November 7th, 2008 - 4 Comments
Apologies, apologies
I apologize.
I apologize for all the things italian politicians will say about Obama (as well as on MCCain, Sarah Palin, and.. on any other US politician) in the future.
And.. I apologize for all the things they said already.
Here and here.
That’s apologizing for real..
Posted by Sergio
Share on Facebook
November 7th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
Ah, Sergio, it’s rather refreshing to me that you come from a country where someone can say something as mildly offensive as that and the whole lot of you are ashamed and apologetic. If George Bush had said something about your leader, America would have started calling “Italian Soda” “Independence Soda” or something retarded like that.
November 11th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
i feel your pain. it’s not your fault berlusconi is an idiot, nor that he got elected - TWICE! and don’t get me wrong here, i really like italy - interesting people, great weather, awesome historical value, FANTASTIC food and the best coffee in the world! - but politically it sucks.
first i thought italians had pulled themselves together for electing the left-center government a few years back and releasing berlusconi from his legal immunity-thing, but then there’s a new election and mr i-have-my-hands-in-every-pie is elected again! it almost felt like when george bush got elected the second time. it’s one of those confusing “what the hell are you people thinking?!” kind of moments.
maybe i should rant about this on my own blog instead.
November 11th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
The problem with italian politics (and with italian culture in general, probably), Jocelyn, is that us Italians usually limit ourselves to just.. be indignant.. and nothing more.
These “gaffes” are just.. infinitesimal crumbs of a common practice, of an established custom.
It seems like that.. that all that’s incorrect, ambiguous, “wicked” in stereotyped italian people’s behaviour / way of living, you can find it amplified, magnified in italian politicians (no matter which party they are in).
Facts of a “vulgar display of power” (quoting Pantera) are there: every single italian could judge or, in my personal opionion, should HAVE JUDGED by himself.
I can do nothing but agree with you totally, Jenny. Also for the “no.. no.. not a second time!!” kind of shock felt after getting to know the results of the elections, in Usa 2004 as well as in Italy 2008.
I think you summed up the situation perfectly. You cruelly underlined two of the most controversial and crucial issues: the “legal immunity - thing” and the “mr I-have-my-hands-in-every-pie” argument.
Clouds are grey..
(I’m happily surprised of your.. mm.. “expertise”? on italian politics. All that I know about Sweden is.. just a few names of cities, thanks to international soccer competitions, of course: Malmoe, Norrkoping, Goteborg, Helsingborg..)
(don’t know how to obtain the “o” with the two dots on)
November 13th, 2008 at 7:13 am
i’m glad you agree!
i wouldn’t call it expertise though, i just like to know stuff. and considering how controversial italian politics are it’s usually in the papers up here. and you know, it’s not only you guys who cover your faces in agony when berlusconi makes his politically incorrect statements. 
i guess italy is more interesting than sweden