Joel A Lewis Youth Against Fascism.pdf
Joel A Lewis Youth Against Fascism.pdf
Joel A Lewis Youth Against Fascism.pdf
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DEMOCRACY<br />
lenge offered such a forum to build these coalitions. The second issue of Challenge<br />
started a regular feature entitled "What's Doing." This column carried news of YCL, Co-<br />
Operative Circle, LLOY and ILP Guild of <strong>Youth</strong> activities. 64 In the August, 1935 issue<br />
of Challenge, the YCL renamed this column "What's Doing in the <strong>Youth</strong> Movement."<br />
The column was expanded to include news of "religious bodies, Scouts and other youth<br />
organizations" and their "actions against war." 65 Such columns could utilize the "pressure<br />
of public opinion" to influence successive National Governments to be more responsive<br />
to "the popular demands of the youth." 66 The YCL insisted that if youth wanted "work,<br />
wages and peace" they had to recognize that "no one will give them… you have to fight<br />
for it." 67<br />
Despite the fact that both Baldwin and Chamberlain's National Governments were<br />
"democratically elected," the YCL insisted they were not democratic and therefore should<br />
not be trusted by the youth. YCL rhetoric urged youth not to "be deceived by their<br />
speeches" on democracy since in practice the National Government was "against democracy"<br />
and "stands for friendship" with fascism. 68 The key to understanding Chamberlain<br />
was to look past his rhetoric and to evaluate his actual political activities:<br />
Half the world is in flames. Democracy is in danger. Our country is being disgraced<br />
and ruined by the pro-fascist policy of Mr. Chamberlain the Prime Minister, who has<br />
time to write greetings to the Hitler <strong>Youth</strong>, who has time to attend displays by the "Ballila"<br />
<strong>Youth</strong> Organisation of Mussolini, but who cannot find time to discuss questions of<br />
defence with the leaders of the National <strong>Youth</strong> Campaign or any other British youth<br />
leaders. 69<br />
The YCLNC highlighted the divergences between the rhetoric and reality of the National<br />
Government stating, "The Prime Minister is daily betraying democracy in other European<br />
countries, and is a hypocrite when he says he is trying to defend democracy in our<br />
own." 70 The YCL stated that in reality "association with fascist powers brings fascist<br />
methods in Britain" and that "our rights in the free youth movements [will] go by the<br />
board if this man Chamberlain is allowed to carry on." 71<br />
YCL rhetoric utilized an associational framework that coupled Chamberlain with fascism<br />
while portraying the youth as defenders of democracy. YCL rhetoric spoke of<br />
Britain as a nation polarized between a pro-fascist minority aligned behind Chamberlain<br />
and the majority of youth who stood for democracy. The Popular Front Generation<br />
insisted that their program both reflected and complimented the democratic outlook of<br />
the youth:<br />
We must always remember that the overwhelming majority of the youth in Britain are<br />
democratic. If the question were put to the youth of Britain "Are you in favour of democracy"<br />
the majority would answer – yes! Therefore, we are working among the<br />
youth of our generation in circumstances in which the majority are favourable towards<br />
the general idea which is embodied in our policy – to defend democracy and peace. And<br />
this is the fact which we should never lose sight of. If we explain our policy correctly<br />
among the youth, we will find that the youth are sympathetic towards our policy. 72<br />
107