This Speakout was written by Robert Burns, professor emeritus of political science at South Dakota State University.

Boston College history professor Heather Cox Richardson writes a newsletter titled "Letters from an American." She has a subscription audience of approximately 1.7 million and tens of thousands non-subscription readers. She frequently draws parallels between past events in U.S. history and present-day events.

In her Oct. 26 newsletter, she called our attention to a March 24, 1945, edition of Army Talks, a publication of the U.S. War Department designed to inform our troops fighting abroad of the vital importance of their mission. The topic of the referenced edition was “FASCISM!”

The publication defined fascism as “government by the few and for the few. The objective is seizure and control of the economic, political, social and cultural life of the state.” The publication continued, “The basic principles of democracy stand in the way of their desires, hence democracy must go. They permit no civil liberties, no equality before the law. Fascism treats women as mere breeders.”

The referenced 1945 Army Talks edition went on to warn Americans that we must not be lulled into believing that fascists could not gain control in the U.S., noting “we once laughed off Hitler as a harmless little clown with a funny mustache.”

The 1945 publication warned readers that fascists would try to gain power in the U.S. “under the guise of super patriotism and super Americanism.” Later the piece stated, “… they will adopt names and slogans with popular appeal, drape themselves with the American flag, and attempt to carry out their program in the name of the democracy they are trying to destroy.”

The publication stated the way to prevent fascists from gaining control “is by making our democracy work” but fascists will attempt to undo democracy noting that “hatred is the root of fascism.” “By getting men to hate rather than to think” fascists hope to prevent Americans “from seeking the real cause and a democratic solution to our problems.”

The publication closed with the warning, “Fascism thrives on indifference and ignorance. Freedom requires being alert and on guard against the infringement not only of our own freedom but the freedom of every American. If we permit discrimination, prejudice, or hate to rob anyone of democratic rights, our own freedom and all democracy is threatened.”

We leave it to the reader to consider the parallel between the fascist goals and tactics of 1945 and the politics of division and hate that characterize the Trump MAGA campaign today.