Letter: Insurrection not comparable to WW II

I read with interest a writer's letter about his uncle's experience in World War II and the fight against fascists. I don't imagine many of us from a certain generation can't tell similar stories, and I sympathize with his loss.

I am, however, surprised that he finds President Biden's comparison of the insurrection in January and the people who took part in it or support it to be inaccurate. My only argument with President Biden's statement is his use of the word "semi." The definition of fascism is a far right, authoritarian, ultranationalistic ideology and movement, characterized by a charismatic and dictatorial leader, centralized autocracy, militarism, forcible oppression of opposition, belief in a natural social hierarchy, (racial superiority) subordination of individual interests and rights for the perceived (by the leader) good of the nation.

How much closer to that description could we come than former Presidnt Trump's refusal to engage in the peaceful transition or power, unsubstantiated denial of the election results and his encouragement and direction to the Proud Boys, the Oath Keepers, the Neo Nazis and the people who blindly followed them to attempt to nullify the 2020 election, attack our congressmen, threaten his own Vice president and commit physical violence against the officers of the law who put their lives on the line to protect democracy.

Fascism and Nazism didn't rise in Europe in a day, but started with disgruntled resentful people during a time of economic hardship who were used as pawns by evil men ... parallels that could be drawn to our country and world today in our post COVID fatigue.

Jacque Eads

Elgin