Silvio Berlusconi Doesn't Speak in My Name
I promised you a look into Italian habits. It will be the topic of my future posts: I don't write about Italian politics; but now I have to take a moment and comment on something that has been upsetting me for a week.
It was an unforgettable, wonderful night when Senator Obama was elected President of the United States and the morning after it felt like it was the new year: a feeling that things can be done, a great exhilarating sensation was palpable through the streets of New York. I felt proud to be in this country! After years of struggle to adapt to a different culture that, I have to admit, sometimes frustrates me, I finally felt rewarded and almost proud! I felt like at the end of a good Hollywood movie with a perfect happy ending.
The entire world cheered with us, and what does the Prime Minister of Italy do? He cracks a bad joke that he should have saved (if he really had to say it out loud) for the secrecy of her private residence, not for one of his official speeches. He described Senator Obama as "tanned."
What a disappointment and what a cold shower on us, on the Italians who were genuinely happy, on people all over the world who still admire and respect our country for the greatness of its past.
Unfortunately our glorious past is passed... nowadays politicians in Italy are generally used to loud comments, to the offensive boldness of someone who knows he can't be stopped... I don't know how to comment to Mr. Berlusconi's remark... I can only say that our country deserves better. We need a new hope that, frankly, I can't see anywhere. I am glad about the many initiatives on social networks like "I'm Italian and the Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is not speaking in my name". Will that help a new generation of more respectful politicians raise and govern the belpaese? I hope so.
For many years I was homesick and sometimes I couldn't even remember why I left Italy and came to the States in the first place... now I know: Americans surprised me, surprised the world and were capable of electing a great leader.
As for Italy, I don't know. I'm very pessimistic. I hope the future will prove me wrong. I hope we will have a great Prime Minister one day, a person who can speak in my name.
Bob Geldof: Let Us See if Italy Keeps Faith With the World's Poor
Italy has only done 3% of what Prime Minister Berlusconi personally and nationally promised to Africa in 2005. So it is quite proper to ask -- what legitimacy does Italy have to run the G8 this year?
Loretta Napoleoni: Dictatorship Italian Style
For Italians reality is not what actually happens but what they watch on the TV channels or read in the newspapers owned by the Prime Minister. Thus, Berlusconi has the ability to alter reality, a power that usually only dictators possess.
Michael Wolff: Here's Why I Like Silvio Berlusconi
Berlusconi is one of the modern world's great flukes and mysteries. Everywhere else, even the most suspect political leaders have to make a pretense of statesman-like dignity.
Laura Kiss: Mr. Berlusconi, Why You Don't Answer the Press?
It does not matter if the president is a womanizer or if he humiliates his wife, what counts is that our president speaks the truth in front of the nation.
Loading comments…
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
Do not worry.
Although I am an American with no blood ties to Italy, I have traveled there every year for the past decade, tried to learn some of the language, and have come to love as family and friends people who I have met during my journeys from Torino to Palermo.
Since 2005, I have been telling everyone I met--in shops, restaurants, hotels--non voto per Bush l'uno e l'aultro volte.
Just as the people I know there have been able to distinguish Americans from Bush, so we can distinguish Italians from Berlu.
Ciao
You must be logged in to comment. Log in or connect with
