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

[–] HarryLime@hexbear.net 16 points 7 months ago

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.

[–] Saeculum@hexbear.net 12 points 7 months ago

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.