A ‘poetic’ look at Italian politics

Here’s a fabulous poem written by an Italian poet in the early 1900’s–an amusing and quite realistic take on family and political life.

POLITICS

There’s such a great variety of opinions:
my father is a Christian democrat
and, since he works in the Vatican,
every night he says the rosary;

as for my brothers, Luigi the elder,
is a socialist revolutionist;
I am a monarchist instead, in opposition
to Ludovico who is a republican.

Before having dinner we often quarrel
because of our indisputable principles
some think one way, some another… Like a congress !

We raise hell ! But as soon as mum
tells us spaghetti is ready
we all come to agreement on that idea.

Trilussa (1915)

Here’s the original for those who care.  The Italian is southern.

La politica

Ner modo de pensà c’è un gran divario :
mi’ padre è democratico cristiano,
e, siccome è impiegato ar Vaticano,
tutte le sere recita er rosario ;

de tre fratelli, Giggi ch’è er più anziano
è socialista rivoluzzionario ;
io invece so’ monarchico, ar contrario
de Ludovico ch’è repubbricano.

Prima de cena liticamo spesso
pe’ via de ’sti principî benedetti :
chi vô qua, chi vô là… Pare un congresso!

Famo l’ira de Dio! Ma appena mamma
ce dice so’ cotti li spaghetti
semo tutti d’accordo ner programma.

Trilussa 1915

Berlusconi’s Greatest Hits

Whoops, he did it again . . . and again . . . and again . . .

Whatever the outcome of this week’s elections, we want to celebrate it in style with a recap of our friend Silvio’s great career.

We think that many Italians voted for Berlusconi merely for the entertainment factor. Whatever the guy may be, he’s anything but dull, and manages to get constant coverage by the international press. So, without further ado, here’s a list of Silvio’s Greatest Hits:

Italians snap up “I’m a coglione” t-shirts

Some enterprising folks have cashed in on Berlusconi’s recent ill-advised and vulgar comment about those who don’t vote for him.

Anti-Silvio-istas everywhere are sporting shirts bearing the legend “I’m a bloody idiot” (one of the nicer translations of the term).

Link (English)

Thrills on the bus

One of many often-broken laws in Italy is one of tickets. Bus tickets must be purchased from small stores called Tabbachi (though they may be purchased for exact change–and a higher fare–from the driver upon boarding). As soon as you get on the bus–and are able to squeeze your way through the crowds–the ticket must be stamped by one of two machines which print the time your boarded on the ticket. These machines emit a loud Tac tac sound as they effectively make your ticket useless for another journey. Controllers–in special uniforms with ID badges–board the busses at random stops and check tickets. Anyone who is not holding a cancelled ticket for the ride is issued a ticket with a very steep fine.

Regardless, there is a culture of thrilling evasion as almost every bus-rider wants to avoid punching their ticket at all costs. Some evaders will ride close to the back door, leaping off at the first threat of a control check. Other evaders will stand next to the ticket-punching machine, poised to stamp their ticket before the conductor disables the machine if the controllers are seen at the coming stop. Both of these groups are foiled when the controllers board the bus undercover, only pulling out their badges once the bus has started again and the driver has disabled the machine. Still others will try any number of excuses (especially the foreigners) to get out of the fine.

This popular practice gave rise to this Italian joke, which has many variations:

A man gets on the bus in Rome and stamps his ticket in the machine—Tac tac. The driver turns quickly around and calls sharply, "What was that sound??"