Today, October 29, 2022, is the centenary of Il Marcia su Roma, The March on Rome, an organized mass demonstration and coup d'état on October 29, 1922, which resulted in Benito Mussolini's National Fascist Party taking power in Italy. Italy had originally been allied with Imperial Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, but refused to go to war with them in 1914. In 1915, Italy ended its neutrality and entered the war on the side of the Allies, following promises by Britain and France to support Italian claims on the Austrian Tyrol border between Italy and Austria, the port of Fiume, and Trieste, following the defeat of the Central Powers.
Thank you for taking the time to remind us of this event---chilling and indeed terrifying when you compare to the events of the current day. So many parallels with today in the way that the GOP is reinventing itself as an American Fascist Organization.
Also, this narrative of the relation of businesses to Italian Fascism is a powerful reminder that business leaders (mostly) hate and would love to "eliminate" (really really eliminate) any socialists, anywhere. Think of the struggle to unionize the textile workers in NC and coal miners in WVA and elsewhere. Corporate murder carried out by thugs. I drove past the a huge abandoned Ford car, truck, and motor plant near Vermillion and Lorain Ohio today. That was one of the Ford plants in the Cleveland area that powered the vibrant economy in the mid twentieth century. Now grass grows in the parking lots, rust lines mark the buildings, and poverty stalks the neighborhoods. So much for the care of corporations for the workers who indeed made them great. Now they can stay "great" by overworking, starving, and neglecting the health of workers around the third world. AMERICAN NEEDS UNIONS. Well, you have some disconnected rants. To the barricades---oops, the postcard writing parties, the GOTV campaigns, etc. If that does not work, barricades may spring up........... Peace and Courage in these perilous times.
What to say? The political fault lines are definitely showing and growing around our globe. We are, it seems, cursed to endure living through the repetitions of so-called leaders making the same pathetic mistakes generation after generation because voters are too stupid to look at the past and think ahead. All that should really be necessary is to read stories about one's grandparents' peers and then to think about possible grandchildrens' futures. Alas, this requires some (now rare) skills - reading, comprehension, critical analysis. Perhaps there should be globally mandated minimum acceptable IQ limits for both procreation and public office.
This excellent post is evidence of the complacency of the national press with regard to the growing fascist threat worldwide. The ascension of a neo fascist PM in Italy, of all places, called for a reflection upon the origins of fascism. And as far as I’m aware—correct me if I’m wrong—there has been no historical explanation in the national press of how fascism arose. Sigh….
I was unfamiliar with (Harvard law graduate)Richard Washburn Child so had to research more ….He had “ intense admiration for Mussolini” and was “greatly impressed with the Facist movement.” Sounds like my governor….
That’s how it is happening, right here, right now. The lessons of history don’t seem to last past one generation, and then the cycle starts over. No other species on earth is so self-destructive. Greed, power and tribal fears trump empathy, intelligence, and camaraderie. Ants and roaches are not so hampered.
I agree with Beth B that this post is a tour de force. How on earth you have the time to research this history and get all the Italian names and dates right and then weave in your interpretive summary is beyond me. BTW, I really appreciated the Faulkner quote. What is it about that storyteller? He always nails it. ❤️🤍💙
I was unfamiliar with (Harvard Law grad) William Washburn Child so had to research.He had “intense admiration for Mussolini” and was fascinated with the Fascist movement. Sounds like my governor…
Thank you for taking the time to remind us of this event---chilling and indeed terrifying when you compare to the events of the current day. So many parallels with today in the way that the GOP is reinventing itself as an American Fascist Organization.
Also, this narrative of the relation of businesses to Italian Fascism is a powerful reminder that business leaders (mostly) hate and would love to "eliminate" (really really eliminate) any socialists, anywhere. Think of the struggle to unionize the textile workers in NC and coal miners in WVA and elsewhere. Corporate murder carried out by thugs. I drove past the a huge abandoned Ford car, truck, and motor plant near Vermillion and Lorain Ohio today. That was one of the Ford plants in the Cleveland area that powered the vibrant economy in the mid twentieth century. Now grass grows in the parking lots, rust lines mark the buildings, and poverty stalks the neighborhoods. So much for the care of corporations for the workers who indeed made them great. Now they can stay "great" by overworking, starving, and neglecting the health of workers around the third world. AMERICAN NEEDS UNIONS. Well, you have some disconnected rants. To the barricades---oops, the postcard writing parties, the GOTV campaigns, etc. If that does not work, barricades may spring up........... Peace and Courage in these perilous times.
What to say? The political fault lines are definitely showing and growing around our globe. We are, it seems, cursed to endure living through the repetitions of so-called leaders making the same pathetic mistakes generation after generation because voters are too stupid to look at the past and think ahead. All that should really be necessary is to read stories about one's grandparents' peers and then to think about possible grandchildrens' futures. Alas, this requires some (now rare) skills - reading, comprehension, critical analysis. Perhaps there should be globally mandated minimum acceptable IQ limits for both procreation and public office.
TC, thank you for this enlightening piece
of the past, that is here, in the present.
My father was with the 1st Infantry during WWII that drove through Italy and
liberated it. I had a good friend who, a
native Italian from Rome, who got involved with politics there 4 years ago.
He saw fascism coming back and was
trying to help stop it. He has disappeared.
These are not JV teams on the courts
of world affairs, or even our domestic
affairs. They play for keeps.
Thank you for the history that is knocking on our door...but I think I am going to throw up.🤢
This excellent post is evidence of the complacency of the national press with regard to the growing fascist threat worldwide. The ascension of a neo fascist PM in Italy, of all places, called for a reflection upon the origins of fascism. And as far as I’m aware—correct me if I’m wrong—there has been no historical explanation in the national press of how fascism arose. Sigh….
A minor quibble, TC; The battle of Caporetto was fought in 1917, not 1947.
Thank you for the history lesson. We seem to be heading down that path again...
I was unfamiliar with (Harvard law graduate)Richard Washburn Child so had to research more ….He had “ intense admiration for Mussolini” and was “greatly impressed with the Facist movement.” Sounds like my governor….
This is quite a tour de force. Thank you.
“That’s how it happens, Ladies and Gentlemen”
That’s how it is happening, right here, right now. The lessons of history don’t seem to last past one generation, and then the cycle starts over. No other species on earth is so self-destructive. Greed, power and tribal fears trump empathy, intelligence, and camaraderie. Ants and roaches are not so hampered.
I agree with Beth B that this post is a tour de force. How on earth you have the time to research this history and get all the Italian names and dates right and then weave in your interpretive summary is beyond me. BTW, I really appreciated the Faulkner quote. What is it about that storyteller? He always nails it. ❤️🤍💙
I was unfamiliar with (Harvard Law grad) William Washburn Child so had to research.He had “intense admiration for Mussolini” and was fascinated with the Fascist movement. Sounds like my governor…