I suspect that facism, like fashion will rear its ugly head again and again in years to come.

Looking through the shops yesterday for a new shirt, all I could find were things that looked suspiciously like the smock tops I was wearing in the 1970's. Thankfully though, none of them were crimplene or brushed nylon.

My point?

There is nothing new in history, it is doomed to repeat itself. However... just as we now have smock tops and wedge shoes again, this time around it's slightly different and hopefully better. Just as we know that crimplene and nylon are bad for the environment (by-lines of the oil industry) and our health (hot, sweaty, non-absorbent fabrics), we know that facism is bad for us and we should look for healthier alternatives.

900 years ago, we didn't know half the world existed and were right to be afraid of what was out there. 500 years ago, we knew it was there but it was beyond the reach of ordinary man, so we still had reason to be afraid. 100 years ago, the invention of the motor car and aeroplane meant we could visit these places, understand them and learn not to be frightened any more.

Once we all learn not to be frightened of the unknown, by understanding them, then facism, Nazi-ism, racism and religion-ism will fade away into the past like so much crimplene and brushed nylon.

LTS