Why does the Hezbollah throw up a roman salute

[UndergroundConnexion]

I've really been wondering lately why the fuck the hezbollah militants throw up roman salutes, which were previously used by the facists.

http://vwt.d2g.com:8081/hezbollah_salute.jpg

http://www.openfire.us/blog/archives/images/2004/hezbollahnazis.jpg

http://www.staggeron.org/images/Hezbollah_salute.jpg

[Eleftherios]

I don't think it should be taken that seriously. Sure they might be associated with the fascists in the Western world, but in some other parts of the world the Roman salute is not necessarily a fascist symbol, just like the swastika. I read somewhere that it is still used for the swearing of oaths during inaugurations in Taiwan and Mexico and by some Tamil separatists. It was also very popular during the French Revolution.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9b/Serment_du_jeu_de_paume.jpg

[NewEast]

The USA used it in its pledge of allegiance ceremonies up until 1942, the Taiwanese still us it... it was in common use before the '40's. It's got no association with Nazism in Hezbollah's case.

[Die Neue Zeit]

A socialist salute should be a left arm extended out with a clenched fist at the same angle as the Roman salute. :hammer:

However, the use of this "workers' power" salute would, by definition, be more restricted (more like victory salutes than generic "hail" salutes used by the Romans).

[The Advent of Anarchy]

The Roman Salute was used to show allegiance to the Roman Republic (hence the name, Roman Republic) when it was first used. Eventually, it was popular to use by modern republican nation-states; even the United States used it for the Pledge of Allegience. Hell, even I think it looks cool. Unfortunately, Hitler liked the salute, and used it, along with that weird looking salute Mussolini used. O_o Since then, there's been a stigma attached to the Roman Salute since then, especially in the west, where it stopped using it in 1942. Didn't stop other countries from using it after WWII. Batista's Cuba used it in the Army as a military salute, Mexico and Taiwan use the Roman Salute, and, like Alcaeos said, used by some of the Tamil seperatist forces.

Hezbollah, like the Tamil seperatists, probably doesn't care about the Nazi stigma, and uses the Roman salute because it looks cool.

[UndergroundConnexion]

Originally posted by [email protected] 02, 2007 04:36 pm
A socialist salute should be a left arm extended out with a clenched fist at the same angle as the Roman salute. :hammer:

However, the use of this "workers' power" salute would, by definition, be more restricted (more like victory salutes than generic "hail" salutes used by the Romans).
not with the arm stretch , that's the black power one isnt it

[Janus]

not with the arm stretch , that's the black power one isnt it
It's the same symbol meant to show solidarity and defiance.


It's got no association with Nazism in Hezbollah's case.
Maybe not but in the second to last picture posted by UC, the salute was done in front of an Israeli town and was most likely done for a dual propaganda purpose.

[SocialistMilitant]

I know for certain that the first picture (where they have the green bandanas) was taken at a Hezbollah swearing-in ceremony for new recruits. So really it's just a pledge.

Here is a picture of Mexico's President Felipe Calderon at his swearing-in ceremony:
http://ricardosblog.com/images/felipe2.jpg