Italy is doomed

[Captain-Socialist]

An investigation has been launched after a new Italian vigilante group unveiled a uniform that brought back echoes of the dark days of Fascism.

The Italian National Guard is one of many vigilante groups that will be sanctioned to start anti-crime foot patrols once a controversial security bill has been passed.

But the group became the centre of a political storm when it emerged that their kit bears a striking resemblance to Italian dictator Benito Mussolini's notorious Blackshirt volunteer militia.

Daily Hypocrisy, the paper which wants you to forget it supported Fascism.

We have been accused of wanting to return to the era of the Blackshirts but we are simply giving the people a chance to participate in their security.'

Maurizio Monti, vice president of the Italian National Guard, said: 'We are a properly resgistered group and we will continue until someone can prove that we have broken a crime.

'The imperial eagle has been a symbol since the Roman times and so it's absurd to say it has anything to do with Fascism - if that is the case then all the monuments of Rome bearing the eagle should be pulled down.

'The Italian National Guard is nothing to do with Fascism - Fascism has been confined to history.'

Blah blah, typical fake conservative defence, everybody with any history knows that the MSI is neo-fascist (they attended Mosley's post-war conferences of the "National Party of Europe" for Christ's sake) and anybody with basic named recognition can too (it's lead by Mussolini, the play boy model girl). Note how he doesn't talk about the sun wheel, which is a fully fledged neo-nazi symbol. Fact is Italy never really suppressed Fascism at all, the laws forbidding Fascist symbols are a joke and have never been fully implemented. Just visit Mussolini's grave.

[Molotov]

Heh, their uniform has armbands. Who are they trying to kid?

Ignoring fascism though, it is absolutely insane that a supposedly civilised Western country would replace or augment police with paramilitary vigilante groups. Forget fascists, Italy's biggest problem is Berlusconi and it has been since that slug crawled into politics.

[Khaler]

We can do it too!

And Berlusconi is Fascist, not just publicly.

[Molotov]

Yeah, Berlusconi probably fancies himself a fascist. He looks a bit like Mussolini doesn't he? Only fatter, a little more like Jabba the Hutt.

Only surviving colour film of Mussolini, sound added from transcripts:

[GreekIdiot]

And Berlusconi is Fascist, not just publicly.

I thought people voted for their leaders.

[JuliaAJA]

In America, our Nazis once tried to kill someone in Idaho and their several acre compound was made into a Peace Park. Also, our cops are fascist enough for us so we don't have to be.

And Berlusconi is Fascist, not just publicly.

I thought people voted for their leaders.

Hitler was originally elected.

[Aethers]

Fact is Italy never really suppressed Fascism at all, the laws forbidding Fascist symbols are a joke and have never been fully implemented. Just visit Mussolini's grave.

Kind of silly that anyone would criticize Italy for not implementing a law that directly contradicts the right to freedom of speech recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and explicitly protected in most nations' constitutions. Then again, Europe has never really been anything other than hypocritical about freedoms. Governments typically are but European governments are somewhat more so than most. I guess it's better though to have high ideals that you don't even try to live up to than no ideals at all.

[GreekIdiot]

Seconded, Aethers. I have no better words to describe Europe.

[Captain-Socialist]

Or any other continent, most of which are more oppressive than us in almost every way.

[Aethers]

I do believe I said that I couldn't think of a government that isn't at least mildly hypocritical on such things. Ours isn't perfect, by any stretch, but if any US state, or even Congress, tried to ban a political ideology the courts would strike it down with vehemence. Personally I'd rather have that level of freedom than bought-and-paid-for public healthcare.