Sarah Weinman’s blog has a sobering reminder that being a writer can be putting your neck right out there. Even in what is supposed to be a member country of the EU.
What struck me is that this is the country that just hosted the Olympics with a great show of everything good. I just don’t know how to get my mind around such a complex mixture of good people and corrupt government. Who knows if we can throw the first stone, of course. But hopefully we can keep vigilant and keep our right to express ourselves even about powerful people. We must try to help in any way we can.
Vicki said : “a complex mixture of good people and corrupt government”
This sounds like the good old USA at this time in history. I hate that the world is judging us by the acts of our current administration. Why is it that the power-hungry always seem to rise to the top? And why do the voices of a judgemental minority ring louder than the voices of the common man?
Never in my 75 years have I seen such a schism in the country on who is the common man. Is he red or blue on the map? Are we not all common? Isn’t that the basis of our country, that all men are created with equal rights? I really cannot help but be disturbed by the judgmental attitudes of the one side toward the other side. Why can’t we find a middle ground? Why???????? The last time I checked the Mafia and the gangs were not elected judges in this country. When the judges can take an author into custody and bully him for many hours let me know. Please.
I really don’t think we have fallen SO far into the abyss yet. If we all keep voting and loving and keeping on, there is still hope. I hope someone agrees with me. We just have to keep at it and be vigilant and not paint those who disagree with us as devils. OK? Be vigilant but not hateful. Pleeeeeeeeeeze.
as hard as it is to believe, does anyone out there think a similar thing could not happen in this country with the current president and administration? THE ONLY reason the world saw New Orleans after Katrina was because reporters got in there and put it on television. Meanwhile, the president is saying “everything is fine, everything is being done.” The only difference in this Italian situation is that the US citizen got to return–I doubt this gov’t would release anyone!! And people STILL stupport this administration.
Exactly my point. Freedom of the press. We still have it, as you point out. And we are exercising it all over the place. My goodness, check into the different talk shows and news programs and who knows where else. The reason we know is that they can talk without being arrested and put in jail. If I say the president is a jerk, I am entitled to say that. I am not sure if I can get away with saying he’s an ok president, but I could always try!
Oh man can they bring him to the US, if that doesn’t qualify for clemency to enter the US I don’t what will.
What struck me is that this is the country that just hosted the Olympics with a great show of everything good. I just don’t know how to get my mind around such a complex mixture of good people and corrupt government. Who knows if we can throw the first stone, of course. But hopefully we can keep vigilant and keep our right to express ourselves even about powerful people. We must try to help in any way we can.
Playground bullies do grow up.
Never, never take all those freedoms we have for granted…
Vicki said : “a complex mixture of good people and corrupt government”
This sounds like the good old USA at this time in history. I hate that the world is judging us by the acts of our current administration. Why is it that the power-hungry always seem to rise to the top? And why do the voices of a judgemental minority ring louder than the voices of the common man?
Never in my 75 years have I seen such a schism in the country on who is the common man. Is he red or blue on the map? Are we not all common? Isn’t that the basis of our country, that all men are created with equal rights? I really cannot help but be disturbed by the judgmental attitudes of the one side toward the other side. Why can’t we find a middle ground? Why????????
The last time I checked the Mafia and the gangs were not elected judges in this country. When the judges can take an author into custody and bully him for many hours let me know. Please.
I really don’t think we have fallen SO far into the abyss yet. If we all keep voting and loving and keeping on, there is still hope. I hope someone agrees with me. We just have to keep at it and be vigilant and not paint those who disagree with us as devils. OK? Be vigilant but not hateful. Pleeeeeeeeeeze.
as hard as it is to believe, does anyone out there think a similar thing could not happen in this country with the current president and administration? THE ONLY reason the world saw New Orleans after Katrina was because reporters got in there and put it on television. Meanwhile, the president is saying “everything is fine, everything is being done.” The only difference in this Italian situation is that the US citizen got to return–I doubt this gov’t would release anyone!! And people STILL stupport this administration.
Exactly my point. Freedom of the press. We still have it, as you point out. And we are exercising it all over the place. My goodness, check into the different talk shows and news programs and who knows where else. The reason we know is that they can talk without being arrested and put in jail. If I say the president is a jerk, I am entitled to say that. I am not sure if I can get away with saying he’s an ok president, but I could always try!
Oh, by the way, is there anything we can do to help the guy in Italy?