Three Stadiums

After having publically praised my radio for keeping me in touch with my cultural habitat, I would like to loudly reproach the Italian public media for the absolute impossibility to get, at any time of the day, their national broadcasts on AM frequencies. In Socotra, I can listen to BBC World Service from 7 till 22, to Radio Exterior de España in the early afternoon and sometimes even to Radio Habana, Cuba in the early morning; it is also worth mentioning that, when I am fed up of (bad) news, it is relaxing to listen to the music broadcasted by Voice of America. But no, RAI is impossible to catch in this island in the middle of nowhere. Damn!

Not that I consider the Italian media as information models to be followed worldwide, but internet here is very slow and I sometimes do not have the patience to wait for the few reliable Italian news websites to get properly loaded. In conclusion, it is sad that I can follow closely only two of the three electoral campaigns I am interested in the most.

Spain is called to the ballot boxes in March, Italy in April and the United States are engaged in an exciting primary phase that could change, in November, our Planet’s fate. For us who love to pompously call ourselves “political scientists”, it is of a rare pleasure to follow these games, like they were major football leagues. Of course, also in this case, each one has her/his own preferences…

But some games are slightly more serious than just kicking off a ball. The two countries I mostly relate to decide their Parliament and, therefore, their Government. It seems that in Spain will confirm the present majority, but in Italy, it is not who wins that will make the big difference anyway. The issue in my country is more profound, that I think needs to be solved through a dramatic cultural change, a national awakening from a long nightmare, a new awareness about what democracy should be about: to reach out for the best organisation of a diverse community and shy away from selfish political, economic or religious free-riders.

Anyway, Italy is just a province, just a nice leather boot in the middle of dirty puddle. The real game is to be played in November. The outcome of the elections in the United States will surely give us a clue about the coming main political evolutions in this world of ours, this wonderful common home we are tirelessly turning into an ultimate mess (or our communal grave?).

Shame that only few privileged over there will play the game. Do they realize how powerful is their vote? Why only some of them take advantage of having this right? Why so many human beings in this planet have to bear the consequences of the decisions taken only by a few? At the end of the day, when we sing the praises of democracy, what the hell are we really talking about?