Recently, I’ve noticed an increasing number of discussions about fascism in the media, and I realize that writing about it myself only adds to that conversation. However, who’s to say the term itself is inherently negative? 

It can suggest something harmful, but that interpretation is entirely subjective based on one’s own perspective. A fascist might label an opposing party with the same term because, at the end of the day, they are essentially the same. 

A leader may manipulate the masses to incite radical change, but the people attempting to overthrow that corrupt entity could also be labeled with the same term. It is a slippery slope, and people often find themselves caught at the bottom of a rockslide, trying to fight radical change, with their own radical change. 

Like any word, fascism has multiple meanings. It has been shaped and manipulated over the years, but why? The term fascism originates from Italy. Fascismo derives from fascio, which means a bundle of sticks. A bundle of sticks is much harder to break than a single stick standing alone. 

Fascism promises a new, united nation in control of its destiny, bound by blood. National greatness is the heart that sustains fascism. It seeks to cultivate a new culture and nation capable of achieving greatness. 

Doesn’t that sound appealing? 

A proud country unafraid to evolve its ideals? 

Once again, it’s subjective. However, Donald J. Trump has been shouting out these ideas from the rooftops. He seeks radical change. He is enlisting wealthy, influential people to dismantle our government to begin anew, and he will shift the blame onto them once the pressure mounts. 

There has been a tidal wave of uncertainty in America, and if you look toward the horizon, you might catch a faint glimpse of hope shooting out from a lighthouse. That lighthouse symbolizes the courage and strength of the people speaking out against the MAGA team’s unjust actions. 

On Feb. 11, a news conference was held at the White House. “President” Elon Musk and his sidekick Trump addressed the press. Let me rephrase that: Elon spoke to the press while Trump sat idly by. Elon stood awkwardly to the left of the Oval Office desk, sweating profusely, while Trump sat in his chair, trying to look good for the cameras. 

Elon Musk alleged, without evidence, that certain officials at the now-dismantled International Development office were taking “kickbacks.” He stated that “quite a few people” within the bureaucracy had somehow “managed to accumulate tens of millions of dollars in net worth while in those positions,” yet he did not clarify the basis for these claims. 

Later in the conference, he noted that some Social Security recipients were as old as 150. Common sense says otherwise. Common sense would also say that Elon Musk has accumulated billions of dollars in net worth while destroying our government in the process. 

“We are actually trying to be as transparent as possible,” he said, referring to the posts made by his team on his own social media platform, X. “So, all of our actions are maximally transparent.” “I don’t know of a case where an organization has been more transparent than the DOGE organization.” 

Elon Musk discussed “transparency” in his actions, while Trump avoided eye contact with Musk’s son X, who regularly disrupted the conference. However, that statement is only true because we can see it right through him. His actions are opaque. He is “transparent.” His words are purely Picasso. He throws whatever he can at a wall to see if it will stick. America’s pasta may be al dente, but one day the wall the pasta is strung upon will collapse. 

When it does, the people of our country will be more willing to call Donald J. Trump and his lackeys fascists and stop future leaders from abusing our fragile system.