Date: Sun, 2 Nov 1997 11:43:21 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: Who wields the fasces?


Saul,

You ask a good question; or perhaps I infer a good question 
underlying your prolix, oblique commentary. What can we learn from
past facism about the potential for present or future fasism? At
last a question I can relate to.

The result of my analysis of Hitler's speeches and writings, especially
Mein Kampf, concerns social bonds and emotions. I found that the central
relational and emotional themes are Hitler's pledge that if he were
elected, he would restore community, instead of separation and isolation,
and he would restore pride, rather than shame.

Other analysts have noticed the centrality of the community theme, but
I am the first to report the pride and shame theme. His writings and
speeches bristled with it. E.g., he never referred to the Weimar
Republic by name; instead he screamed: Vierzehn Jahren von Schmach
und Schande! (Fourteen years of shame and disgrace!) He had learned
to always pound the table with his fist at this point. He also learned
that this phrase and fistpounding always brought his audience to their 
feet, roaring their approval.

What implications does this finding have for the present and future?
I'll continue by separate message, since I have learned to divide 
my messages, so as not to loose them in case the computer freezes up.

Tom

Thomas J. Scheff, Professor Emeritus
Dept of Sociology, UCSB, Santa Barbara, CA. 93105
Phone 805 893 3510   Fax   805 893 3324
Web   http://sscf.ucsb.edu/~scheff/scheff.html