Che non si dica che sono uno di quegli italiani che vanno in giro a parlare male della propria nazione. Per provarlo, ecco qui sotto la mail che diligentemente ho scritto e spedito all'autore/autrice di un articolo uscito su un giornale finlandese in cui si parlava delle ultime peripezie legali del nostro amatissimo premier, dove si affermava in modo ingrato nei confronti del diritto romano, base indiscussa e parte integrante di tutti i sistemi legislativi delle nazioni occidentali, che "L'abuso di potere è un crimine, perfino per la legge italiana":
Dear Sole Laitinen,
as a journalist, you probably are aware of the importance of words and of the meaning they carry. Incidentally, I would like, if I may, to point out my opinion about one little word you used in one of your articles.
In your recent piece about Berlusconi, the only subjective sentence you wrote (together with a precise and objective report of Italian political events) was this:
"Misuse of power is a crime, even under Italian law."
With the simple placement of the word "even" in that position and in that context, you communicate to the reader concepts such as the general inadequacy of the Italian system of law and also implicitly affirm how the Finnish system is supposedly better, reinforcing the idea of superiority of Finland in any field and the consequent inferiority of other nations. As a consequence, by reinforcing such ideas, more phrases of the same kind will be written, and more ideas of the same kind will be institutionalized.
That is one of the processes making for instance the True Finns(*) party so strong. National pride is often synonymous of national mediocrity.
So powerful is a word. That sentence alone tells much more about Finnish culture than about Italian law. In fact it depicts a clear prejudice towards another nation (in this case towards the Italian system of law, apparently so bad that it barely considers misuse of power as a crime), sadly based, let me tell you, on the ignorance about Italian law (and even Finnish to some extent).
Critics are always welcome for us Italians, we really are very self-critical, I just wish those were based on actual facts rather than on mere prejudices.
Especially when they are made by people (i am speaking in general of course, not referring to you personally) who have been until recently very reluctant in revealing to the public and abroad their own weaknesses.
Thanks for reading, best,
as a journalist, you probably are aware of the importance of words and of the meaning they carry. Incidentally, I would like, if I may, to point out my opinion about one little word you used in one of your articles.
In your recent piece about Berlusconi, the only subjective sentence you wrote (together with a precise and objective report of Italian political events) was this:
"Misuse of power is a crime, even under Italian law."
With the simple placement of the word "even" in that position and in that context, you communicate to the reader concepts such as the general inadequacy of the Italian system of law and also implicitly affirm how the Finnish system is supposedly better, reinforcing the idea of superiority of Finland in any field and the consequent inferiority of other nations. As a consequence, by reinforcing such ideas, more phrases of the same kind will be written, and more ideas of the same kind will be institutionalized.
That is one of the processes making for instance the True Finns(*) party so strong. National pride is often synonymous of national mediocrity.
So powerful is a word. That sentence alone tells much more about Finnish culture than about Italian law. In fact it depicts a clear prejudice towards another nation (in this case towards the Italian system of law, apparently so bad that it barely considers misuse of power as a crime), sadly based, let me tell you, on the ignorance about Italian law (and even Finnish to some extent).
Critics are always welcome for us Italians, we really are very self-critical, I just wish those were based on actual facts rather than on mere prejudices.
Especially when they are made by people (i am speaking in general of course, not referring to you personally) who have been until recently very reluctant in revealing to the public and abroad their own weaknesses.
Thanks for reading, best,
(*) I True Finns sono un partito estremista finlandese di ignorantoni che basano la loro forza su politiche anti-immigranti e di orgoglio nazionalista (una brutta copia della nostra Lega Nord a livello nazionale).
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