Living in Fascist Times, ‘you’re not alone’
A Letter of Survival
If you are contemplating on how to live in fascist times without becoming one of them, know first that you are not alone. Authoritarian regimes thrive on silence, fear, and isolation. But there are ways to resist, to protect your humanity, and to nurture hope, even when the world around you feels dark.
Recognizing Fascism and Refusing Lies
Fascism begins by confusing the mind. It tells you that lies are truth, that cruelty is necessary, and that obedience is patriotism. To live as a non-fascist, you must recognize this language. Study history, learn to spot patterns of authoritarianism, and refuse to repeat them. Clarity is the first step in surviving fascist times.
Protecting Your Inner World
In fascist societies, propaganda seeks to colonize your thoughts. To resist, you must protect your inner world. Read books that remind you of complexity. Listen to music that stirs empathy instead of anger. Nourish yourself with art and beauty. These are not luxuries—they are lifelines that keep you human.
Building Solidarity in Authoritarian Times
Isolation is the oxygen of fascism. To survive, you need connection. Even a small circle of trust—a few friends, a shared conversation, a gesture of care—creates a lifeline. Solidarity need not always be loud. Sometimes it is simply being present, reminding each other that kindness still exists.
Everyday Resistance Against Fascism
Not every act of resistance will be dramatic. In fact, the smallest refusals are often the most powerful. Decline to repeat demeaning jokes. Protect those being scapegoated. Write down stories that preserve the truth. These small gestures weaken the machinery of fascism and plant seeds for a freer future.
Holding on to Moral Clarity
Fascist times blur right and wrong. They normalize cruelty and disguise corruption as strength. But you must hold your moral compass steady. Refuse to hate the groups being scapegoated. Refuse to accept violence as “necessary.” Even the smallest act of compassion is a quiet but powerful stand against authoritarianism.
Caring for Yourself While Resisting Fascism
Living under fascism is exhausting. The fear, the propaganda, the constant pressure can wear you down. That is why caring for yourself is not selfish—it is resistance. Walk, rest, eat well. Celebrate small joys. Laugh with friends. Watch the sky change at dusk. Joy, too, is a form of defiance.
Preparing for the Long Struggle
Fascist regimes rarely collapse quickly. Some last years, others decades. Do not measure your worth by whether you live to see their end. Your task is to preserve memory, dignity, and truth so that when the world opens again, the seeds of freedom are ready to bloom. Authoritarianism depends on forgetting; your resistance depends on remembering.
Choosing Humanity in Fascist Times
To live as a non-fascist is not to live without fear—it is to live despite fear. Every refusal to surrender your humanity is a blow against authoritarianism. Every gesture of compassion, every defense of truth, every act of solidarity is proof that fascism has not won.
Fascist regimes may rise and fall, but human dignity endures. One day, the soil will open again, and the seeds of freedom you carried will bloom. Until then, walk carefully, love fiercely, and remember: you are not alone.
