John D. Buttrick writes from his Vermont Folk Rocker in his Concord home, Minds Crossing. He can be reached at johndbuttrick@gmail.com

There is a movement that has been growing in institutions, organizations and among people who seek a solution to the divisiveness and antagonism rampant in our society and government. However, encouraged by the president, there are also those who resist the DEI movement as a threat to the aspirations of MAGA.

The success of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in society and the government threatens the anachronistic efforts to return America to the good old days that were dominated by the white male population. Therefore, the president seeks to eliminate efforts to create inclusivity by imposing a policy of exclusivity, beginning with his executive order to discontinue DEI policies and practices in government institutions and organizations. The order also affects civilian organizations receiving government grants.

Resisting this executive order by continuing to practice Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is essential to shed light on the shadow of fascism that is creeping across the country. Madeleine Albright has written in her book, Fascism a Warning, p. 9, that “a fascist is one who identifies strongly with and claims to speak for a whole nation or group, is unconcerned with the rights of others, and is willing to use whatever means are necessary – including violence – to achieve his or her goals.”

Practicing diversity can be an antidote to the idea that it is possible for one person to speak for everyone. Practicing the concepts of equity and inclusion protects the rights of others and neutralizes the vulnerability to being subjected to a particular personal goal of a leader with no recourse.

Two new letters, J and B, have been lately added to the DEI acronym. Advocating for Justice and Belonging may have been added to counter the fascist fallacies that some people are to be valued over others and that nationalism suggests some people belong and others do not. Albright argues that “fascist attitudes take hold when there are no social anchors and when perception grows that everybody lies, steals, and cares only about him – or herself.” DEIJB seeks to establish a social anchor where there is none. DEIJB anchors citizens to the value that the more varied the heritage among people the more fruitful will be their future. At the same time, there is a value of equity for all people. And there is the value of loyalty to the nation that seeks justice and belonging for everyone.

In contrast, the president demands complete loyalty only to himself and to his perceived notion that the country is in a bad way. His view is the U.S. courts are biased, the FBI is corrupt, the press almost always lies, and elections are rigged. The United States has been disrespected, mocked, and ripped off for many years.

Albright points out that “when people are upset because of a lost war, a lost job, a memory of humiliation, or a sense that the country is in deep decline” they are easily drawn to fascism. They are open to the mantra, “make American great again,” as if the past was the solution. The DEIJB movement is a look toward the future where, with some commitment, America may be greater than ever.

DEIJB is a movement to reject humiliation and replace it with dignity for all; reject jobs that keep people in poverty and replace with jobs offering the equity of a living wage; and reject the pessimism of a failing nation and replace it with the optimism of a forward-looking nation guided by strength of character, keen minds, and confident spirits. It is not a matter of making more laws and regulations. Laws regulating morality are the fodder of fascism. Starving fascism and rendering fascist leaders powerless is a matter of building social capital where all people are welcomed, treated with dignity, and subject to peace with justice. Fascism withers away when citizens take the responsibility for the democracy.