Beppe Grillo's Blog

Two jumpers from Oviesse

”I had stolen two jumpers from Oviesse and they caught me. I don’t know why I did it. My life is a disaster. No money, no work and a little girl to bring up.” That’s how the account given by the young mother starts, the mother who denounced the group rape in the barracks of the Carabinieri. This young woman was urgently imprisoned for having tried to steal a couple of fucking jumpers. How much were those jumpers worth? 20 euro? 30 euro? And they throw someone into prison for a theft like that? Was it not possible to charge her and leave her at home? Put her under house arrest? And the director of the Supermarket, once he had got back the stolen goods (what a great recovery… ), could he not have withdrawn the charge? No! Ruthless with the starving hungry, with the most vulnerable, with the full force of the law, whereas for Nicola Cosentino permission for authorisation to bring criminal proceedings against him for external collaboration in associating with the Camorra was refused by the special committee of the Lower House of Parliament. Camorra, not two stupid jumpers. You take refuge in Parliament and you are safe, like Alberto Tedesco sent for trial relating to the health system in Apulia.
There are the drowned and the saved in this infernal whirlpool called Italy, in line with Primo Levi’s metaphor. There are grey areas of power where everything can happen, but only to the most vulnerable like a woman without a family but with a daughter to bring up. What will she tell her daughter after the arrest and the rape? Every day, really serious crimes are committed under our very eyes and those who commit them will never serve a day in prison, protected by their money, by lawyers, by the caste to which they belong, whether it is a political, economic or criminal one. We stand by and we are indignant then we go on to have a cup of coffee. Meanwhile, the drowned, the chicken thieves, the most wretched, land up in prison, some die in prison and there are those who commit suicide from shame. Others are raped. And this is justice? And this is the law? “Summum ius, summa iniuria.” Justice is blind, but only in one eye. For the poor folk she sees very well.

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Comments

The corruption isn't that bad, it's the hypocrisy..
Italy is not 'special' as many people try to believe, Italy is the schizoid result of several generations of deliberate manipulation. In line with Gramsci's ideas on cultural hegemony what passes for 'common sense' in Italy is just the pervasive ethical moral (or lack thereof) of the ruling families.
Italians are still living by the Fascist Manifesto, which, i must admit, is one of the best mindfucks in the history of humanity.

Posted by: Paul P | March 8, 2011 01:00 PM

Last night, CBC aired a BBC reportage by Mark Franchetti, on the most wanted human being in the history of mankind and lover-boy par excellence, Silvio Berlusconi.

The report centred around Silvio's relatively enduring popularity in spite of allegations such as: mafia ties, fraud, corruption and sexual exploitation of under-age girls.

The people interviewed ranged from Silvio's fervent, rich-kids worshippers to Silvio's most defiant and harshest critics like Marco Travaglio, Antonio Di Pietro and Beppe Grillo.

Excellent reportage, well worth watching. If, for nothing else, the Freudian slip made by a journalist on Silvio's payroll Alessio Vinci: he slipped and said to Franchetti that, "...Berlusconi is a lonely man surrounded by people trying to get something from him." Except Alessio.

Alessio is also wrong when he says that his boss has the consensus of most Italians. Actually, 70% of Italians voters don't vote for Silvio. Berlusconi governs through a minority government supported by the Lega - one of the most racist parties in Europe.

And... thanks to members of parliament from other parties who crossed the floor after Silvio offered them large sums of money.

Posted by: Louis Pacella | March 7, 2011 11:53 PM

Every morning I wake up and have to deal with Italians. I try to reason with them. Get things done properly. Make things work. Do things honestly and transparantly.

It's just like dragging your bare arsse over a bed of nails. Painful, useless and it only leaves you with scars.

Posted by: Robert Morrison | March 7, 2011 06:42 PM

Bravo! But may I remind you that there is injustice for many and blind justice for some lucky (meaning wealthy and powerful), in every nation. Including mine, the US. Injustice and corrupt justice know no boundaries.

Posted by: Anthony Scaduto | March 7, 2011 12:04 AM