Free Speech? Now About Protection Emotions ?

Silvio does it again

My favourite head of government. I always look forward to his constant ignoring of political correctness. The man is a treasure.

"Italian newspapers have ribbed Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi for startling Queen Elizabeth by shouting out to the US president after a group photo with G20 leaders. Television footage shows Berlusconi at the edge of the group calling out loudly "Mr Obama! It's Berlusconi".... Mr Berlusconi, a 72-year-old media magnate in his third term in office with a high rating in opinion polls, has a history of diplomatic gaffes, twice recently referring to Mr Obama's skin colour - or "sun tan", as the Italian leader called it. The press had a field day. Among the cartoons, one in La Stampa said Mr Berlusconi had an "unrivalled ability to make a fool of himself" which "we in Italy call charisma". Il Giornale, owned by Berlusconi's brother, also reported the event, but put a positive spin on it, saying the Italian premier had helped make a stiff occasion more relaxed. Photographs of the G20 also showed Mr Berlusconi popping up behind Mr Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and clapping his hands on their shoulders to smile for the cameras.

Source

Italians shout. If you know anything about Italians, you know that. Not all do of course but they do shout much more than we Anglos do. I grew up in a small Australian country town where the population was about half Italian. And in the waiting room of the local hospital, there was a large sign saying Silenzo (silence). It was the first Italian word I learnt. Where we Anglos tend to be hushed in the presence of illness, Italians tend to emote loudly. I sometimes think that their way is better but I don't have it in me personally. To anyone with the genes of England in them, emoting is always at least a bit embarrassing.

Posted by jonjayray