Saturday, June 24, 2023

Protests in Rome ~ Italy at its finest!

 In Rome this morning and noticed many people, many many people, wandering around with various flags.  I asked the driver, Cos'e? He said, "E una manisfazione oggi" and rolled his eyes.  That is the word for a protest, a march.  A manifestation.  It's so glorious.  

What is it about?  Chi sa?  Who knows?  But here they were when I left the Palazzo Barberini after viewing a fabulous exhibit of the personal art collection of Pope Urban VIII:

A nice sea of red, so of course I'm thinking it is one of the socialist parties having a demonstration.  But then later in the afternoon, the whole thing comes streaming by my hotel window, preceded by military police:


There is lots of name-calling and accusations.  But what is so classically Italian about it is that it's not just one party or organization that is protesting.  It's many!  Many!  I noted a group that is accusing the government of taking away health care for workers, another is pro-immigration, another for the human rights guarantees that are supposed to be a part of the Italian constitution, another for the fair pay to immigrants, another with a housing complaint, one group for 'demilitarizing the schools.' 

Uhhhh...... guys.  There's too much going on.  When everyone is screaming, no one is heard.  

Ugh. 

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