apologies
Eva7
Posts: 226
lots of italian people are very ashamed for berlusconi's words about obama....
please, forgive me for having such an idiot as a prime minister, and for having so many idiot fellow citizens who voted for him. I am sure most of you can understand my despair for having such a crazy person rule my country......
here's all the apology messages from italian people to obama and the US people:
(bottom of article)
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/06/berlusconi-under-fire-for-obama-joke/?apage=63#comments
please, forgive me for having such an idiot as a prime minister, and for having so many idiot fellow citizens who voted for him. I am sure most of you can understand my despair for having such a crazy person rule my country......
here's all the apology messages from italian people to obama and the US people:
(bottom of article)
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/06/berlusconi-under-fire-for-obama-joke/?apage=63#comments
Post edited by Unknown User on
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Comments
no need for apologies.. I don't hold individual people accountable for the actions of thier elected leaders.
www.seanbrady.net
to me it is not acceptable such a "joke" from the mouth of a prime minister. he represents an entire country and he should not dare!!! and, by the way, the joke itself might not be harmful, but in this case it is a clear sign of how harmful can be such a dumb prime minister who did it.
thank you for not holding me and italian people accountable, but at least those of us who would never vote for him feel really ashamed to be represented by him in front of the world, especially in such situations.......
now you know how i've/we've felt for the past 8 years :-p
yes, I know very well... and I was especially frustrated that I couldn't vote in your country too!!
I was just thinking the same thing about how I've felt for 8 years now,
eva, it's ok, we know it's not everyone in your beautiful country.
Obama Joke by Premier Has Italy in an Uproar
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By RACHEL DONADIO
Published: November 7, 2008
ROME — Italians never quite know whether to laugh or cry at Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. But many reacted with incredulity and outrage after the prime minister, visiting Moscow on Thursday, amiably called the first African-American president-elect in United States history “young, handsome and suntanned.”
Related
Berlusconi Under Fire for Obama 'Joke' (November 6, 2008)
Mr. Berlusconi made the remark while meeting President Dmitri A. Medvedev of Russia, saying that Senator Barack Obama’s good looks, his youth and his so-called suntan were “all the qualities” for Mr. Medvedev and the future president to “develop a good working relationship.”
Many Italian newspapers gave the comment nearly as much front-page attention as Mr. Obama’s victory itself. The journalist Curzio Maltese wrote in the center-left La Repubblica that “bookmakers wouldn’t even take bets” on how long it would take for Mr. Berlusconi to let slip another of his famous gaffes. “Mr. Berlusconi never fails to live up to our worst expectations.”
Mr. Maltese added that just when Mr. Obama’s victory was “inspiring billions of people” to consider “democracy, the most extraordinary triumph of humanity after centuries of bloodshed and intolerance,” Mr. Berlusconi instead contributed “a miserable, vulgar and racist remark, for which he didn’t even have the courage to take responsibility or the dignity to apologize.”
A billionaire populist, Mr. Berlusconi excels at deflating such lofty talk. He said that his remark had been “a compliment” and that his critics lacked irony. “If you want to get a degree in idiocy, I won’t stop you,” La Repubblica quoted him as saying. “I say whatever I think.”
He said the Italian left was wrong about everything, “including their lack of a sense of humor.” He added: “Too bad for them. God save us from imbeciles.”
The center-left opposition leader, Water Veltroni, had earlier called such “cabaret one-liners” unworthy of a statesman and asked Mr. Berlusconi to apologize.
In Brussels on Friday, when Mr. Berlusconi was asked by a reporter if he would apologize, he said whoever had asked the question should be added to “the list” of imbeciles, Bloomberg News reported. “You should apologize to Italy,” it quoted him as saying.
Later on Friday, Mr. Obama, who has been calling world leaders, had a “long, cordial” telephone conversation with Mr. Berlusconi, according to the Italian news media. The two did not discuss the gaffe, the ANSA news agency reported.
The furor over Mr. Berlusconi’s remark has raised a question: Why, of all the problems Italy is facing — a weak economy, higher mortgage rates — would Mr. Berlusconi get more attention for his off-the-cuff remark than for his political program?
“Because it’s the last straw,” said a political commentator, Beppe Severgnini. “By now, Berlusconi isn’t a political case; he’s a psychological case.”
Mr. Berlusconi’s remark “wasn’t racist; it was infantile and untimely,” he added. “He has such a high opinion of himself that he thinks it’s acceptable to say anything to anyone.”
On Friday, Italy’s leading daily newspaper, Corriere della Sera, ran an illustrated display of Mr. Berlusconi’s most infamous gaffes. In 2002, he said that Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen of Denmark was “so handsome I’m thinking of introducing him to my wife.”
In 2003, he compared a German in the European Parliament to a Nazi concentration camp guard. In 2005, he caused a diplomatic commotion after hinting that he had persuaded the Finnish president, Tarja Halonen, to back Italy to host the European Food Safety Authority by wooing her. “I had to use all my playboy tactics, even if they have not been used for some time,” he said.
Yet Mr. Berlusconi’s latest gaffe seemed to tap into a deep well of anger at him, which is at least as strong as his high approval ratings. A brief report on NYTimes.com about the comment drew nearly 1,600 responses, most from upset Italians.
A reader named Alberto wrote, “Mr. Berlusconi’s stupid joke is a further demonstration of the racism and intolerance that grow inside Italian population, helped by the embarrassing attitude of Italian politics.”
pleaseeeeee, you've done it once, you can do it again..... FREE US!!!
anyone remember this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3k9pMtrccQ
To the original poster, of course we don't blame you!
"I don't believe in damn curses. Wake up the damn Bambino and have me face him. Maybe I'll drill him in the ass." --- Pedro Martinez
I haven't talked to you in so long. I hope all is well.
T'was a great election night!
It was for me too!!!
Thank you, it is nice to talk to you!! Hope all is well for you too, lots of hugs!!!!
We're even now.
agreed!!!
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exactly, i fully agree!
world leaders don't get a pass making such 'jokes'...just like those who hope to be world leaders don't get a pass using phrases such as 'uncle tom' whether applicable or not, but another thread in any case.
however, eva...no need to apologize. after 8 years of bush and hoping that most of the world realized that many americans did NOT support him, i would think the same of your PM.
Let's just breathe...
I am myself like you somehow
wow.
well thank you meme.
Let's just breathe...
I am myself like you somehow
I wouldn't... but it is a selfish thought because I didn't stay in the US like you, meme, but I am still here and believe me it is really dramatic........ :(
By the way, I am sure that if Obama had been elected before the italian elections, Veltroni would be our prime minister now (unfortunately this would tell you how silly people are, but at least I wouldnt live in this nightmare now....)