-right authoritarian and oppressive political ideology that has left a dark mark on history. It leads to atrocities and division on an unprecedented scale. And the number one antidote we have for that poison is kindness.
Fascism is characterized by the consolidation of power in the hands of a single authoritarian leader or a small group of elites. It disregards democratic norms, suppresses opposition, and amplifies some of the darkest facets of human behavior. Unfortunately, many evangelical Republicans in the United States have chosen to embrace fascism by electing authoritarians into office in order to create a “Christian” nation. They want a theocracy. They want to force the secular population to comply with their religious beliefs.
Hatred is one of the building blocks of fascism. Fascist leaders often foster hatred by targeting specific groups, whether based on race, sexuality, gender, religion, ethnicity, or political affiliation to stoke rage and hatred towards everyone who isn’t them.
Fascism relies on the division of society into loyal supporters and perceived threats. This division strengthens the leaders’ grip on power, as supporters are riled up into a rage and feel they must protect themselves from the "enemies of the state.” They use manufactured outrage via their culture wars, whether it’s trans people, educated people, “woke” people, people with black or brown skin, LGBTQ+ people, women… anyone who doesn’t fit into their narrow worldview, who doesn’t fit within their definition of gender roles, who isn’t the same religion as they are, and so on.
Fear is a potent tool in the fascist toolkit. By using culture wars to cultivate a constant sense of impending danger, fascists can justify authoritarian measures and maintain control over the people. It thrives in a climate of chaos and confusion. By sowing discord and instability, fascist leaders can present themselves as the only solution to restore order. This enables them to consolidate power and implement their agenda with little to no opposition from their base voters.
One of the central elements of fascism is authoritarians’ need to exert control over every aspect of society, from the media and education to individual freedoms. Control is often maintained through surveillance, censorship, and the suppression of dissent. Kindness, by contrast, thrives in an atmosphere of freedom and respect for individual rights. It encourages people to be independent thinkers and fosters a culture where diverse perspectives are valued and protected.
Fascism uses punishment as a means of intimidating and subduing those who oppose the regime. People who belong to a targeted group live in constant fear of arbitrary arrests or detention.
It’s disheartening to see Republicans, who identify as Christians, have chosen to embrace ideologies and tactics that contradict the very principles they profess to hold dear. It’s blatant hypocrisy and reveals a stark contrast between their supposed values and the divisive, fear-driven, and punitive narratives they promote.
Evangelical Christians are a significant demographic within the United States. Their faith is supposed to be rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ. Jesus' message was one of love, forgiveness, empathy, and compassion. In their own bible they don't read, Jesus extolled virtues like humility, meekness, and peacemaking. Yet, Republican leaders prioritize discord, fear, hatred, control, and punishment, creating a glaring disconnect between their professed beliefs and their political actions.
Republican politicians have seized upon using religious freedom as a rallying cry, manipulating their base to believe that their faith is under attack. While it's important to protect religious freedom, their politicians use rhetoric to manipulaye their voters into feeling a sense of victimhood and persecution. This manufactured outrage fuels anger, hatred, and a siege mentality. It’s why they’re forcing their religious beliefs into legislation.
Kindness, one of the fundamental aspects of Christian ethics, has the power to transform society. It is a message that resonates with human beings on a universal level. Kindness seeks to build bridges rather than walls, and it fosters empathy and compassion. Kindness promotes the idea that our shared humanity should unite us, rather than our differences dividing us. When we replace hatred with kindness, the very foundation of fascism begins to crumble.