Elizabeth Dilling

The phrase The Far Right proves to be problematic for typical modern American lemming minds. It stirs up imagery of such concepts as bigotry,racism, hate. Ironic is it, that the first feminists were women of the Right, who were pro-family and pro-motherhood. A certain woman was definitely a far cry from today's feminists.

Political activist and author Elizabeth Dilling was a prominent voice in Anti-New Deal liberalism and anti-communist ideals. Influenced by the conventional image of women as mothers and nurturers, she viewed the right-wing movement as a way to protect and maintain American morality. A radical right leader, she held ideas in common with European fascists based on their politics.

Elizabeth Dilling was born in Chicago on April 19, 1894. The daughter of a surgeon, she was feisty, and incredibly verbally gifted. She visited the Soviet Union in 1931, where she found impoverished people, diseased and ill dressed. She saw genocide. Barely clothed children, begging. Half empty stores. The houses were dingy; roads were cracked and badly kept. She saw state-run orphanages and abortion was rampant. The women of the Soviet Union were suffering badly; the government was raising harassment, grueling work, and their children. What Elizabeth was witnessing was the aftermath of Communism. The Soviet Jews had torn down Russian churches. But she was no pacifist, she believed it was time to fight the infidels.

She decided then to acquire as much knowledge about Communism as she can, and use it as her weapon to fight it. She spoke to large audiences, and did extensive research on Communism and the Jew. She wrote excerpts exposing the Communists in the U.S. The lady was not afraid, and worked endlessly for years to expose the followers of Communism. She spoke on the radio, and met with men such as Henry Ford, Charles Lindbergh, Charles Hudson, and others who helped support her cause.

Another act Elizabeth should be noted for is her leadership role in the Mother's Movement of the 1930s and 40s. Already possessing a natural ability to influence an audience, she brought mother across America together, from all walks of life, to Washington to protest in an effort to prevent America's participation in the second World War. Political activism is not without struggle: Mrs. Dillings activities gained her a number of enemies. It was her anti-war beliefs that were eventually used against her and she was indicted by the Justice Department of President Franklin Roosevelt for sedition. Despite the federal criminal charge brought against her, Mrs. Dilling refused to be silent, and bravely continued in her political work. Years after the initial indictment, the charge against her was finally dropped.

In 1966, Mrs. Dilling died at the age of 72. She remained a patriot to the very end.

Many positive words come to mind as a description for such an admirable woman, but I believe the gentleman she met in the dining room of that small Denver hotel used the best word. The gentleman was University of Illinois Professor, Dr. Revilo Oliver, and it was there, paying no mind to anyone else present, she mouthed her famous words at her friend, Do I see an anti-Semite? The word he used to describe Mrs. Dilling? Fearless. My sentiments exactly.

Maria "Mist Wraith"