Elementary Historical Note (was Pynchon and fascism)

[Eulenspiegel7646 at aol.com]

In a message dated 5/28/2003 4:34:06 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
lycidas2 at earthlink.net writes that Paul Mackin wrote::

> Some political scientist many years ago first invented the word fascist to
> refer to something taking place in Italy (I guess).

Actually, it was None Other than Benito Mussolini who coined the word, as 
most of you probably know.  It comes from the Roman term "fasces," referring to a 
bundle of canes tied together with an axe carried by the representatives of 
the Senate to symbolize the power to mete out corporal & capital punishment.  
The old silver Liberty Head dime has a fasces on the reverse.  The coat of arms 
of the French Republic also has a representation of the fasces.

Hope this helps
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