I can say that, I'm Italian. Maybe that's the problem.
He is why we don't see communists calling themselves communists anymore. They don't have to when they can work their magic within unions, environmental groups, government and "civic" organizations etc.
He is why capitalist stalwarts like the CEO of of Intel, Ted Turner and George Soros are working toward turning our country into a socialist s**tpit. He is why the kid in the green shirt going door-to-door collecting money for the enviro-barons is completely unaware that he/she is diligently working for agenda 21 and the wildlands project.
In the case of the Intel CEO it's what he coined as "hegemony". In the case of the kid in the green shirt, he/she was inspired and put to work by what Gramsci coined as the "organic intellectual".
We all need to read and understand his tactics, if for nothing else, to have an understanding of the enemy. Leaving aside the treacherous ends of his means, his writings are a true how-to tactical manual on how to implement social revolution.
Bottom line is he had a major hatred of the "establishment" (probably due to his handicap and the abuse he suffered at the hands of the fascists) and had a brilliant plan on how to destroy it.
The left is now the establishment. It's up to us to tear it down. Hate to say this but I've learned to respect a good enemy, and this man was a true (albeit misguided) genius.
Free Republic thread with many Gramsci links.
This is a new piece to me .... might be to others.
Thanks. You might also be interested in lenghthy, related testimony to House Ways and Means Committe by Bill Wood:
http://waysandmeans.house.gov/hearings.asp?formmode=view&id=954&keywords=
"By hegemony, Gramsci meant the permeation throughout society of an entire system of values, attitudes, beliefs and morality that has the effect of supporting the status quo in power relations. Hegemony in this sense might be defined as an 'organising principle' that is diffused by the process of socialisation into every area of daily life. To the extent that this prevailing consciousness is internalised by the population it becomes part of what is generally called 'common sense' so that the philosophy, culture and morality of the ruling elite comes to appear as the natural order of things."
We see Gramsci's principles in action daily. Look at the incremental changes in American thought that have already taken place. Some are good, others, harmful. Just look at the ACLU's constant assault on public recognition of everything to do with Christmas.