#32

I cannot grasp any other name to give it. Something dangerously similar to a human being, something that throws parties, organizes orgies and rules this country called Italy. This thing, this disease, this virus that threatens the moral death of Verdi's country, this thing that without a deep vomit will still be corroding the veins and destroying the heart of the one of the richest European cultures. The basic values of the human condition are trampled everyday by the despicable paws of this thing who, amongst it's many talents, has the burlesque ability to abuse words, distorting their intention and meaning, just like People of Freedom, so has it named the political party with which it assailed the power. I call this thing a delinquent and I feel no repentance. For semantic and social reasons that other could explain better than me, the concept of delinquent has in Italy a much deeper negative meaning than in any other language spoken throughout Europe. To translate as clearly as possible what I think about this thing that goes by the name of Berlusconi, I give usage to the concept in the same fashion that Dante's language does, though I have severe doubts that Dante has ever used it. Delinquency, in my Portuguese, means, according to dictionaries and the common usage of the concept, “act of committing felonies, disobey laws or moral standards”. This definition fits the thing spotless and with such perfection that one might be tempted to see it as a second layer of skin. For many years the thing has been committing mischiefs of various natures, though always quite serious. Worse, it's not that the thing disobeys any laws, it has them custom made in order to protect it's interests, both public and private, as a politician, entrepreneur escorted by under-aged girls, and as far as it's moral standards are concerned, one might not even delve into that, there is nowhere in Italy or the rest of the world that this thing hasn't been deemed preposterous. This is Italy's prime minister, this is the thing that the Italian people has twice elected for role model, this is the path of ruin that liberty and dignity present in Verdi's music and Garibaldi's political action are being dragged into, those who, during the XIX century, made from Italy a spiritual guide for Europe and Europeans. This is what this thing wants to throw away into History's rubbish bin. Will the Italians allow it? (my translation).