Opinions or Ideological Harm
In contemporary American culture, few villains are as universally recognizable as the Nazi. From Hollywood blockbusters to political speeches, Nazis embody the archetype of hatred, cruelty, and authoritarianism. The swastika is shorthand for evil, and any resemblance to Nazi ideology is, in the public imagination, beyond the pale of civilized debate; despite it’s original context. Yet, beneath the clarity with which Americans condemn foreign fascism lies a paradox; ideologies at home that share disturbing similarities often receive softer treatment, particularly when cloaked in the language of religion and patriotism. When Americans see Nazis on screen, they are taught to hate them. But when American figures wrap racial and exclusionary rhetoric in the name of Jesus, they are too often treated as simply having “a difference of opinion.”
