An Interesting Student
One of the students on a course I am holding at the moment is an ex-aspiring Italian politician. I won’t mention his name, or the course he is doing because he does not know I am writing this, and I hope he won’t mind.
Anyway, it is a bit of a shame to see someone as young as this person pulling out of Italian politics, especially at a time when there is a real need for new, and above all, younger faces here. It was also rather interesting to hear that this person believes that the flames being emitted from one Beppe Grillo’s mouth are more likely to burn destructively than to fuel the rise of a new phoenix.
However, I don’t think this person’s presence on the course is indicative of the reluctance of young people to become involved in Italian politics. Well, I hope it isn’t. Although I do know of another person who told me how easy it was for people to enter politics here, even if they were not all that interested in doing anything for the country or its people. Apparently, as is often the case in Italy, entering politics is relatively easy if you know the right people.
On the subject of everybody’s least favourite subject, it was also something of a shame to hear that the forthcoming Italian elections, scheduled for the 13 and 14 April, will be based on the old, and problematic electoral system. Which means that for poor old Italy, another fragile government may be elected, although the recently formed ’super-parties’ - Vetroni and his ‘Partito Democratico’ and the Berlusconi answer in the form of the ‘Popolo della Liberta’ - ‘People’s Freedom’ party, may lead to a more long-lived government than in the past. Might make the voting forms here a little easier to understand too, with a little luck.
Whoever wins, new faces will not be particularly evident, I fear.
As for Montezemolo, he has again been denying that he intends to enter politics , although many of the people I have spoken to think that this denial is some form of smokescreen.
Italy fizzles away, as usual.
Man of Roma
Man of Roma writes a thoughtful blog. And he writes it very well, in my not so humble (see previous post) opinion. I wish I could write in Italian as well as he writes in English. One day, one day.
He even knew Montezemolo and says he is a good chap. This is interesting because it goes some way towards confirming my media developed opinion of Montezemolo.
Moving back to Man of Roma, he should be regarded as a shining example of just how well an Italian, or any other nationality for that matter, can learn another language. And I shall use his blog, and that of Rod - the Wind Rose Hotel blogger - to inspire all of those students of mine who think they are just not up to the job.
“Rubbish”, I shall retort, when I hear the ‘I’ll never learn English’ comments - just look at Man of Roma and Rob’s blogs. You can do it!
Yet more reasons why Italy can pull itself out of the mire.
Turning Round La Brutta Figura
Italy is a very image conscious country - just wander down any Italian street and you will see beautiful shops and elegantly dressed passers by. The places and people are examples of ‘la bella figura’ - which means ‘creating the right impression’. The opposite of the ‘bella’ version is ‘la brutta figura’, which is similar in concept to the French ‘faux pas’, only in Italian culture ‘la brutta figura’ is somewhat worse than its French equivalent. In the eyes of the world Italy is one making big brutta figura at the moment, thanks in no small part to recent articles in internationally read newspapers.
While some dismiss these articles as foreign interference, many of the people I know, would not disagree that things are not going all too well in the land of pizza and Ferrari. These people are aware of Italy’s brutta figura, and it is embarrassing. However, there is the possibility that the embarrassment that these mischievous articles have generated may actually help reverse the downward slide which is occurring in the Living Museum. Two changes would make a noticeable difference. First, the electoral laws need to be properly reformed, and second all that is needed is quite simply a few new faces in Italian politics, and, possibly, the forthcoming collapse of the Prodi government may just provoke someone who can bring about such change into Italian politics.
That someone is the present head of Ferrari and the Italian employers’ federation chairman Luca di Montezemolo, and there are rumours that once his presidency at the federation ends he will enter politics. Heck, I really hope so. He would be something of a breath of fresh air in Italy, and he certainly has the management skills necessary to put together the right team and thus get down to sorting things out. Whether he will be able to navigate the veritable ocean of vested interests is another question, but seems to have done OK at Ferrari and Fiat, both of which are quintessentially Italian companies, warts, vested interests, and all. So it sounds as though he may stand a sporting chance.
The slight fly in the ointment, or so it would seem, is that Prodi’s band of brothers has collapsed a short time before Montezemolo managed to enter the scene . However, all may not be lost, because you see, the next elections will result in the same old unloved but familiar faces gaining power, and this will further lower the Italian populace’s esteem in those who purport to lead them. Enter stage right Montezemolo and, with a little luck some electoral reform will be carried out, he will sweep the field, and his mere presence may well give the majority of Italians the impression that there is still a ray of hope shining through what has been becoming an ever more overcast sky.
And, never fear, if Montezemolo really does manage to get the Italian ball rolling once more, there are more than enough talented Italians to keep it rolling in the right direction. This I know, I am lucky enough to teach plenty of them. And the frustration that has built up in such people is, at the same time, serving to stoke the fires of ambition, and, in the not too distant future the flames emitted by these people will reduce the old and ineffective to mere ashes.
La brutta figura will lead to la bella figura, or, as we say in English ‘every cloud has a silver lining’. Just you wait and see.
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