volume 75, issue 6

[HighlandWindsLLC Miller]

Etiquette a few steps short of fascism? Then all cultures are fascist. Even within the so-called "laid back" Berkeley culture, there was a set etiquette to fitting into the "mainstream" there. Type of clothing, hair, even some could say the style of walk, at one time helped a person to fit in. Then, once they opened their mouth, there were attitudes that were welcomed, and others that weren't to the "mainstream Berkeley" group, a definite desire to hear a more progressive form of thinking.. Though I probably agree with much of that mainstream of Berkeley, I still see that it was a certain etiquette, which I sometimes, when visiting there, found myself wanting to rebel against, as I do when faced with a culture that is very "Valley Girl" (I am from southern California -- Pasadena originally -- now from Missoula, Montana -- where the culture is quite different than where I grew up).
       If Nicholas Thompson was referring to the normal "Etiquette and manners" found in books even today, I have to admit, to some degree I agree with him, in that the concepts are so binding, and do not allow a vast amount of cultural habits, which tends to change a society by the cookie cutter approach.

Furthermore, on the items that fall under fascism's characteristics or distinctions that were mentioned, and I will list them here as they were listed:

:  1. cult of tradition -- not necessarily, though I see what you are getting at. Traditions marks a culture -- cookie baking at Christmas, caroling, the types of candles one uses, whether you eat certain foods, do you have your main meal at lunch or dinner time -- these are not fascist.
  2. luddism/irrationalism -- the desire to keep or change back to ways used long ago just because they were "best" can be irrational, but the desire to reduce energy because oil is running out and global warming needs to be addressed, can result in the same end result.
  3. action for action's sake -- not really a fascist characteristic, just thoughtless.
  4. anti-critical -- agree
  5. fear of dissension -- agree
  6. appeal to the frustrated middle -- agree
  7. pervasive belief in conspiracy -- depends on what has happened to you, not necessarily fascist.
  8. the myopic underdog -- come on.
  9. life is warfare -- agree
 10. contempt for underlings -- agree
 11. herophilia or glorification of martyrdom -- partiallly agree
 12. conflation of the biological with the social -- disagree. The two conflate (?) in many ways.
 13. abstracted (ideal, not real) body politic --- need ideals to move real.
 14. newspeak -- to a degree I agree.

Have a great day!

Peggy Miller

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