Each blockbuster director has a great scenograph. Berlusconi has Bertolaso. The stage creator. The tableau vivant planner. The man with a trimmed polo neck. The operations guy behind the daily Truman Show we live in Italy.
The maverick head of the italian equivalent of THW is being investigated – guess what for? corruption charges. In Friuli we are a bit naive and away from all games roman, but back in 1976 when the earthquake hit the region, the answer to the Italian protezione civile was: Fassin di bessoi (we’ll deal with the disaster on our own – no help thank you). Still now, when scolding a turbulent child, mothers say: “Stop playing Zamberletti!!” (stop messing around!!). The former head of protezione civile intervention was considered to be more lethal than the earthquake itself.
L’Aquila citizens are living in the middle of the fake façades and of the real rubble. After all the G8 macho-man rhetoric for home- and abroad-consumption, assorted ministers like Zaia bolting from helicopters for a photo in front of the media and hopping back to Rome, and the “let’s get things done (with a little bribe for our friends)” tongue in cheek accolade, the light spot fell on the citizens’ heads this weekend, like in the Truman Show. When they came back to L’Aquila, the rubble was there and the Protezione Civile was gone. Ciao ciao bambina…
I guess the phenomenon is much wider. One day we will all realize that we live in the Truman show of this post-democracy. We are the extras, very real in our capacity of consumers and taxpayers, very ephemeral as voters and citizens. Fake judges, fake doctors, fake teachers. Fake MPs. The only important thing is that the show goes on, someone acting, someone watching, all contributing and consuming. And a few pulling the strings. Like wannabe minister Tsunami Bertolaso. The man coming with the disasters in multiple waves.
PS
Quiz for our German readers.
Guess what is the christian name of Mr. Tsunami Bertolaso?
Yes, yes… it has something to do with waves…waves from the west… 
waves who like hotels very much…but not so much TVA on hotels…
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