Arte, cultura, politica, il divenire del mondo

Per chi non l’ha visto, per chi pensa che arte e cultura non servano se non per occupare i pomeriggi vuoti di gente annoiata, per chi ha voglia di andare oltre destra e sinistra:

Qui una versione più breve da La Stampa.

PS: Caro Adriano, purtroppo l’ignorante non ignora nemmeno di ignorare e spesso la sua arroganza non gli permette la curiosità, la disponibilità, l’apertura…

PPS: e questo per… puro piacere! 🙂

Pubblicità

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Comment ai commenti – e grazie, avanti cosi’

Purtroppo non ho ancora trovato il modo di rispondere ai commenti dall’i-pad, quindi public un quick-press. I post Tsunami Umano e L’Amore ai Tempi della Sopravvivenza hanno scatenato un gran bel dibattito. E’ difficile per me rispondere con dati specifici alle domande di Arthemysia, perche’ dovrei andare a rivedere ogni articolo, documentario, studio, che negli anni ho avuto modo di leggere, seguire, e che mi ha portato a credere al fatto che una rivoluzione verde sia possibile. Anche le persone che ho incontrato e ritenuto assolutamente credibili, impegnate e preparate hanno dato consistenza a questo mio pensiero. Incoraggiando le persone ad un’attitudine costruttiva in questo senso e non disfattista, mettendo la classica pulce nell’orecchio, che spero invogli altri ad informarsi, non credo di voler inculcare nulla a nessuno. Vorrei stimolare la discussione e ricevere piu’ commenti come l’ultimo di Arthemysia, con suggerimenti pratici. Penso anche che non basti arrabattarsi a frigate quel poco che c’e’ di “verde” sul mercato: in ogni supermercato che visito chiedo maggior attenzione per i prodotti a basso impatto: in altri paesi sono ampiamente disponibili, il che dimostra una carenza di attenzione e volonta’ sul nostro mercato. Non mi preoccupa il fatto che i produttori di nuove tecnologie guadagnino, anzi! Il guadagno e’ fondamentale e sano! Io credo che rinnovando l’offerta ed i prodotti si stimoli la competitivita’ e si possa uscire dal monopolio che nei decenni si e’ consolidato nelle mani dei paesi proprietari dell materie prime e che troppo spesso tengono in scacco I governi mondiali, per non parlare delle corporazioni che altrettanto sfruttano la dipendenza da queste materie prime. Gia’ oggi i produttori di nuove tecnologie come il fotovoltaico e l’eolico sono variamente sparsi sul territorio mondiale e l’Italia e’, per una volta, uno dei paesi leader e con le capacita’ intellettuali e tecnologiche per queste produzioni – e’ la nostra politica svogliata e burocraticamente lenta a rallentare lo sviluppo di questo mercato. Nuova direzione, nuove sinergie, decentralizzazione, smart grids, tutto questo fa parte di un rinnovo per il quale siamo gia’ pronti oggi, e’ la volonta’ a mancare, forse la visione, la convinzione che tutto cio’ non sia solo necessario, ma anche benefico. Sono d’accordo con Vico che le grandi centrali idroelettriche e dighe siano obsolete e pericolose, credo infatti che ci vogliano una molteplicita’ di piccolo interventi, cfr. le 13 mini centrali idroelettriche sull’Arno previste dal Sindaco di Firenze. Solo decentralizzare la produzione dell tecnologie e della produzione puo’ efficacemente toglierci dall’empasse energetico attuale. Penso infine che sarebbe sano e necessario rivedere la nostra cattiva abitudine allo spreco e all’ossessione al consumo, ma non credo, e non sono la sola, che per rinnovare i tipi di energie impiegate, si deb necessariamente rinunciare ad uno stile di vita moderno. Anzi. Auspico quindi un progresso piu’ profondamente democratico, fatto di efficacia e non di molle comodita’. Penso che sia il dovere di chi ritiene questa radicale, ma non violenta, rivoluzione necessaria e possibile stimolare il confronto con chi e’ assuefatto all’idea che quello di oggi sia il migliore, soprattutto perche’ unico, mondo possibile. Proprio la storia ci insegna che le epoche e gli equilibri mondiali cambiano: forse oggi siamo all’inizio di una nuova era, piu’ in accordo con le necessita’, ma anche le capacita’ attuali.

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Ultime notizie dal Bel Paese

La mia amica Anna (amica virtuale solo per poco, perche’ l’abbraccero’ presto – clicca qui per leggere il suo bel blog) e’ da poco tornata dall’America e su fb ho letto del suo stupore nell’apprendere dell’introduzione di Fabrizio Corona a casa Scazzi. Ho quindi pensato di raggruppare per lei qualche notizia di cronaca nazionale relativa ai giorni scorsi.
Si’ cara Anna, Corona e’ entrato in casa di Concetta Scazzi, dalla finestra, per chiedere alla madre della 15enne Sara, uccisa 6 mesi fa da un famigliare (quale, e’ ancora da determinare, a causa dell’ampia scelta), di concedere interviste a qualche rivista. Fabrizio il Bello (Stronzo) dice di essere stato invitato per il caffe’, ed in effetti anche io cara Anna potrei arrivare da te e passare dalla finestra, quindi vedi di non dimenticarlo e se solo provi a denunciarmi sappi che me la leghero’ al dito.
Nel frattempo, se hai acceso la TV su qualche programma di intrattenimento pomeridiano, ti sarai sicuramente resa conto che Yara Gambirasio e’ stata ritrovata senza vita in un campo, a 200m dal quartier generale istituito appositamente per le ricerche della stessa. Pare sia sempre stata li’. Ma per fortuna il lacunoso lavoro della Polizia e della Protezione Civile sara’ presto colmato dall’indefesso impegno della cattolicissima Lorena, dell’affranta Barbara, di un professionista del calibro di Sposini, etc. Il loro sforzo per capire chi sia la bestia assassina e’, capirai, indispensabile, e lodevole e’ il loro impegno per mettere in guardia ed educare il pubblico piu’ giovane, che guarda la TV in fascia non protetta. Resta la preoccupazione per quella bella criminologa, che se continua a passare da una trasmissione all’altra non avra’ piu’ tempo per mangiare ne’ dormire: salviamo la Bruzzone.
Passando dalla cronaca al costume ti consiglio di guardare questo imperdibile esempio di alta televisione domenicale: nell’Arena di Giletti scendono i Gladiatori Emma Marrone e Vittorio Sgarbi. All’inizio pare che la giovane (e brava e bella) cantante provi solo pieta’ per le Papi Girls e viene anche lodata da una giornalista, chiaramente di sinistra, sorpresa dall’etica della vincitrice di Amici. Sgarbi si scaglia contro Emma, la moralista di turno, e scandisce, negli eleganti toni che gli sono propri, la parola Liberta’, ben 17 volte. E’ importante che uomini che occupano posizioni di rilievo nella nostra societa’ difendano con forza il diritto fondamentale della donna ad andare a letto con ogni 70enne che le possa irresistibilmente piacere e che si dimostri con lei protettivo e generoso. E’ per questo che le femministe hanno lottato, e se ce lo siamo scordato, distrattone che non siamo altro, e’ bene che il buon Vittorio ce lo ricordi. Peccato che nessuno dei presenti ne’ dei commentatori dei giorni seguenti si sia accorto che Emma e’ d’accordo con Sgarbi in quanto a Liberta’ (!) di (s)vendita delle proprie membra, ma prova pena per queste ragazze quando i media le attaccano senza conoscerle, e solo per aver esercitato questo inalienabile diritto. Certo, lo scontro e’ talmente piu’ interessante… Noterai anche l’intervento dell’autoironica Maria de Filippi, intervenuta al telefono in quanto fortuita telespettatrice, per nulla offesa dal paragone che Sgarbi ha fatto tra le sacrosante scorciatoie intraprese dalle Papi Girls, come dalla Fenech, dalla Loren, e da lei, con Costanzo. Alla faccia, cara Anna.
Chiudo in bellezza con la politica, perche’ il nostro capace e stimato Premier pochi giorni fa ha elargito perle di saggezza riguardo al preoccupante stato della scuola pubblica, da tempo ostaggio di un corpo insegnante comunista, incapace di educare, nonostante i continui e lauti investimenti del nostro governo nel sistema scuola. Il suo intervento e’ stato particolarmente coraggioso, visto che parlando di pubblico parla di cio’ che e’ nelle sue mani: ma non poteva tacere, perche’ questi Professori Rossi altro non fanno se non cercare di inculcare nei nostri figli disvalori in contrasto con i veri valori della famiglia, che il Nostro cosi’ bene rispetta, incarna e dei quali il suo esempio riluce.
Sentirai anche dell’intelligente proposta delle “trasmssioni a targhe alterne”, che regolino la diffusione di programmi diretti da giornalisti provenienti da background diversi – una settimana quelli di destra, un’altra quelli di sinistra (quelli di centro nel fine settimana?) – in modo da garantire il pluralusmo sui canali del servizio pubblico.
Bentornata a casa, quindi, Annina. Non ci resta che l’Amarone. 😉

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Parole di un’Italiena – Words of an Italienated

The unrest is finally evident in the Sick Man of Europe. Italian people do have enough. They have enough of Burlesconi, enough of corrupted politics, enough of cultural economic and débacle. They could have seen it coming for quite a few years now, but hey, better late than never. Apparently I am responsible for this delay. It appears that my generation is and has been too well off to take to the streets in protest. You see, the Italian bourgeoisie has been quite extended after the economic boom of the 60’s and, as far back in time as that era may seem, its effects appear to have carried Italy and Italians up to the recent global crisis and, in spite of the first consistent cracks of countless historical, local family businesses that are spreading like an epidemic and for the first time impoverishing the upper-middle class, through it. We live in houses that belong to our family of origin or that our parents bought for us. We can still pay our bills and in case we pass a really rough patch, we can always resort to selling something – some of that patrimony that has been accumulated by generations hungrier than ours, who have lived times filled with opportunity but also with ingenuity. Some of that same stuff our dreams have been made of, but that seems now to be hindering those same dreams. We are too comfortable, the situation isn’t bad enough, why would we risk this status quo, for something possibly worse? And where would we get after the streets, anyway? So, it’s our fault. Granted. But while we are educating ourselves, traveling around the world, making the best of the chances our parents have worked towards for our benefit, italian politics have built a rampart around themselves and we are now completely incapable of denting it. It may be our fault too if the people who have been in charge of choosing, when it still was possible, put their faith – and worse, their country – in the hands of histrionic characters without any credibility, but with ample, well placed, greedily loyal cohorts. We were and are some of those people: too much and not enough at once. But can it be our fault also that the opposition to this myopic trend was sparse and confused? Can we be blamed if the people who were already all in their bureaucratic seats and were supposed to mind the Italian Republic, its Institutions and its People, were completely un prepared for this atypical democratic storm? Berlusconi has never had the absolute majority of Italians on his side, this we must remember, only the relative majority that sufficed him to seize power and hold it hostage. A somnolent, or ignorant, or gullible relative minority of Italians has chosen to give a go to the Big Brother’s version of the nation, both in the literary and mediatic sense – which in our country just so happen to correspond. So, while the show went on, the actors became its producers, the extras were kept as much at bay as possible and the public just watched, torn between incredulity (it must come to end end soon, it would simply be risible if it weren’t dramatic), hope (something must be done in this bureaucratic country, let’s just work and give it a try), cynical boredom (politics are the problem of this country, not its solution). When cracks started to appear on Italy’s perfectly made up face, more people have realised that a country cannot hold up just on foundation, card-board and spotlights. Our fatalism has come to an abrupt end. The Berlusconian revolution has failed, not itself yet, but the Nation. In fact, there has been no revolution at all. Our politics are just as grey and corrupted as ever, the cast evermore oligarchic, the system convoluted and self-reverent. But we still don’t have enough of this, we are keeping Berlusconi in power: how is that possible? This is the question that the great magazines of the world keep asking. May I ask them a question: how do we put an end to this? Could they suggest us a way? Because, honestly, we are at a loss. One of the great democratic applications of Berlusconi’s rule is that the Parties decide which candidates they bring at elections, in what are called armoured lists: the people cannot choose the names of their candidates in any way (the PD – Democratic Party of the left -still holds primaries, but their transparency is all but crystal clear), the party that gets the relative majority wins a disproportionate premium of seats – in order to be able to keep governing in the country of transformists, supposedly – so that the self appointed elite that scores 1/3 of the votes can pretend to be almighty and makes any opposition obsolete. This in a country that skizofrenically goes on governing itself as if it had political bi-polarism (but it’s more the mental disorder that comes to mind, rather than the governmental policy), when in reality is populated by a myriad of parties, to be classified in three groups: right, center and left – Ladies and Gentlemen, Italy has 3 poles, like 13 months or 8-days weeks, the things they make us believe. How do we vote out of this? The opposition still hasn’t united around a common path, let alone a leader, let alone a program. The impression is that even if in the lines of the politicians there seems to be someone who actually has the ideas, the capabilities and the following to work and get things done, they won’t be the ones heading the  above mentioned armoured lists, or they will run against one another. If they are going to come together and are able to sneak in through the cracks of this impermeable system, they should shape up and get at it soon. Yesterday, preferably. And in the meanwhile? Well, you know, our democracy (if such is still to be called) has three governmental organs (no, Papi’s isn’t one of them :-P): the Legilative one (the chambers, Parliament and Senate), the Executive one (the President of the Republic, ex-communist Giorgio Napolitano, as incredible as it may seem) and the Juridical one. They are supposed to be independent from each other and to watch over one another. Well, apparently one of these organs has something to object to the Prime Minister’s legal conduct, it has for a while, but to no avail. It has started a new inquiry into Berlusconi’s ways (concussion, favouring a minor’s prostitution, as you will no doubt be aware of, all minor felonies pertaining to his private life that no one should care about or interfere in – and to hell with the law, ethics and credibility, bunch of envious moralists!). But we are by now used to hold trials in the media rather than in tribunals (how surprising), by which practice we render the Juridical power void. Surely Berlusconi will come out of this mess yet again, maybe not gloriously, but probably not as ruinously as one would suppose looking from the outside in. I have another question: when does a democracy stop being such? When poverty is at 60% or when the people cannot participate in power, in the shared weath and responsibility any longer? Be it for corruption, bureaucratic conundrums, sheer incapacity or a combination of all the above factors and many more, how do we get out of this? As I said I believe that amongst some administrators of the opposition and, strangely enough, the majority (all be it in more exceptional cases, due to their generally knelt attitude) that have something positive to say and do to move this heavy country forward. I see hope only in these new or little heard voices (at a national level) uniting for a radical change of this res publica, public patrimony, that includes the healthiest, more energetic, more pragmatic, more motivated slice of the nation. Italians are better than the people who represent them today. They just haven’t been effective enough and we are today at the brink of a situation that goes way beyond the possibilities of an election round. We may have to wait longer for a wide opposition (both of its parts, center and left, with all their numerous declinations) to come temporarily together to change the “porcellum” electoral law (as one of its supporters called it) and then dissolve into their differences – so that through this first round our politics may cleanse themselves and try to get to the next step and actually govern the crumbling nation of Italy, if there’ll be enough time left to salvage the scraps. We have entrepreneurs, Mayors, scientists, citizens who can make the difference and transform the many failures of of our Nation in as many opportunities of change and progress – we can pay back and show that investing in us hasn’t been such a bas idea after all. I cannot believe that those heading us are still meddled in their sticky businesses and letting such a plentiful and inspiring country starve itself to civil death.

If you are out there, please spread the word.

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A briglia sciolta: le mie Parole a proposito del Silenzio

Uno si dice che rispetto all’Egitto forse stiamo anche mica male. Ma bisogna arrivare al punto dell’Egitto, della Tunisia, dell’Albania per rivoltarsi? Intanto a noi si rivolta solo lo stomaco. Tanto andare in piazza cosa serve? Da noi nulla, solo rumore, solo casino per sentirsi dire che siamo stufi del casino, siamo stufi di chi grida (Mina, domenica su La Stampa), in silenzio si riflette meglio. Certo, infatti in silenzio possiamo andare avanti a far finta che tutto vada bene. O male. Ma non rompiamo le scatole, che noia. Ovviamente capisco quale fosse il sentimento di questa grande voce, certo lei sa usarla, ma non credo nemmeno che il silenzio sia la soluzione oggi. Non so, sarà che io sono un’urlatrice per natura, ma capisco che discutere di argomenti scottanti faccia perdere le staffe – non ogni tanto, proprio regolarmente! Sono anni che in TV si grida: si gridano una marea di cavolate, in programmi sciocchi che trattano di cose sciocche. Ma si chiede il silenzio quando la discussione politica viene gridata. Non so numero due: sarà che io urlo anche da casa contro quel televisore, m’infervoro, mi arrabbio, scambio messaggi in tempo reale a commento dei passaggi più caldi. Certo: sarebbe bello discutere in modo educato e costruttivo, scambiarsi opinioni, essere ascoltati e ricevere risposte alle domande che si sono effettivamente poste. Ma sarebbe un’altra Italia, un altro mondo. Non so numero tre: sarà che uno che vedo sempre quieto e sorridente è Bruttopietro e la sua educazione mi sembra più senso di superiorità mal riposto che altro. In effetti anche Travaglio non grida, sorride di meno, soffre sicuramente anche lui di un senso di superiorità. Ma lui non mi dà fastidio. Non è l’urlo ad urtarmi, ma chi urla e le sciocchezze che dice. Non é il sarcasmo ad infastidirmi, è la sua provenienza. Sono schierata, schieratissima. Sento in modo forte, mi esprimo allo stesso modo: sono viva, ascolto, parlo, leggo, litigo, mi interesso e cerco il più possibile di non morire dentro. Il silenzio, l’equilibrio, in questo momento mi spaventano. Noi non siamo messi come l’Egitto, ma il cervello e le corde vocali sono organi che vanno allenati: scegliamo come usare le nostre energie, cerchiamo di mantenerci rispettosi, di esprimerci in modo più efficace, sbraitiamo di meno, ma esageriamo anche a volte, sbagliamo pure, arrabbiamoci addirittura, ma, vi prego: NON FACCIAMO SILENZIO! Questo paese non é capace di un silenzio costruttivo, creativo, teso, pregno. In silenzio ci addormentiamo, l’abbiamo dimostrato più e più volte. Il silenzio, stare a guardare, lasciarsi vivere, oggi é colpevole: difendiamo ciò in cui crediamo, da qualsiasi parte esso stia, va bene, ma, riprendiamoci la Passione, riaffermiamo la nostra Voce, perché di mummie siamo pieni anche noi e, purtroppo, le nostre godono di ottima salute.

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Friday’s talent talk

Quando guardo i talent show e c’é uno giovane-giovane che canta benino, ma al quale manca ‘l’x factor – x capirci – e me lo si difende dicendo che é giovane, che si deve fare… io penso, per esempio, ad una Avril Lavigne, cool, rock, “convincente”, con la voce, l’attitudine, che non ci fa né ci prova, che semplicemente ci é. Mica Aretha Franklin, anche “solo” Avril Lavigne. O sei brava cosí, o si paga per comprare i dischi di qualcun altro, chiuso il discorso. O no? Ogni tanto sto guardando Amici per la prima volta quest’anno, “comprata” dalla mossa marketing della Maria nazionale, che mi ha corrotto con la Maionchi (oh, mi ricorda la mia maestra, ho il cuore tenero…) e per di più me l’ha accoppiata con Platinette… Confesso quindi che per la prima volta non sto guardando Amici solo durante le pubblicità degli altri programmi, ma mi saró vista addirittura metà di due puntate. A me la De Filippi sta simpaticissima, ci andrei in vacanza alla Pensione Rosalina di Riccione a Ferragosto e saprei di divertirmi lo stesso, ma penso che abbia pesantemente e colpevolmente contribuito alla distruzione della TV generalista italiana. Reputo Amici ed il presupposto del reality litigioso che, a differenza di X-factor, fa la parte del padrone in questo talent fintamente artistico, indegno anche della musica più leggera. E poi i cantanti di X-factor li ho sempre preferiti, spesso anche quelli che uscivano presto: una Francesca dello scorso anno, una Noemi arrivata 4a, ma vuoi mettere con un Carta?? Uno Scanu????????? Peró soccombo, guardicchio, snobbeggio. Ma non ditemi che Virginio “merita”, perché allora non ci siamo, non prendiamoci per i fondelli!!!!! Annalisa, vi diró… 🙂

E voi, quanto siete televisivamente snob? Quanto segretamente sedotti dall’ultima boiata televisiva? Quanto pecoroni nazional popolari? Per diversione? La vostra motivazione qual’é? E la scusa?

Buon fine settimana gente – io avrei potuto partire su due piedi per Barcellona, ma alla fine ho optato per posticipare ed organizzare meglio. ***chia quanto sono veeeeeeecchiiiiiiaaaaaaaa!!!!!!! 😛

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8 resons why I think this “virtual” reality thing is a GOOD thing

1. Because when I was working at TCBE in Brussels I could collaborate daily with my colleagues in London, Berlin, Copenhagen, Paris and especially NYC –  and this made me feel my job was really cool (plus in the economic and financial realm I needed all the help I could get :-D). That was good both for my self-esteem and for my firm, because I really engaged in my activities and gave my best in a job I liked.
2. Because when I moved back to Italy I was able keep easily in touch with my really cool colleagues from the Brussel‘s office, now spread a bit all over the planet. I still miss them a lot and it’s true that no virtual connection can make up for it, but thanks to Facebook and email we have organised to meet on February 12 and party as hard as we know we can!!!
3. Because since I registered my Facebook account I found lots of people I hadn’t thought of for the best part of 2 decades and I found out that it wasn’t because they were forgettable people, but because I am so lucky to know more worthwhile people than I can keep count of.
4. Because since I registered my Facebook account I discovered that there were way many more people in my hometown that remembered me than I ever thought possible. I therefore realised that my teenage insecurities were just that. In my late 20’s I was at ease with myself in relation to others, but I kind of realised that the others had always been. 🙂 This was a major turning point for me, I guess you can understand, if not relate.
5. Because thanks to the net I ate a pretty nice carbonara last Thursday at lunch. It works like this: I have started a blog and my neighbour and friend Rossana is pretty annoyed with it, but she is a nice person and in spite of feeling she has lost me to the keyboards&screen she suggests the blog of another friend of her, which she thinks I’d like. So I go and check out Anna’s blog and I like it a whole lot indeed. So I comment on Anna’s posts and she visits my blog and comments on mine. So I befriend her on Facebook and she accepts. It just so happens that Thursday morning Anna posted on Facebook that she’d like to eat a carbonara for lunch. So I realise that I have a lone egg in the fridge and some pancetta (basically bacon – the one I have is not smoked), which isn’t guanciale, but for 2-year-old Marilù and myself it will abundantly do. So I cook up the pasta, fried the pancetta, whip pepper and parmesan into the raw egg, pour the mix onto the hot pasta, stir the fried pancetta in and voilà! So virtual my a**, it was pretty damn tasty.
6. Because I have never felt this close to my cousin Paola since I befriended her and her smart, fun, lovely partner Giulia on Facebook, but especially since I started this blog. We were kind of apart in age, which counts more when you are kids, and then she moved to Sicily, so we never really had the opportunity to get to know one another as people, besides being family. And I find that we have more things in common than I considered, and I am pleased by it, as I always thought she was seriously hot :-). Now, there’s clearly still some way to go, as a “Like” here and there is just a start, but I think we are more likely to make an effort to get closer now than we were before. And I do think family is important. And I think it’s important to say it.
7. Because a few days ago this really professional multi-blogger mcsixtyfive tweeted me that he loved my words – really, he wrote: I love your words.  Now, as far as compliments go this one ranks about as high as when my friend and now landlord Giulio told me that I am the voice of his soul, as I read his writings. Or when Dennis Hopper said: “You look beautiful in that dress”, when I was working at the Brussels Film Festival and he saw me in my cherry red, long Chinese dress. He was actually walking away after we had a quick chat in the hotel’s lobby (yes, Dennis and I had “a chat”! :-)) and he purposely turned around just to hand me this completely unforgettable compliment, which I will forever cherish*. So, compliments really get you a long way with me and I hardly forget one. And to get one about my writing now is everything I can desire, or at least a fat slice of it.
8. Because thanks to Arthemysia and Laura (virtual friends for now, but we’ll be sitting around a table with good food soon enough!) I was able to watch this and share it with you. It sums up the meaning of life and I agree with it 100%. It is pretty basic, but I am simpler than I like to give away 😉

*Oliver Stone(d) and I had a chat too! Too long a chat though, during which I gave air to some very inappropriate thoughts about his demeanor – guess which demeanor – and that was the end of the best acting chance I never had. Still, I cherish that memory too… 😉

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Bilingual or not bilingual, that is the question

I must apologise, as I have not kept to my promise of a bilingual blog. Or maybe not, no English speaker is possibly checking in to read. I do every so often see visits to English pages, but the only feedback I have actually received from the start has been from Italians. I had not realised just how much time consuming this blog would turn out to be. I mean to translate some stuff, I mean to fill in the Vocabulary of Relative Truths, but I never get to it! Furthermore I realise that, in spite of myself, I am by now totally immersed in Italian culture! I’ve been here almost 3 years now and I have gone back to quite a provincial way of life without any difficulty 🙂 Writing in English is very satisfying for me, though, and I hope I’ll be able to dedicate myself to it, once I get settled into the rhythm of things. I must add that we are experiencing a very peculiar time in Italy: economically, politically, culturally. It’s hard not to get sucked into it and I would like to tell you what’s happening, at least from my point of view – but at the same time I first need to understand, to exchange views with other Italians, who know the nuances of the situation and the people involved. Although sometimes it seems to me that the more we think we know something, the longer we’ve had an opinion about someone, the more our objectivity rots miserably ans we have enormous difficulty in following change, let alone understanding it. Still, I’d like to hear from you, it will keep me alert. I’d love to know if you’ve been passing by here and what you expected to find, what titillated your curiosity, what you’d like me to pursue. Or am I totally wasting my time? (You shut up ;-)) I have tried to give an orientation to the blog, so that if you want to find all I have written in English, you can navigate by Categories: those that are named in English contain English text. And what are you people up to where you are? What’s going on in your lives, in your countries? Please contribute to keeping me sane, or the Bel Paese will swallow me up! 😀

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Gira il mondo gira – As the world turns

Mirna, che vive in Bahrein, mi invia un articolo e mi chiede di postarlo – volentieri: una coppia di giovani che si baciava all’Aeroporto Internazionale del Bahrein è stata arrestata e denunciata x atti osceni in luogo pubblico. Dopo l’udienza preliminare sono stati rilasciati su pagamento di una cauzione di €200 ed è stato loro proibito di lasciare il paese. Il processo si terrà il 28 novembre, non so che pene siano previste, ma sono certa che quei due fidanzati stiano tremando. Ma foss’anche solo una multa salata… ma che mondo al contratrio…! Caspita… A volte mi vien da dire: e noi che ci lamentiamo di Mr. B, questi sì che hanno problemi ben più sostanziosi, diritti civili dell’età della pietra! Oppure: bah, i problemi urgenti sono ben altri: la gente muore di fame, c’è troppa violenza nel mondo, e chi più ne ha più ne metta, chissenefrega di baciarsi in pubblico, in fondo! Ma poi penso che proprio perchè i problemi sono tali e tanti, ognuno debba e possa darsi un pochino da fare (il benaltrismo è paludoso, c’è sempre altro che meriterebbe più attenzione, e se non si inizia da qualche parte…): ognuno a modo proprio, secondo le proprie capacità e possibilità, nei modi più disparati: attraverso i valori che promuove semplicemente nel proprio quotidiano, chi informando, chi stuzzicando :-), chi comprando prodotti locali, ecologici, di commercio equitabile, o promuovendo aziende dal comportamento etico – chi può di più, perchè siede sulla poltrona giusta, agendo. E chi può e non agisce è proprio uno di quegli squali di cui parlavo nell’articolo sugli immigrati in protesta a Brescia. Anche chi può e dice di capire il caso umano, ma considera la protesta “esclusivamente un problema di ordine pubblico”, onestamente, secondo me è uno che invece ha colpevolmente scelto di non capire. (Sindaco di BS, Paroli, sic!)

Per chiudere con levità: Berlusconi è ormai single, potrebbe fidanzarsi con una giovane e bella principessa del Bahrein e trasferirsi là a fare il Sultano. Ci guadagnerebbe il Bahrein, paese che pure con una gestione Berlusconi farebbe passi avanti rispetto alle condizioni dei diritti civili odierne; una larga fetta di Italiani sarebbe contenta di essersi liberata di lui e l’altra parte non potrebbe che essere felice per il caro Silvio e per il coronamento del suo sogno di quasi onnipotenza! Toh, ho trovato la soluzione x tutti!! 😀

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Mirna lives in Bahrein and asked me to post this from Daily News. I am pleased to comply: “A Lebanese man and his Saudi girlfriend who allegedly acted indecently at BahrainInternational Airport will learn their fate on November 28. The 27-year-old man and his girlfriend, 22, are on trial at the Lower Criminal Court. In yesterday’s hearing, defence lawyer Thani Salem requested the court to find his clients innocent. The Public Prosecution had released the defendants on BD100 bail and banned them from travelling abroad. They were caught kissing at the airport, according to court documents. The female defendant also sat on the man’s lap who was holding her and kissing her in front of travellers, which led police to arrest them.”

Geez… can you imagine how these two must be feeling, right now? Well, sometimes I am tempted to think that in Italy we are just a bunch of sissies, with our constant complaints about Mr B. Someone certainly thinks that the real problems are others, who cares about kissing in public! Children are starving and much of the world is watching silent, murmurs at best (true). Or: violence is widespread and we are just getting used to it (also true). Well, I can’t stand the-real-problems-are-others-ists! If it were for them the world would totally stagnate, there is always some other problem that is more urgent, we must start somewhere! All problems are deserving of attention, and the fact that they are so many and of all sorts, means that we all need and can contribute to a solution. Each and every one of us can contribute to alleviating or eliminating a problem, big or small. If we all dedicated a little time to getting involved – through politics, communicating :-), promoting certain ethics in our daily lives, or buying bio or local or fair trade, supporting ethical firms, stores, whatever! Just pick the problem you are able to do something about, no problem is too small, no contribution either. As long as you don’t turn a blind eye and dismiss it all for being too overwhelming and shitty a world. It isn’t only that, and it can get better.

To end on a light note: if Berlusconi – now single – were to move to Bahrein and get engaged to a young and beautiful princess and become a Sultan, several problematic situations would improve: Bahrein would move forward in civil rights, even under a Berlusconi government; a large part of the Italian population would rejoyce in relief, the other part empathically rejoyicing for their pupil’s realisation of his dearms of becoming nearly all-powerful! There, i solved it all! 😀

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Let’s try and explain this to international readers, who might have a problem understanding this country

You have possibly heard about Italy’s Prime Minister’s latest justice problems and correlated gossip&jokes (his jokes, clearly). Well here’s a few thoughts.

1 – Mr. B could say anything and everything he wants, after having proved that a joke is a joke by passing substantial laws that actually favour his country and not just himself. If his government had ratified marriage for gay and lesbians, then we’d know that he actually just has a poor sense of humour, but is in good faith. And by marriage I mean m.a.r.i.a.g.e., not a PAX, DICO or assimilated, marriage. Like in Belgium, for instance, a monarchy (A MONARCHY!! All be it parlamentar), the country where our European capital resides, in which gay and lesbians can get married. If they choose it. Like any other person may choose it – or not. Well, we “host” the Vatican in this country, so we’d be happy enough with some sort of PAX or DICO, I suppose. Of course Italy is in dire need of many other substantial laws, favouring development, research, innovation, but Mr. B has been in politics and actually in power for the best part of the last 16 years, so he had way enough time to do one and the other.

2 – Did I write we HOST the Vatican? Actually, the Vatican holds us hostages. No, it isn’t too strong a word. Italy doesn’t even have an official state religion, but de facto we always keep having to walk on eggs not to offend catholics – and that would be fair enough, no one should be offended. It’s just that when respect overflows into our law making, it isn’t called respect anymore, but influence. An example? A few years ago we actually wen backwards by approving (by referendum!) a law that forbids AID. The power of native culture! Many non-church-goers voted for it, I bet (or Churches would be the thing that overflows and they just aren’t). And to that I only have this as a comment. Talk about hypocrisy.

I must add that the Catholic Church actually insists on Jesus’ paternal seed not being Joseph’s, which, come to think of it, is possibly a pity. Just think: today we could simply follow the Christian philosophy, instead of being subjected to the Catholic religion! Most importantly, in a truly free state people should AT LEAST have the right to decide whether to risk Hell or otherwise. Thank whomever you wish, but we are NOT in an Islamic Republic, as a smart friend who resides there reminded me. They actually wouldn’t excessively mind a Mr. B there. She does have a point and I am happy to report it and agree. But I may be straining from the main subject at the moment. Let’s get back on track.

3 – A Prime Minister who keeps on blurting out bad, racist, sexist jokes, in spite of public reactions’ and his councillor’s warm suggestions, just isn’t very smart – errare humanum est, perseverare diabolicum. A few examples? “Come invest in our country: In Italy we have really good-looking secretaries” (Wall Street, a few years ago). “The left keeps embarrassing me, when they ask me to go home. I own 20, which one do they mean?” A few weeks ago, at one of his party’s assembly’s. And the people who can’t pay their mortgage anymore, or have never been able to even obtain one, thank their head of state for his deep empathy. You certainly heard this last one, “Better to be a womeniser than gay”. Yes, he actually did say so, in public, no one stole any secret private footage. And by that he means that there’s nothing shameful to interfere with justice to help a minor Moroccan girl who took part in parties at his home, where it appears sex, drugs and money were one of the means to relieve this poor man from his terrible, hard daily life. Everyone needs a bit of harmless fun. But this is gossip, you should know that, nothing has been proved, except his helping out the girl. In my hometown a whole group of immigrants climbed up a crane to protest about unfair immigration laws – they actually paid for the paperwork asking for permission to stay in Italy, but when a new law came out that declared being a clandestine alien a crime, they couldn’t get the permission any longer, as no one who committed a crime can be granted one. He must have heard about them, they were on TV (one communist channel, obviously). Why not help them too? I’m straining again, sorry. Well, is it too much to wish for a smart head of state? Even many of his voters, in the past few days, fear he’s lost it. I must say I maintain he never had “it”, I can actually believe he went into politics thinking he’d be a doer, contrary to the grey, useless, ugly politicians we had till then (oh, he did reach a near impossible objective, bringing us to actually miss them). But once in his comfortable chair, he became just like them, just more tanned. And worse: he isn’t only useless, he’s dangerous. I’d like to honestly hear from Mr.B’s voters what did he improve in Italy, how have their lives improved. I may simply be ignorant, after all.

4 – To be fair, as I alway try to be, the government recently ratified a law granting the same rights to children born outside a marriage, as children of married people enjoy. I reported this in the Italian version of The Good News Bulletin. I propose to include Mara Carfagna in the next government I dream about (below, in Italian). Children first, I agree, but I’d also like to see the parents of those children be granted the same rights as the married parents of the other children now. NOW. It’s not just a question of principles: if fiscal laws are actually to favour Italian families in this moment of crisis, unmarried families have every right to be recognised, in addition to the fact that supporting a wider part of the population will benefit the economy of the country itself.

There. I wanted to talk about lighter stuff today, but I will always and only write about my thoughts, and such are today. I’ll do better tomorrow. I am sorry if I offended anyone and I would love to hear from people who disagree with me. Please write as much as you can, please try and explain your reasons to me. We are all in the same boat, we might as well not pick fights, or we risk for the boat to capsize. Thank you.

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