More Word Play

I heard the word "fascist" used on television the other day, in reference to the government taking control of certain industrial endeavors (e.g. - automotive, banking).  Not being too proud to admit I didn't know exactly what a "fascist" government was - my vague notion involved Mussolini, dictatorship, World War and unhappiness - I set out to educate myself a bit further.  As it turns out, I was fairly close, but there was more to the word than I imagined.

Here is a definition and an extra tidbit of information from Dictionary.com (NOTE: I respect no person, myself included, who opts for Wikipedia over Dictionary.com or similar, more authoritative sources.):

1. (sometimes initial capital letter) a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry, commerce, etc., and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism.

The Italian name of the movement, fascismo, is derived from fascio, "bundle, (political) group," but also refers to the movement's emblem, the fasces, a bundle of rods bound around a projecting axe-head that was carried before an ancient Roman magistrate by an attendant as a symbol of authority and power.

Here is a picture of a "fasces":

Well, this makes sense.  The etymological move from fasces (the bundled axe) to fascio (bundle, political group) to fascismo (the political movement based on forced supression) is  clear.  However, I was also very clearly reminded of another related word, "fascia."

In a previous life I studied physiology and anatomy.  The word "fascia" appears quite often in both these fields as "fascia" is a common connective tissue found throughout the body.  In my specific area of study, Exercise Physiology, fascia was most commonly associated both with gross muscle structure ("tensor fascia latae") as well as microscopic muscle anatomy.  What really struck me, however, was my recollection of the microscopic structure of muscle fibers, including fascia:

Again, we clearly see the concepts of both "bundle" and "strength."  In fact, the appearance of the muscle fiber and the fasces is very similar.  The muscle structure allows for the generation of strength and power, while the strength of a muscle contraction is, in part, transmitted by the connective fascia tissue.  The fasces is a bundled axe, also a transmitter of power.  Finally, there is fascism, the transmission of political will through power and force.  Amazing how it all fits together.

One other example:

The plaything we know as "Lego" was invented by a Danish toy maker, who decided to call his new toy "lego," a combination of the Danish words "leg godt," meaning "play well."  It was only later that the inventor learned "lego" in Latin means, "I put together."

Coincidence?  I think not.

Comments

[Jeff]

So, just to review. The more muscular one is, the more fascist they are? But Mussolini was on the thin, wirey side. This is all very confusing.

[Daver]

Right premise, wrong conclusion. Thin and wiry equates to a higher overall body mass percentage of fascia (adipose tissue being relatively absent). So in one respect you are correct, if you equate "thin, wiry" with "muscular."

Reminds me of a certain left-leaner I know, hailing from the Dirty-Meda. Very thin, very wirey, and very, very shifty.

Move to Plano.