Political discontent is as pervasive here as in the States. Take, for example, Berlusconi’s decision to cut funding for public education. As a result, we have seen classes conducted at the Piazza Farnese, traffic stopped on the Corso Vittorio Emanuele for student demonstrations (imagine traffic stopped by cops along College Avenue during rush hour), and even a noisy rally along the via Giulia that woke me from a much-needed nap. Such demonstrations are more common in Roma than in the States. This current series of demonstrations is called la Manifestazione.
Now consider the vast flocks of black birds that take flight every evening just before the sun begins to set. These flocks swarm in Hitchock-like groups, monumental in scale, and like the rest of Roma, they do so in layers. Last night I was looking out our window when I saw three such flocks, superimposed, one on top of another. It’s as if Seurat were having a gray day with dots and had only brought his India ink with him to record the sight. I imagine that to the birds, those who participate in la Manifestazione look like little dots moving en masse.
The Italians are much more interested in the affairs of our State than we are in theirs and perhaps more than we are in our own. They cover the campaigns of Obama and McCain every evening. Here we know that Sarah Palin has gone shopping at Saks and Neiman Marcus. Everyday we know how Wall Street is doing, and for those interested, the Borsa here is not faring any better. Every now and again, it is good to fly with a different flock.
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