All your opinions on Il Duce - THE Great Fascist

[Socialsmo o Muerte]

Everyone, of course, refers to Hitler as the great Fascist. To those who know better, Hitler was of course the great Nazi, not the great Fascist. After studying both Hitler and Mussolini my respect for Mussolini the man (not Mussolini the Fascist) grew. He was a great leader, just like Hitler and, as we all know, was Hitler's teacher and became his puppet.

Being a slightly leftist onlooker of History, I was wondering all your opinions on The Great Il Duce. If I can have respect for him, surely you guys love him.

I hate how people say Hitler and Mussolini were one and the same. Just as evil. They were not of course. Mussolini's Fascism was humane to a certain degree and to a certain time untill Hitler forced him to persecute the Jews. For me, the cult of Mussolini was great, and the strategy of his rise, although somewhat debatable, was historic. The legendary March on Rome just personified the controversial figure of Mussolini.

So guys, your views in Il Duce and views of him in comparison to the great Fuhrer?

[Ymir]

Mussolini's ideas were very unique because of his socialist background but convservative positions; that made his regime reach the common man. He spoke to the people and thus he became popular. I think he was a very effective leader, but Hitler eventually dug both their graves. His writing about the state affected me greatly.

[Rastafari]

A fucking coward, in my opinion. Of course, I have only read a few things about him.

[synthesis]

His economy fell apart into shambles, much like his political ideology. But hey - he made the trains run on time.

[Kapitan Andrey]

I didn't understood: What(or who) is "The Great Il Duce"????

[Old Friend]

I didn't understood: What(or who) is "The Great Il Duce"????

Nevermind, I'm not going to say it.

[Just Joe]

oppurtunistic, freedom hating, fascist scum would be my opinion on 'Il Duce'.

[Saint-Just]

Quote: from Just Joe on 10:26 am on Feb. 26, 2003
oppurtunistic, freedom hating, fascist scum would be my opinion on 'Il Duce'.

One thing I would highlight here is opportunistic. Mussolini's extreme tendencies to alter his political views. Mussolini invented fascism. He shows that fascism was quintessential opportunism. Mussolini read most of the great political works from the 17th C onwards, at one point he vehemuntly criticised each one and at one point passionately espoused the veritas of each one.

To say he was a great leader is ridiculous. Particularly his military exploits, such as when he actually totally forgot to employ any navy against Greece, and they lost horribly.

Mussolini actually provived some freedom, specifically for the bourgeois class. To many others however, obviously not.

[Uhuru na Umoja]

I agree. Mussolini vacillated too much ideologically for my taste. Although I may absolutely detest Hitler and his regime, at least he had a clear ideology from start to finish. He stood for something - however repugnant that was. Mussolini was socialist when it suited him, and a fascist when it suited him. How you go from the extreme left to right and honestly claim to have any strong convictions? I think he was a opportunist with a lust for power.

Still... I would have rather have been in his Italy than Nazi Germany.

[RedComrade]

I would have to disagree there. Hitler began his political career espousing left wing workers style rhetoric to gain support. He road the support for socialist movements into office were he took a 180 degree turn to a much more rightist political position. He was certainly an opportunist and abandoned and compromised much of the ideals he had used to gain power.

[Rastafari]

Mussolini had the support of the world for the longest time. They saw little wrong with his improvement of the school system (to wash little Italian brains), the projects to protect Roman history (because he saw his fat bloated ass as the Caesar for the new people), and his organization of transit. Whenever you see countries building highways or scheduling trains, you know that war is what they are preparing for. Military Transport and mass transit of undesired peoples.

[Larissa]

He might have been an opportunist regarding acting upon his political conveniece, yet he was a puppet of Hitler and a coward who invented fascism.

(Edited by Larissa at 8:24 pm on Feb. 26, 2003)

[Socialsmo o Muerte]

Quote: from Rastafari on 2:57 am on Feb. 26, 2003
A fucking coward, in my opinion. Of course, I have only read a few things about him.


Due to the latter sentance, your opinion is obviously, therefore, completely irrelevant.

Quote: from Uhuru na Umoja on 1:55 pm on Feb. 26, 2003
I agree. Mussolini vacillated too much ideologically for my taste. Although I may absolutely detest Hitler and his regime, at least he had a clear ideology from start to finish. He stood for something - however repugnant that was. Mussolini was socialist when it suited him, and a fascist when it suited him. How you go from the extreme left to right and honestly claim to have any strong convictions? I think he was a opportunist with a lust for power.

Still... I would have rather have been in his Italy than Nazi Germany.


Very true. Hitler was obviously a better leader, but he did learn from Mussolini's way.


Of course you are all right, except our resident follower of Ras "Tafari" Haile Selassie (excuse the spelling error if it exists, which it probably does). But I still believe Mussolini was a great revolutionary and leader. Chairman Mao was right with the fact that his ideology wasnt clear, but I'm trying to talk in terms of leadership rather than ideology. But, you know, like somebody said he did get the trains to run on time! And wehat production grew!

[Rastafari]

You know enough about Tafari Mekonnen to know that he recognized early on what a monster Mussolini was and was a victim of imperialism. The Fascist had to assume the only country left out of imperialism to be on par with everyone else's evil. I am not sure how someone who calls them self a socialist-nay, a leftist at all, can really regard Benito with much more than utter hatred. Respect would be in order to those who deserve it, but no "Il Duce."
Of course, these are all opinions, as are your thought-provoking ramblings, so they hold no context in the realms of right and wrong.