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 />
Road to Victory: Marching Song of the <strong>Youth</strong>! The YCL Executive Committee urged<br />
YCLers that "No Rally or Meeting to go by without mass singing of the popular youth<br />
song The Road to Victory." 120 The Road to Victory boldly proclaimed:<br />
We are marching on the road to victory<br />
And the just claims of youth we'll not barter<br />
For the youth alone the future can decide<br />
We will fight for peace and security<br />
For the gems in Democracy's treasure<br />
And our birth right to work and leisure 121<br />
Films and theatre were praised for their ability to use villainous characters to show "the<br />
fundamental struggle between fascism and democracy." Such productions could "strike a<br />
powerful blow in defence of democracy." 122 Since fascists were enemies of modern and<br />
democratic culture, the YCL contended "people's culture" could promote and popularize<br />
anti-fascism.<br />
The YCL also addressed youth fitness, leisure and lifestyles in their democracy campaigns.<br />
123 Fascists used sports and fitness programs to regiment the youth. The YCL<br />
vehemently condemned the Nazi "Strength Through Joy" programme. The YCL identified<br />
the organization as un-democratic, intending "to give the employers and Nazis<br />
complete control over every German man and woman['s]" leisure and to politicize it to<br />
advance fascism's aims. 124 The YCL countered proposals for regimented fitness and<br />
leisure in Britain with their own campaign entitled "Rally <strong>Youth</strong> to Fitness For Democracy."<br />
The YCL proposed that the aims and tactics of their campaign were different.<br />
"Rallying" implied democratic consent from youth. The significant difference was that<br />
under fascism "youth are not rallied but regimented." 125 <strong>Youth</strong> were advised that "those<br />
who wish to bring our sport on to a totalitarian basis are far from inactive" and were<br />
trying to infuse youth activities with "militarism and regimentation." 126 By promoting<br />
active participation and youth input, the YCL believed a democratic national fitness<br />
campaign could enable "the new generation" to redefine leisure with "the new, the<br />
modern, the true conception of leisure as the most important thing in life." 127<br />
The YCL promoted lifestyle choices that reflected modernity and democratic political<br />
culture. Challenge carried a classifieds column in 1938 entitled "What Shall We Do<br />
Today." Advertisements highlighted youth cultural events like dances, many of which<br />
were promoted as fundraisers to support Spain and other anti-fascist campaigns. 128<br />
Articles on "rambling" were framed to show the political nature of youth's free access to<br />
land within a democratic society. One article stated that in a time where youth were<br />
being asked to "defend our country" that they ought to be "allowed to see the country"<br />
that they were "expected to defend." 129<br />
YCL lifestyle articles tackled controversial modern youth issues like gender and sex.<br />
In January, 1939 Challenge started a weekly column for young women entitled "Keep Fit<br />
and Beautiful." This column was intentionally framed to cause debate within the youth<br />
about modern expressions of femininity concerning fashion, make-up and women's<br />
113