And yet, they’re part of us, and we’re part of them. I will never forget doing a “Festa de Castangna e Tartufo” in this little village where our Italian friends had a ski cabin and the tent they had celebrating the 500k Italians who left Napoli and went to the USA - celebrating leaving and yet, still Italiniani - I think it is why they feel a certain kinship with us and vice versa. ❤️
Oh boy. Talk about a sense of powerlessness. Here's the thing: the alien eye sees things the native eye cannot. It's one of the reasons why so many Italians who emigrated to the New World became fantastic successes. Those of us who have become immigrants in Italy (a different mindset than "expat") can see huge opportunities that go unexploited by Italian citizens. It is NOT inexplicable.
The success of Italians in places like the US, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Australia and elsewhere was a multi-generational accomplishment. Those of us who are immigrants to Italy from say, the US and Canada, are cut of a different cloth than those very poor Italians who made their way through Ellis Island and Halifax. We are not "forced' by poverty to scramble for a living by taking on the kind of work that the Italian emigrants did or to build our lives from scratch.
We observe with impatience and we criticize, even if with muted voices. But, we do not really invest time, money or energy into the kind of enterprises that might burgeon into economically meaningful activities. Nor do we network, even among ourselves, for those purposes.
So there is that. But there are, as you have pointed out, so many obstacles in our way, that even if we were of a mind to make those investments, the Italian "system" would raise so many obstacles that we would be frustrated in our efforts from the get go.
My boyfriend John has lived in Italy on and off for over forty years. Only recently has he given up trying to organize high-end cultural events here. Why? Italian bureaucracy makes it miserable and nearly impossible. John masterminded a three-day electronic music festival called Calcatronica (you can look it up), which was one of a kind--there were workshops, exhibitions, educational events. The local government did everything it could to get in the way. I say this as someone who actually LIKES government.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: Italy resists all attempts to change her. Good change, bad change, she doesn't want it and won't do it. I'd even go so far as to say that Italy joining the EU was a mistake. It's too late now, of course. Quitaly is a pipe dream. If she left now, the country would collapse. But Italy isn't happy in a vassal-like, subordinate position. She prefers to do things her way--just like most women.
I'd love to get your thoughts on that. I have great respect for your powers of understanding (and exceptional writing skills).
In Puglia? We network like crazy. But yes I see your point. If instead of investing in things like the superbonus they had laid fiberoptic throughout the country, and instigated a meaningful digital Visa? The lasting benefits would far exceed the costs. Elon Musk is making billions in Italy with Starlink. At 99€ a month I can name dozens of people who have subscribed. In 1 sma area of unsophisticated Puglia. That money is leaving Italy. Just 1 example
As Americani, I think we're intrinsically drawn to places and peoples of strong cultural identity. We are a people and culture of "fix it" "can do" so our inclination is to investigate and solve.
Perhaps though, our solutions would mess up the very thing we love -- and the beauty of the Italia we love so much is that it is so messy, so unsolvable, and yet historically speaking, so sustainable.
Sometimes math and numbers are overcome by some things scientists, deep data, or AI can't compute -- cultural sustainability and identity. Che sera, sera
Agreed! Agreed to the power of a million. If you scroll up this feed, I made the same observations. Yes, Italy has daunting problems. What country doesn't? But she's better off left alone. Too many cooks and all that. And none of those cooks should be American--our "fix it, can do" attitude, as you wisely called it, isn't needed or welcome here. What works in America is most assuredly not going to work here.
I remember the photos that came up back in the early days of the pandemic of Italian healthcare workers -- mostly nurses, but doctors as well -- and the facial bruises they'd developed from wearing PPE around the clock.
The real danger for Italy now, in my mind, is the EuroBank. It is populated by neoliberal ideologues who cheerfully destroyed Greece, more for fun than any grasp of basic economics. There has never been a time in history when Austerity did any good, but as these savage buffoons are concerned that only proves that Austerity must be practiced with even more vicious determination. The board of EuroBank makes the Fed look like a jolly bunch of socialists. As Thomas Piketty has pointed out, the Fed is at least marginally answerable to the people it is supposed to serve: its members are appointed by elected officials. EuroBank operates under no such limitation. Consequently, these cretins disdain any and all reference to, or even suggestion of, facts. They have their ideology, and nothing else matters.
100%. At least they gave Liz Truss the boot. Amazing how it's bank bailouts for them and bootstraps for us. You made me laugh out loud with "The board of Eurobank makes the Fed look like a jolly bunch of socialists." Lord, is that true. Equally true, the idea that having a Fed that is answerable in any way to the people is better than European cronyism. Dreadful stuff, that. Ought to be abolished.
The eurobank has provided the kindling, the logs, the lighter fluid and matches to start the fire of italexit. Italians REMEMBER. My landlord tells stories passed down of the Turkish invasion. April 2020 Italy went BEGGING, hat in hand for money for things like oh say ventilators, money to pay medical personnel who came out of retirement, body disposal. The Dutch and Germans denied the funding because "they will spend it irresponsibly".
Meloni can play that card if the bank wants to pull a Greece 2.0.
During covid the bank leaned on Firenze to pay off a large loan. The mayor said fine we will sell the David. The bank backed down. Italy has the cultural nuclear option.
Austerity in Germany in the 20s lead to hyperinflation and the rise of Hitler in response. People forget originally he ran on an economic platform. That worked out sooo well.
And yet, they’re part of us, and we’re part of them. I will never forget doing a “Festa de Castangna e Tartufo” in this little village where our Italian friends had a ski cabin and the tent they had celebrating the 500k Italians who left Napoli and went to the USA - celebrating leaving and yet, still Italiniani - I think it is why they feel a certain kinship with us and vice versa. ❤️
My word, that sounds wonderful. Italy is full of magic. It’s why I feel so protective of her.
Oh boy. Talk about a sense of powerlessness. Here's the thing: the alien eye sees things the native eye cannot. It's one of the reasons why so many Italians who emigrated to the New World became fantastic successes. Those of us who have become immigrants in Italy (a different mindset than "expat") can see huge opportunities that go unexploited by Italian citizens. It is NOT inexplicable.
The success of Italians in places like the US, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Australia and elsewhere was a multi-generational accomplishment. Those of us who are immigrants to Italy from say, the US and Canada, are cut of a different cloth than those very poor Italians who made their way through Ellis Island and Halifax. We are not "forced' by poverty to scramble for a living by taking on the kind of work that the Italian emigrants did or to build our lives from scratch.
We observe with impatience and we criticize, even if with muted voices. But, we do not really invest time, money or energy into the kind of enterprises that might burgeon into economically meaningful activities. Nor do we network, even among ourselves, for those purposes.
So there is that. But there are, as you have pointed out, so many obstacles in our way, that even if we were of a mind to make those investments, the Italian "system" would raise so many obstacles that we would be frustrated in our efforts from the get go.
There is the crux of the matter:.
My boyfriend John has lived in Italy on and off for over forty years. Only recently has he given up trying to organize high-end cultural events here. Why? Italian bureaucracy makes it miserable and nearly impossible. John masterminded a three-day electronic music festival called Calcatronica (you can look it up), which was one of a kind--there were workshops, exhibitions, educational events. The local government did everything it could to get in the way. I say this as someone who actually LIKES government.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: Italy resists all attempts to change her. Good change, bad change, she doesn't want it and won't do it. I'd even go so far as to say that Italy joining the EU was a mistake. It's too late now, of course. Quitaly is a pipe dream. If she left now, the country would collapse. But Italy isn't happy in a vassal-like, subordinate position. She prefers to do things her way--just like most women.
I'd love to get your thoughts on that. I have great respect for your powers of understanding (and exceptional writing skills).
In Puglia? We network like crazy. But yes I see your point. If instead of investing in things like the superbonus they had laid fiberoptic throughout the country, and instigated a meaningful digital Visa? The lasting benefits would far exceed the costs. Elon Musk is making billions in Italy with Starlink. At 99€ a month I can name dozens of people who have subscribed. In 1 sma area of unsophisticated Puglia. That money is leaving Italy. Just 1 example
I didn't know that Starlink was offering service there. Thanks for that and for your comment in total. Ciao!
WOW. I didn't know he'd managed to stick his nasty little fingers in Puglia's pie. My loathing for him remains as it ever was: substantial.
I love your comments, BTW. Always so happy to see you here.
As Americani, I think we're intrinsically drawn to places and peoples of strong cultural identity. We are a people and culture of "fix it" "can do" so our inclination is to investigate and solve.
Perhaps though, our solutions would mess up the very thing we love -- and the beauty of the Italia we love so much is that it is so messy, so unsolvable, and yet historically speaking, so sustainable.
Sometimes math and numbers are overcome by some things scientists, deep data, or AI can't compute -- cultural sustainability and identity. Che sera, sera
Agreed! Agreed to the power of a million. If you scroll up this feed, I made the same observations. Yes, Italy has daunting problems. What country doesn't? But she's better off left alone. Too many cooks and all that. And none of those cooks should be American--our "fix it, can do" attitude, as you wisely called it, isn't needed or welcome here. What works in America is most assuredly not going to work here.
I remember the photos that came up back in the early days of the pandemic of Italian healthcare workers -- mostly nurses, but doctors as well -- and the facial bruises they'd developed from wearing PPE around the clock.
The real danger for Italy now, in my mind, is the EuroBank. It is populated by neoliberal ideologues who cheerfully destroyed Greece, more for fun than any grasp of basic economics. There has never been a time in history when Austerity did any good, but as these savage buffoons are concerned that only proves that Austerity must be practiced with even more vicious determination. The board of EuroBank makes the Fed look like a jolly bunch of socialists. As Thomas Piketty has pointed out, the Fed is at least marginally answerable to the people it is supposed to serve: its members are appointed by elected officials. EuroBank operates under no such limitation. Consequently, these cretins disdain any and all reference to, or even suggestion of, facts. They have their ideology, and nothing else matters.
100%. At least they gave Liz Truss the boot. Amazing how it's bank bailouts for them and bootstraps for us. You made me laugh out loud with "The board of Eurobank makes the Fed look like a jolly bunch of socialists." Lord, is that true. Equally true, the idea that having a Fed that is answerable in any way to the people is better than European cronyism. Dreadful stuff, that. Ought to be abolished.
The eurobank has provided the kindling, the logs, the lighter fluid and matches to start the fire of italexit. Italians REMEMBER. My landlord tells stories passed down of the Turkish invasion. April 2020 Italy went BEGGING, hat in hand for money for things like oh say ventilators, money to pay medical personnel who came out of retirement, body disposal. The Dutch and Germans denied the funding because "they will spend it irresponsibly".
Meloni can play that card if the bank wants to pull a Greece 2.0.
During covid the bank leaned on Firenze to pay off a large loan. The mayor said fine we will sell the David. The bank backed down. Italy has the cultural nuclear option.
That was one brilliant assessment. Man, have we got some brainpower up in here! I always learn something from you. Very grateful for it, too.
Austerity in Germany in the 20s lead to hyperinflation and the rise of Hitler in response. People forget originally he ran on an economic platform. That worked out sooo well.