40
PARTISAN REVIEW
THOMAS THE CYNIC
The saying
credo quia absurdum-!
believe because it is absm:d,
indicates a very widespread tendency among mankind; indeed, it
is the same as their tendency to suggestion. No party, of course,
has ever declined to exploit that human weakness, but Fascism has
founded all its fortunes on it, creating a special modem technique for
hypnotizing the masses.
MR.
w.
In Berlin we met a certain Dr. Guterer, who is grand master of
the ceremonies for the Nazis' public demonstrations. Mter talking to
him I realized why the German churches and theaters are often de–
serted now. Choreography has been· shifted to the market-place.
THOMAS THE CYNIC
The symbols and fetishes of the new idolatry also belong to the
market-place; the eagles, the swastikas, the lictor's fasces, and the
banners. Napoleon said, "Give me a button and I will make men
die for it." Experience has shown that that is
perfect!~
possible. Every
Fascist or Nazi carries his party emblem in his button-hole, and is
ready to give his life for it. The button serves to assure him of the
supernatural power that it enshrines. It serves to distinguish the Fascist
from other men, and assures him of
his
superiority over those unfort–
unates who do not possess it. Stories are told of Fascists who have
kissed it at the point of death. Others are buried with it, as a pledge
of security against the infernal powers. Others touch the brow of
their new-born sons with it, so that they may grow up devoted to
their country. The strength of Fascism is manifested at magical cere–
monies in which the whole people takes part. A new flag ceases to
be a pole with a piece of cloth attached to it when the Leader's
deputy touches it with his fingers; the new party premises ceases to be
an ordinary house when the Leader's deputy declares it open. For
the poor, unfortunate people who are the victims of all this, the
symbol ends by being confused with the thing it stands for. The
flag no longer represents the country, it
is
the country, just as the
Consecrated Host does not represent the body and the blood of Christ
but
is
the body and the blood of Christ. All attempts to explain the
efficacy of a fetish by its shape or color are futile. The strength of a
fetish derives solely from the minds of those who worship it. The
Nazi flag is big and red and the Italian Fascist flag is small and
black, but they fulfill the same function with the same result.
PROFESSOR PICKUP
Why were their opponents' symbols less effective?
THOMAS THE CYNIC
The use of symbols by the Socialist and democratic parties is
