I Was A Teenage Fascist
By David Greason
McPhee Gribble. 311 pp., $16.95
Reviewed By Sean Lennon
Having spent six years as a member of various far right groups, David Greason offers an insider's account of these groups and some of their bizarre ideas.
Greason started out on his rightward march following the dismissal of the Whitlam government in 1975 by the governor general, John Kerr.
What started out as a hobby, collecting political literature, quickly turned him into a fascist. He first joined the League of Rights but moved on to join other groups such as the National Front and National Alliance; later he helped set up National Action.
Six months after National Action formed, he quit fascist politics, having become disillusioned with the lies behind the public image. In their attempts to deceive the public, these groups set out to deny their racism. But whatever they may say publicly, they would, given the chance, be every bit as vicious as Hitler's Nazis. In fact National Action members often don't hide their Nazi sympathies.
What Greason found frustrating was that each new group attracted what he calls "zombie fascists" — people who had been quite open in their support of Hitler.
Greason, however, makes what I think are some appalling mistakes, especially when it comes to the left. He tends to slag off at the left, treating as absurd its analysis of what fascism is and who benefits from it: "What was so funny about the orthodox left theory of fascism, was the idea that we were storm troopers for capital". Greason appears to have gained his knowledge on the socialist view of fascism from hecklers. It may be that he is merely putting the position he once held as a fascist, but this is not clear.
Many of the things he accuses the left of are ludicrous, such as not being able to spell fascist. Socialist views on fascism deserve better treatment. But Greason does not set out to provide a theoretical analysis of fascism. His book is aimed at the general public, who may take his criticism of the left as good coin along with his attack on fascism. He also skips over some of the other intolerant positions taken by the extreme right such as homophobia and sexism.
Greason takes a strong stand against racism and intolerance in general. He stresses that we should not feel too smug while the indigenous population is treated so badly and while newspaper columnists can fulminate against gays and lesbians who are simply demanding their rights.
Despite its limitations, this book should be read for the insight it provides into the sick minds of Australia's tiny fascist bands.