The politician in question is Cory Booker. Basically, if it moves, as far as he's concerned it's Fascist, and must be condemned as such. It would help - greatly! - if he actually knew the meaning of the word Fascist, as illustrated a couple of days ago, when he appeared on a podcast titled "The Anti-Cult Club". He came up with this gem of political wisdom:
Yes, indeed. I've never heard of any "old African saying" that "sticks in a bundle can't be broken" - and I'm a damned sight more African (having been born and raised on that continent) than Senator Booker. However, I do know the meaning of the Latin word "fasces". According to Wikipedia:
A fasces is a bound bundle of wooden rods, often, but not always, including an axe (occasionally two axes) with its blade emerging. The fasces is an Italian symbol that had its origin in the Etruscan civilization and was passed on to ancient Rome, where it symbolized a Roman king's power to punish his subjects, and later, a magistrate's power and jurisdiction.
The image of fasces has survived in the modern world as a representation of magisterial power, law, and governance. The fasces frequently occurs as a charge in heraldry: it is present on the reverse of the U.S. Mercury dime coin, behind the podium in the United States House of Representatives, and in the Seal of the U.S. Senate; and it was the origin of the name of the National Fascist Party in Italy (from which the term fascism is derived).
So, when Senator Booker uses the image of the fasces to illustrate opposition to fascism, he's heading in precisely the opposite direction to what he means. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. Far too many of our politicians, on both sides of the aisle, behave in precisely the same way. It's as if election to office knocks several dozen points off some (but fortunately not all) politicians' IQ scores.
Meanwhile, if you're logged into X, go enjoy the whole thread in which Sen. Booker's gaffe is discussed. It's giggle-worthy.
Peter
The 'bundle of sticks' story came up at a eulogy for a (locally) prominent African-American a few months ago. Out of respect for the family, I did not raise a furor.
ReplyDeleteThere's another word for a bundle of sticks that sums up Booker rather well.
ReplyDeletebundle of sticks is a faggot, innit?
ReplyDeleteCorey Booker.....Hank Johnson.....peas in a pod.
ReplyDeleteA version of the bundle of sticks parable - the three arrows - is attributed to the Japanese warlord Mori Motonari teaching it to his three elder sons. Wikipedia says it may be apocryphal but it's for sure a lot better attributed than this African one
ReplyDeleteBookers IQ test came back negative.
ReplyDeleteOld African as in Greek. The sticks example is from Aesop.
ReplyDeleteSadly it is funny... sadly...
ReplyDeleteYou'd think "I am SPARTACUS!" would know about that bundle of sticks....
ReplyDeleteThey think Fascism is voting against Democratic Communists
ReplyDeleteThe Honorable Senator Booker never was all that bright...
ReplyDeletePoliticians like Booker are a problem. But the bigger more serious problem is the vast numbers of abject morons who vote for criminals like Booker.
ReplyDelete