What Is It About Fascist Marching?

What's that all about -- guys in uniform goose-stepping or swinging/lifting their legs and arms in some other mechanical, unnatural, flawlessly synchronized way? Hezbollah does it. So does Li'l Kim. So did the Nazis and the Commies. I wondered where and when it originated. Here's an article that says 17th-century Prussia.

Clearly it's intended to impress and intimidate, to hammer human beings into identical parts of a machine, to display a superhuman discipline and standardization, a complete subordination of the individual to the collective.

It's always struck me as both ominous and ridiculous. I have an immediate, violent, raucous reaction, not so much to the synchronization and regimentation (synchronized marching or riding can be kinda cool) as to the robotic, tin-soldier exaggeration and distortion of the movements. Maybe it's meant to convey, Our soldiers are not flesh and blood like you. They're metal.

Anyway, it's a hallmark of fascism -- not surprisingly. And to feel, not awe, not fear, not reassurance or pride at the spectacle, but cellular-level revulsion and rejection, as of an antigen -- that's probably a hallmark of democracy.

That article I found quotes George Orwell, who nails it:

One rapid but fairly sure guide to the social atmosphere of a country is the parade-step of its army. … The goose-step, for instance, is one of the most horrible sights in the world, far more terrifying than a dive-bomber. It is simply an affirmation of naked power; contained in it, quite consciously and intentionally, is the vision of a boot crashing down on a face. Its ugliness is part of its essence, for what it is saying is "Yes, I am ugly, and you daren't laugh at me." … Beyond a certain point, military display is only possible in countries where the common people dare not laugh at the army.

Comments

[Walrus]

Interesting thought. I'd noticed that myself, but hadn't spent any time on reflecting why. Perhaps it is part of the dehumanization of the soldiers too.

My reaction is much the same as yours: a mix of horror, amusement and contempt.

[realpc]

Just for a little perspective -- what about primitive warriors with painted faces, trying to look inhuman?

I think the fascist marching is a similar thing. I find it scary and fascinating, but I do not feel contempt for it. I think war is part of human nature, and of nature in general.

Living relatively safely under the protection of the most powerful military ever, we Westeners can afford to feel contempt for the ritual displays of warriors.

Other animals do the same kind of thing -- their hair or feathers stand on end, and they strut around looking scary.

[amba]

But they don't try to look like machines.

[Walrus]

Realpc, I don't feel contempt for the rituals of warriors per se. It's the goose-stepping... My father was an Air Force officer and undoubtedly learned parade ground drills at RMC, but those do not trouble me.

Watching live footage of Mussolini with his conscious swelled chest and pasted-on sneer affects me much the same way. So did watching the Rolling Stones when I was a child... ;o) Probably still would, if I was still watching.

[realpc]

I think the point is they are just trying to look scary. They probably feel very differently inside.

Trying to look like machines makes sense -- machines are the scariest, as well as the most useful, thing our civilization has created. Consider all the science fiction stories about evil machines.

I know it's creepy to watch them, but I am also amazed at the precision, the same as when I watch choreographed dancers.

[Sissy Willis]

I agree with you totally. Half horrific, half hilarious and totally obscene in this day and age.