Feb 11 2008
I watch from afar the race to the whitehouse. Sometimes, thankfully so and most others longing to be involved somehow. I have a b grade degree and a b average in political science, but I can still think. Anyway, I am here in Rome and happy 'as a bug in a rug', although i don't know however that meant to describe something happy, couldn't a bug be killed that way, hiding in a rug? boh. in any case , i have a love hate relationship with american politics and the american media machine for the moment. without the media i wouldn't get to see anything that is going on but at the same time, i am tired of seeing hillary clinton's face and hearing about mccain's dirty campaign dealings. i want more barack. can we have a barack news network only?
22 may 2008
if you haven't read either of barack's (yes we are on a first name basis) books go buy them, borrow them from a friend, download them illegally- whatever you have to do and find out why this man should be president. he really should.
in italy there is racism and xenophobia. to some extent the nationalist, albeit fascist, leanings of italians have not yet begun to fade, since the departure of mussolini. Although it sometimes offends my American senses, I understand it perfectly. This is Italy, the country of Italians, and it should continue to be so, otherwise what is the purpose of existing as Italy. This is not to say 'no-immigrants allowed' but, a country should preserve itself- be a realist, but not a hater. I am an immigrant, a voluntary immigrant at that. I do not belong here, but nevertheless I am here. I do not want to change Italy. I don't want American stuff, American stores, American pop culture or anything else to undermine the Italian-ness of Italy, otherwise I could have just stayed in America and ate pasta everynight. This suggests to me an idea about my own country- but America is built on diversity. Not a free-wheeling do whatever the f you want diversity but one that says, 'hey come to this country, be yourself, but adopt this idea of treating everyone with respect, obeying our laws, working hard and succeeding.' Nowhere else in the world to immigrants have the right to protest but in America. This is major, but shouldn't be taken advantage of. I can't complain to the Italian government about anything about my life, because frankly I shouldn't be here and it shouldn't change for me because I want it to. I don't deny anyone a better life if they want it and are willing to work and color inside the lines for it, but I don't expect a free lunch either.
i don't know what this all means; this stuff pouring out of my head. i just know that i want everyone to have health insurance in America. That being able to live a healthy life shouldn't be a business that pharmaceutical and insurance companies get rich on- that's just sick. People should be given opportunities but should also be held responsible. i want to pay my taxes and i want to be honest. I want all kids to have a good education. I want everyone to have at least the opportunity to go to college (Italian public universities are free by the way). And I want everyone, no matter the color of their skin, the lilt of their accent, the amount of money they make a year, to be treated with equal respect and dignity. We are all different, let's revel in it, let's learn from it.
