geenoo Banned

Liciafeet, tonight I wanted to reply to you, but current events are overwhelming me. Eluana has died. But the abhorrent thing is the statements and performances of the center-right. Those make me almost feel physically ill. Hearing that the left is "the culture of death" from Cicchitto or Gasparri spewing disgusting nonsense about Napolitano or listening to claims that "they killed her". They threaten, they preach, they drool. Not to mention Berlusconi, the horrendous puppet master of a backward and troglodyte Italy. A bishop says he wants proof of the existence of gas chambers in World War II and then, tonight the Vatican says "may God forgive them". But who does God need to forgive? It's a wreckage of values, it's the wreckage of humanity. Tonight, perhaps for the first time, I truly feel uncomfortable; I don't feel good here. Here, ruled by these insensitive beasts, and they are already dead.

I’m averaging, I’ve been too nice.

Come on... from the cover photo, they seem nice to me. Plus, they make great music. Is it true that they've also taken a few punches to the mouth from an Italian?

For me, Spector is a great man.

Yes, but here the effects of nostalgia and the effect of how-nice-it-was-when-I-was-16-and-s o-in-love dominate, or almost. An album that brushes against but doesn't quite reach a 4. My absolute favorite (rating 4.5) is Every Picture Tells a Story.

message of peace and love

Liciafeet: 1) The Berlusconi government is involved, but only indirectly. Because as you well know, Battisti was roaming around Europe even under leftist governments. Berlusconi is playing his (dirty) game, but what does that have to do with what's happening in Brazil? Do you really believe that if Veltroni had been in power, Battisti would have been on a flight to Italy? I don't think so. 2) Yes, many states are worried about Italy... and they should also be concerned about Russia (where Putin rules with violence), about the USA just a month ago, about various African states, about several Middle Eastern states, etc... come on, your argument doesn't hold at all. We have a bad Prime Minister with a bad government (and we say that over here), but for half of Italy, it's excellent, and above all, I don't see any democratic crisis in our nation, apart from some rudeness and excesses. Unfortunately, we have the bad luck not to understand who is pulling our leg. But democracy is another thing. 3) I lump together all forms of terrorism, in this case, I don't feel like nitpicking. According to the Italian Constitution (see articles 17 and 18), a terrorist cannot exist in Italy. That's enough. 4) Sure, let’s be cautious about terrorism, let’s try to understand them... let’s see what they think and why they fight. You see, here, for me, is the fundamental error in the reasoning of those who tend to somehow justify a terrorist. One thing is ideas, like fighting for social justice, fighting for fairer rules, etc.; another thing is killing to achieve those ideas. These ideas, unless in cases of coups or wars, should be achieved within the confines of the Constitution and our codes in a democracy. Period. Write articles, organize strikes, form a political party, hold sit-ins, do everything you can, but within the rules we’ve set for ourselves. However, you see... don’t bring up Mazzini or Israeli leaders. If we’re talking about Italy in the 60s and 70s (and 2009), we’re talking about a state with a solid Constitution and a democracy. To conclude, of course: there’s always a need to understand and contextualize; for instance, my grandfather who resisted in the mountains against the Germans could perhaps have been considered a terrorist by the fascists. But that was a war where the rules no longer applied, just like in Israel and in all situations where the rule of law collapses. Comparing these situations to certain people who, with full bellies, take guns and rifles, killing and kidnapping in the name of ideas shared by only one side, in a nation with a democratic system, seems to me to support the unsustainable. In short, one can certainly be close to certain ideas but never to the means of achieving them.

LICIAFEET... I see where you're coming from. However, your reasoning strikes me as old and musty, with all due respect. Let me explain why from my point of view. You throw everything into the same pot, including contradictions, starting from the 60s and ending with the Englaro case to justify Battisti and the Brazil that protects him. But what really makes my hair stand on end is your last sentence: "I invite you to reflect on the fact that this violence should always be contextualized and, at least in part, it is a form of self-defense and/or a response to another violence." Of course. With this line of reasoning, if I identify as an Islamic person, I would think... let’s take down the Twin Towers because we genuinely believe that American imperialism discriminates and distorts our idea of civilization, supports Israel which does not respect the Palestinian people, and with its aggressive attitude comes to dictate law in the Middle East, imposing its ways of life solely to exploit the geographical position and the resources present here. Likewise, if I were a Chechen, feeling attacked by Russian imperialism, I would go into a school and torture and kill hundreds of children.... Hey? Liciafeet??????? Then there's the rule of law. That deserves respect. Because if I wake up and think I'm being "attacked" by someone's political or social ideas or actions, what do I do? I start randomly shooting, from the policeman to the escorts to the legislator drafting the law, and end up with the head of government? No. You can't do that. The truth is simple: the brigatisti were just plain terrorists. Who killed. What the hell does killing have to do with supporting one's ideas? What does Berlusconi's government (I have disgust for it too, believe me) have to do with Battisti and Brazil? We need to distinguish, separate the facts, analyze them one by one. And Battisti has nothing to do with the poor girl tortured on that bed and "that starving vulture" we have as prime minister. Battisti was convicted by judges, not by a right-wing government. Let’s make sure our political ideas don’t send our brains to waste.

Raise your hand if you were there! Not me.

SGT. Mortimer returns to play Gran Turismo 3... and tries to set a record.