Not really at all. TBH, the fasces as a symbol is downright contrary to American ideology. It’s a symbol of collective strength through societal unity, but America is so embroiled in its cult of individualism that the idea of achieving a collective good through collective power is practically alien. (Of course then again, Italians never really lived up to the purported ideals of fascism either, so maybe it’s not so out of place.)
There’s definitely the “I do what I want” aspect of it, but there’s also tons of blind patriotism and willingness to sacrifice for the country (to say nothing of the half-mythical idea that the colonies were these fully independent sovereigns that chose to join together). I do think the former has been gaining serious ground since at least the 70s.
okay but they stayed there even after fascism adopted the imagery. the empire is at the very least unconcerned with the implication of hanging ornamental golden fasces in the halls of power
So what’s the logic here? That they kept it up there to fuck with your head, as a semi-secret sign that they’re fascist? That’s anti-materialist thinking, little different than anti-Masonists seeing the eye pyramid on a dollar bill and imagining a vast conspiracy from it.
Let’s say that there was a proposal to take the fasces down- what would the case be? That Mussolini’s use of the fasces imbues it with a transcendental evil that reaches back in time and taints it as a symbol before he even used it? From the perspective of the political class, the whole debate would likely be tiresome and not worth having.
If the US is or becomes fascist, it’s going to have very little to do with some old ornaments in the House of Representatives, it’s going to be because of material conditions.
Not really sure if the best response to fascists using a common and ancient symbol is to rip out our artistic and cultural heritage.
There are buildings with Swastikas and Fasces all over Europe and the US that considerably pre-date the Nazis.
It’s not like removing statues of slavers and criminals (which is based), since these older buildings and artworks aren’t and weren’t glorifying the horrendous crimes they later came to be associated with.
This is kind of dumb tbh
They were there before Fascism existed
A little dumb, a little “and here we see how the ideological seeds that underpin colonialism eventually mature into fascism”
Not really at all. TBH, the fasces as a symbol is downright contrary to American ideology. It’s a symbol of collective strength through societal unity, but America is so embroiled in its cult of individualism that the idea of achieving a collective good through collective power is practically alien. (Of course then again, Italians never really lived up to the purported ideals of fascism either, so maybe it’s not so out of place.)
American ideology is contradictory as hell haha
There’s definitely the “I do what I want” aspect of it, but there’s also tons of blind patriotism and willingness to sacrifice for the country (to say nothing of the half-mythical idea that the colonies were these fully independent sovereigns that chose to join together). I do think the former has been gaining serious ground since at least the 70s.
It’s a symbol of the estruscan kings and Roman magistrates right to order public floggings with sticks or beheadings with axes
My bad, I’d learned that it was a symbol of unity, like the people being stronger unified like the tied sticks.
okay but they stayed there even after fascism adopted the imagery. the empire is at the very least unconcerned with the implication of hanging ornamental golden fasces in the halls of power
So what’s the logic here? That they kept it up there to fuck with your head, as a semi-secret sign that they’re fascist? That’s anti-materialist thinking, little different than anti-Masonists seeing the eye pyramid on a dollar bill and imagining a vast conspiracy from it.
Let’s say that there was a proposal to take the fasces down- what would the case be? That Mussolini’s use of the fasces imbues it with a transcendental evil that reaches back in time and taints it as a symbol before he even used it? From the perspective of the political class, the whole debate would likely be tiresome and not worth having.
If the US is or becomes fascist, it’s going to have very little to do with some old ornaments in the House of Representatives, it’s going to be because of material conditions.
Not really sure if the best response to fascists using a common and ancient symbol is to rip out our artistic and cultural heritage.
There are buildings with Swastikas and Fasces all over Europe and the US that considerably pre-date the Nazis.
It’s not like removing statues of slavers and criminals (which is based), since these older buildings and artworks aren’t and weren’t glorifying the horrendous crimes they later came to be associated with.