Berlusconi has been waging an on-going battle versus all forms of Italian media, particularly its Newspapers--"La Repubblica" to be exact, because they have demanded liberty of the press! Why is this newspaper outraged over their freedom to free speech and journalism? Well, Berlusconi has recently denounced this newspaper and taken them to court over their investigations and questions regarding his conduct of his personal affairs and his gross conflicts of interest--particularly those pertaining to his mass media holdings and intimidation tactics to silence opposition. He is embroiled in a sex scandal that heated up after his wife filed for divorce, and he has become the laughing-stock of democratic heads of state on the world stage. Many Italians,including all of my friends, show outrage and mortification with the reality of the political situation in their country as Italy is rated close to 60th place in the world for free access to information;in addition, this is not even touching the Prime minister's complicated and corrupt history of evading serious criminal charges dealing with the illegal gestation of his gross empire of assets, bribes, corruption,his collusion with dubious mafia figures, ect. In the end, if you are really interested in the long Berlusconi history and his ascent to power, I would advise you all to read, "The Sack of Rome" by Alexander Stille. This book will only get your toes wet in the complicated web of Italian politics, but you'll at least have some Berlu-background.
To cut this short, It is necessary to say that three Judges have started an Appeal to which over 360,000 people have currently signed, including Nobel Prize winners, famous actors-like the beloved Roberto Benigni, filmmakers, writers, activists, and many many citizens. Below is the Apeal if you want to read it:
"APPEAL BY THREE JURISTS
Appeal by three Jurists
The libel action against “Repubblica” is the last in a long list of attacks against this daily which can only be seen as attempts at silencing the free press, at benumbing public opinion, at removing us from the international information scene and ultimately at making our Country the exception to the rule of Democracy.
The questions addressed to our Prime Minister are real questions that have prompted people’s interest not only in Italy but also in the media across the world. If they are considered to be “rhetorical” questions that suggest answers that displease the person to whom they are addressed, then there is only one and very easy way of responding: the reaction should certainly not be that of silencing the people who ask those questions.
The response instead is that of intimidating those who exercise the right and duty of “seeking, receiving and imparting information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers”, as stated in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights approved by the Assembly of Nations when memory was still very much alive of the way information degenerated into propaganda under the illiberal and antidemocratic regimes of the 20th century.
What is astonishing and worrying is that not only are these initiatives not unanimously stigmatized, but they are not even reported by the media, and that furthermore there are jurists who are even willing to give them legal form, utterly dismissing the harm this will cause to the very seriousness and credibility of the Law."
To give those interested viewers with a better understanding of the current scandle, here is a video of the late and breaking news in English:
Okay--Now you have a little background base so that I can to return to my discussion of "Farabutti." The other day, Berlusconi declared "Siamo circondati da troppi farabutti nella politica, nella stampa, e nella televisione."--"We are surrounded by too many tricksters in politics, in the newspapers, and in television." Berlusconi is widely popular for his bloopers and gaffes--his outright slandering of the opposition comes without regret from the Prime Minister, but his blatant denial of censorship or self-restraint makes him rightful game. In fact, during the election of 2006, he is famed to have called all citizens voting for the opposition, "Coglioni" or "Dickheads." In response to this outrageous slander, those voting against Berlusconi all wore T-shirts declaring their pride to be a "dickhead." I was actually present in Rome for one particular left party Rally in 2006, and I giddily bought a T-shirt saying "Sono un coglione." or "I am a dickhead." Therefore, recalling that time, those revolting against Berlusconi's newest acts of absurd injustice have all gathered together to once again display their pride in being "tricksters" or "Farabutti." In this spirit, many have sent their photos to "La Reppubica" online to show their support. These pictures are hilarious!
http://www.repubblica.it/2006/05/gallerie/politica/farabutti-foto-lettori-15/1.html
Berlu's blatant refusal to not be held accountable or even respond to applicable questions of presidential investigations is a screaming example of the deadly grip the man has over his information. His answer to all questions and accusations always entails: 1.Blaming the communists for everything 2.Denying accusations without response 3. Name-calling 4. and citing polls of popularity that don't exist.
Italian politics is so intriguing and flipping fascinating because it is creatively tangled in such a tight and complicated knot that anyone could get lost. Everything constructed and nurtured by Italians hands and psychi is an overly complex invention with 8,000,000 gadgets (too many to make sense), screws that are falling loose, rusted with old problems, and interior organs that are slightly dysfunctional--possibly filled with spaghetti. You add history to this organism, and it becomes a Frankenstein that grows with a unique life of its own--a true and odd plant that could only grow to its full potential on Italian soil. I guess that this soil grows tomatoes as well as it does most every other system here.
I was originally going to dedicate this blog to how much Umbrellas fail human existence--therefore making us all painfully aware of nature's dominance over humankind; however, I was laughing so hard over the Farabutti photos that I thought I would add a political briefing to my blog. Your little lesson on Italian politics--an interesting discussion on democracy in the hands of a very colorful man, to say the least. I hope you find it interesting.
I would like to randomly say that last night I barely slept because I was under attack by a mosquito. It is utterly stupid to write in a blog, but I really was hiding and suffocating myself under the covers--trying to duck and shield, clapping in the dark to try in some way to kill it. "Buzzzz" "Buzzz"--that piercing hum that fluttered in my ears as I was sleeping and going crazy; it was traumatic, and I heard it all night. At one point, I took action and rubbed Mosquito spray all over my face. To no avail. I woke up with bites all over my neck and two on my cheek--that Bastard!
You wouldn't believe it but another mosquito just tried descending on me, slowly and silently; I of course didn't manage to kill it, but I did spend 10 minutes killing his "friend" in the bathroom. What a horrible bug--terrible species.
I had job interviews today, and I trampled all around Milan today in the pouring down rain. I was on the bus, and I got a kick out of all the Italian workers flying on their motor scooters with their suits, weaving through the traffic. What a country!
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