Italians won’t agree, not even if you are right

«A former director of Italy’s national television network RAI has caused a stir with a letter lamenting the lack of opportunities for the young in Italy, published in Italian newspaper La Repubblica.
Pier Luigi Celli, who is currently general director of LUISS university addressed the letter to his son, who is soon to complete his studies.» (Quoted from the Theromanforum.com).

In his letter Mr Celli lamented lack of meritocracy in Italy, a country he defines “impossible to remain in with pride” and therefore he invites his son to go abroad in order to find a fair field to play in. What do you think Italians did regarding the letter? Do they discuss the content? Do they express agreement or disagreement?

Not at all. Italian people are simply not able to focus on what real matters and discuss the content. They are for you or against you as soon as they can tag you as black or white (or red if you prefer). It was like this in Dante’s time when Ghibellini (supporters of emperor) fought Guelfi (supporters of pope) and it is not so different in modern time. The most Italian part is that even if they are on your same side they cannon admit to completely agree with you.

Nobody can truly say Mr Celli was wrong in his letter about opportunities for young people in Italy. Nevertheless many people questioned his right to express such a point of view given he belongs to establishment that has made Italy what it is today. Actually he did not set himself aside, since he wrote “we would have made [this country] different but we failed.” However criticize him (not his argument) is definitely easier than pay attention to what he said. And finally there have been also a small number of people ready to deny evidence (can you figure out who taught them this lesson?)

Here is modern Italy: most people want to talk loud and criticize even if they do not realize what; very few are ready to listen and consider what they are discussing and, above all, nobody is able to focus on what really matters.