It happened yesterday, November 6 in Moscow during a news conference being given by both Russian President Medvedev and Italian Prime minister Silvio Berlusconi that the later of these two men made a comment about Obama (President elect of USA) that translated in to the English language would be as follows: He (Obama) is young, handsome and tanned.
One could interpret these words as offensive if one chose to do so but then again one could interpret just about anything as such if one looked for the angle where it might be. Words however are not all that should be looked upon, not they do not matter but their context. Berlusconi, as is clear on the video which can be seen on the internet was speaking in what I would call a “pleasant manner of jest” and not in one that meant to degrade Obama in anyway or at least that was apparent. Perhaps Berlusconi’s now famous or infamous line as one cares to classify it might have even been taken from the title of the song “To Be Gifted, Young and Black” by Afro-American singer Nina Simone.
I for my part am not trying to justify what Berlusconi said as I feel that there is really nothing that has to be justified though perhaps explained to some who might have gotten the wrong idea of what Berlusconi’s meaning was. Naturally there was for sure the element of race in his comment but in a sense his comment was not really one that the logical mind should see as being derogatory. This being the case even if many of Berlusconi’s political rivals who in Italy number many amongst which can be counted the mayor of Rome, (Walter Veltroni who is also the leader of opposition P.D, “Partido Democratico” Or Democratic Party) who is always looking for opportunities to take shots at Berlusconi, even when just cause is not to be found.
For my part I believe that a lot of the media attention Berlusconi’s comments are receiving are not connected to the comment itself but to Berlusconi’s past, which includes telling an Austrian law maker that he should play the part of a Nazi concentration camp officer in a film. Of course it is clear to see that Berlusconi’s sense of humor at times is not the kind a world leader should express specially in public as embarrassment may rise from it not only to himself but the nation he represents even if malice was not intended.
On the other hand one could say that Berlusconi is rather naïve thinking that such a comment regardless of how innocent he intended it to be would not be exploited by his many political rivals back home or the media who after many comments like the one he made regarding Islam after September 11. Naïve perhaps Berlusconi is but regarding his comment of yesterday; I ask would it be fair to label it as racist in the meaning that he meant to insult the color of Obama’s skin or as a slur?
This is the question I believe should be answered in the negative and though I can not speak for Berlusconi himself I can do so for myself that I saw no such intensions any more than I do when I hear Italian friends of mine telling me that my skin in summer tans faster than theirs does or is already slightly tanned. After all this is a fact of my skin which I should not and do not take offense at. This due to the racial mixture in me which comes from my mother being a mestiza from South America (this word meaning a person who is half white and half South American Indian) while my father is (or was as he passed away earlier this year) Italian, which in fact makes my skin tone slightly darker than the average Italian.
Returning however to the issue of Berlusconi’s comment over Obama’s skin; I would suggest those who are more than willing to heap criticism on Berlusconi to at least wait to hear what Obama, himself has to say about the comment. For at the end of the day since the comment involves him and not any other member of the Negro race, despite some who also may wish to be heard in the media it should be Obama and him alone whose reaction we should consider and not of those who seek to use Berlusconi’s comment for political gain.
In conclusion however I would suggest to Silvio Berlusconi (also owner of my favorite football team AC Milan) as an Italian American, that he in the future refrain from such comments which though not offensive in either content or intension, can and most likely will be used against him by those who are willing to do so. This being what Veltroni’s statement to “Sky TV 24” makes all to clear and it is also my personal believe that such comments though not evil are perhaps silly to a degree that they really have no place in international politics.
About the Author:
My name is Gianni Truvianni, author of many an article to be found on the internet along with the book “New York’s Opera Society”. My works also include the books “What Should Not Matter”, “Love Your Sister” and several others which still remain unpublished though I am presently looking to change this.
Articles Source: Give Berlusconi A Break
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