I fully agree with David Moody about the need to be precise when describing Pound's political program. I suggest that those list members who have not read my _Ezra Pound and Italian Fascism_ (Cambridge University Press, 1991) and who are interested in this subject might read that book, particularly its treatment of Pound's "left-wing fascism," a phrase meant to avoid facile presentations of Pound's politics. Cheers! Tim Redman On Sun, 3 Jun 2001 11:40:32 -0700 "A. David Moody" <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > It would contribute to clarity and perhaps even coolness of thought if > everyone concerned were to respect the difference between "Fascism" and > "fascist"; more exactly, in the current context, between "Mussolini's > Italian Fascism" and whatever might be meant by "fascism". The former can > be defined; the latter in common and academic usage is so indefinite as to > be useless, unless one has a use for selfserving abuse. To give Fascism > the capital letter is of course not to endorse it--it is simply a way of > trying to keep clear what it is one is talking about. Pound wrote > propaganda in support of Mussolini and of what he took to be his Fascist > programme--the writings exist, the evidence is available. But it is quite > another matter to call him "fascist" or "a fascist"--that's down to > intepretation, not evidence. "Interpretation"? -- well, given the > unthinking usage of "fascist", that might not be the precise word for it. > > David Moody > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Carrol Cox" <[log in to unmask]> > Sent: Friday, June 01, 2001 4:31 PM > Subject: Re: Pound studies and Kerry > > > > Aww come on. "Fascist" has never meant merely (or even primarily) party > > member. Too much can be made of Pound's fascism (and more often than not > > too much is made of it), but you can't fully discuss the Cantos unless > > you confront the fascist threads in it. (Note that "themes," > > "attitudes," "images" can't be party members, but we can still call them > > communist, fascist, social democratic, whiggish, etc.) > > > > Carrol > > > > Jennifer Wilson wrote: > > > > > > I stand by my prior comment. To share beliefs with party members is > separate and distinct from being a member of the party. > > Tim Redman School of Arts and Humanities, JO 31 University of Texas at Dallas P.O. Box 830688 Richardson, TX 75083-0688 (972) 883-2775 (o) (972) 883-2989 (fax)