Making up enemies

It is often said that Republicans need an enemy. Moreover, if none is conveniently available, they’ll invent one. We have all experienced how insurgents on Jan. 6, 2021, blamed “Antifa” for the violence. “Antifa” meaning “anti-fascist.” It takes but a moment’s reflection to understand how the term is misapplied in the context of the attack on the U.S. Capitol and other demonstrations by violent right-wing groups.

The Allies in World War II fought fascist regimes in Europe. Thus, the American military was part of a larger, and victorious, “antifa” force against Hitler and Mussolini. The term simply doesn’t fit the modern use by right-wing rioters hiding behind a made-up enemy called “Antifa.” In fact, if properly applied, today’s users are labeling themselves as fascists.

We now have a new word enemy. Republican politicians are throwing around the term “woke” in their campaigns to cast blame for everything they don’t like, from children’s books to bank failure. Former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis are both vowing to crush “wokism.” Once again, a moment’s reflection or internet search reveals that the derivation of the term “woke” goes back to African American slang, as a warning to stay alert to social injustice. Which, in its original use, meant injustice wrought by white people against Black folks.

Once again, the modern use of the term by Republicans does not fit the definition. And, perhaps more importantly, it tends to reveal the misusers as demagogues, white supremacists or both. It is high time that these would-be political leaders are called out for their deliberate misuse of semantics to create enemies and inflame rather than educate.

STEVEN RITTENMEYER

Hot Springs Village