The Plague of Fascism

By Joseph Carvalko | 30 October 2024
Church and State

Benito Mussolini. (Credit: Bundesarchiv, Bild 102-09844 / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA 3.0)

I was alive during the last stages of the fascist plagues wrought by the likes of Hitler and Mussolini. And, I was alive when Hitler committed suicide and Mussolini was hung. These events brought the plague to a close, but it never completely vanishes does it? In the waning days of the roaring 1920’s my grandfather, my mother in arms, escaped arrest from Mussolini’s Brownshirts in the middle of an Italian night, my father fought Hitler’s army from Italy’s sunny Mediterranean boot to its bitter Alps. It’s on my shoulders now, as the oldest standing member of my clan to do what’s in my power in support of a party that will not take us back to that period in my childhood.

We now stand at the precipice of history, behind us a stage set by a man who leads a party of white supremacists.

In November 2020, whispers of deceit filled the air as an embittered figure of a man in his declining years declared the election a theft, stubbornly clinging to power and refusing to concede.

The nation, caught in a tumult of uncertainty and discontent held its breath.

Fast forward to a chilly afternoon on January 6, 2021. I found myself among millions of Americans standing in the virtual shadows of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., silent witnesses to chaos, fueled by an angry mob, surging forth, breaching the sanctity of the Congressional Chambers. Their shouts echoed a cacophony of rebellion that rattled the very foundations of democracy.

From the confines of his White House office, the loser observed the unfolding drama, the occupation of the Capitol building growing more pronounced as the day wore on. It was a troubling sight—an insurrection against the principles he once vowed to uphold. Now silent when he learned about the possibility that his vice president’s murder might come to pass.

When the storm passed, he faced a tribunal. He felt the winds of betrayal, which dissipated as Republicans in Congress, faced with the choice to impeach, opted instead to turn a blind eye, allowing the specter of tyranny to survive into this very moment.

As the months rolled on, he began to chart a course for 2024, traversing the landscapes of red states and battlegrounds, speaking to rallying crowds. He recognized the undercurrents of the white supremacy movement, tracing its origins back to the turbulent days of 2016, a movement that had quietly festered and now surged ahead with alarming vigor.

This tale is not one of grand gestures or dramatic flair, but rather an honest recording of events as they unfolded—a simple day-to-day narrative capturing both the monumental shifts and the subtle, revealing moments that define the American experience over the past 16 years. It reflects the resilience and struggle of the people, devoid of exaggeration, yet rich in truth, revealing the complex tapestry of a nation grappling with its identity.

Abraham Lincoln famously said: “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” He articulated the profound necessity for unity in a nation facing division, emphasizing the moral choice to confront slavery despite its unpopularity in certain regions. Today the imperative to make a moral statement stands, this time it is not the plague of slavery, it is the plague of fascism.

Joseph Carvalko is an American lawyer, who for over four decades has represented numerous organizations and individuals, from billionaires to indigents. He has been actively engaged in organizations such as Amnesty International, as its Legislative Coordinator for the State of New Mexico; the Sioux City American Indian Center, board member/activist; and Chairman, Technology and Ethics Working Research Group, Interdisciplinary Center for Bioethics, Yale University, and Adjunct Professor of Law at Quinnipiac University, School of Law, teaching Law, Science and Technology. He has also worked as a technologist, where he’s been awarded 18 patents in various fields. Carvalko has authored over twelve books which include novels, poetry, law, science and the humanities. His articles appear regularly in a variety of publications and blogs. He lives on the U.S. east coast and in the New Mexico mountains.

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