Listen for dangerous words
On Tyranny, chapter 17
Notice when words like "extremism," "terrorism," "emergency," and "exception" are used. Learn to identify the language of patriotism.
Fascists will try to convince the people that the present moment is exceptional, then turn it into a permanent emergency, convincing people to trade real freedom for fake safety. Anyone who wants you to think you can only gain security by giving up liberty wants to deny you both.
Submission to authority is not the same thing as safety. It is the government's job to increase both freedom and safety, so beware any government that is taking either away.
Tyrants use "extremism" to alienate people that are not in the mainstream or the mainstream they want. They will use it to justify the punishment of anyone who doesn't agree with them.
The obvious contradiction here is that the tyrant is the real extremist. Believe in truth.