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Wales
by Joske Vermeule, September 1
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Jun 14th, 2026
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We, the human race that is, never learn do we. The mention of Donald Trump in another thread reminded me of the following (any errors in translation are mine). Unfortunately it does not just apply to Italy.  The head of the government is so repeatedly marked during his career of crime that, in the presence of an honest people, he would have deserved the condemnation, shame and deprivation of all government authority. Why do the people tolerate and even applauded these crimes? A part for moral insensitivity, some for cunning, a part for self-interest and personal gain. The majority naturally render account of his criminal activities, but they prefer to give their vote to the strong rather than the just. Unfortunately the Italian people, if they must choose between duty and advantage, knowing what would be their duty, always choose self-interest. So a mediocre man, coarse, of vulgar eloquence yet easy power to influence, is a perfect example of his contemporaries. In an honest society, he would be at most the leader of a small party of modest following, a person slightly ridiculous for his manners, his attitudes, his delusions of grandeur, offensive to the common sense of the people because of his bombastic style and shamelessness. In Italy he became the head of government. And it is hard to find a more typical Italian example. Admirer of force, venal, corruptible and corrupt, Catholic without believing in God, conceited, vain, falsely good-natured, a good family man but with many lovers, he uses those whom he despises, he has surrounded himself with the dishonest, the liars, the inept, the profiteers; a clever mime, clever enough to take effect on a vulgar audience , but, like any mime, without his own character, he always imagines himself to be the person who he wants to represent.
Peter ![[Linked Image]](http://bradley.it/public_images/drive.jpg)
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Joined: Apr 2011
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Needs to Get Out More!
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Needs to Get Out More!
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An excellent summary of the character of il Duce, and the comparison with Trump is apt indeed. When times are difficult, the public do seem to be easily seduced by larger than life characters suggesting that all can be easily fixed, just so long as we take it out on some minority (who are to blame for all of society's ills, naturally). Mind you, in certain parts of Italy, Mussolini still seems to appeal to some folk.
We chartered a yacht from Procida (an island in the bay of Naples) back in 2008. I quickly realized that we had made a big mistake by going in August (from a sailing point of view) as every port was overflowing and overpriced, and every Napolitan with a speedboat was out and about, flat stick & trying to cut as close as possible to the idiots in a sailboat. It came as no surprise to me that the captain of the Concordia was from Naples.
Anyhow, I digress, the point was, when we sailed up to Amalfi, after loving the beauty of the Amalfi coast we were rather disappointed by the town itself, finding the whole atmosphere a bit tacky and downmarket - rather "kiss me quick". The absolute nadir was a boutique we found which was entirely devoted to selling Mussolini memorabilia. We just couldn't believe our eyes.
Giles. Mogless in Paris.
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An excellent summary of the character of il Duce, I got the impression it is all about Silvio but Peter mixed up pictures..
Hannes
once: Green M3W; 2013
now: Red 4/4 Sport; 2011
and some practical cars for use in real life
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On the other side of the lake from us, near Dongo, is the point at which Mussolini was captured, and later executed under controversial circumstances. The treasure that was being carried by the convoy was largely unaccounted for. It seems certain people in the area turned out to be more wealthy than anyone had previously suspected and there is a rumour that the Communist Party's headquarters in Rome was purchased with Mussolini's gold that had been sequestered by the Communist partisans.
It is a story full of blood and murder.
Anyway there is always a group of neo fascists who arrive on the anniversary of Mussolini's execution to commemorate the event.
Peter
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I was over in Como 3 weeks ago with my Morgan...is it true that the monument to Mussolini was in fact a public toilet originally but even this has been removed to deter neo facists rallys?
" I LOVE THE SOUND OF THROTTLE BODIES IN THE MORNING " (ROBERT DUVAL IN "APOCOLYPSE NOW " )
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Love the line: "clever enough to take effect on a vulgar audience". Says it all really!
Where's Nigel Farage now?
Morgan Plus 4
Royal Enfield Classic 350
Brompton M6L
Giant TCX Advanced
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Posting Desperado Talk Morgan Guru
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Donald Pump , he is all wind , noticed he has clashed with Nicola Sturgeon should be fun .
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Deleted
Last edited by The Austrian; 11/12/15 12:19 PM. Reason: No need to waste comments on D.T.
Hannes
once: Green M3W; 2013
now: Red 4/4 Sport; 2011
and some practical cars for use in real life
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I was over in Como 3 weeks ago with my Morgan...is it true that the monument to Mussolini was in fact a public toilet originally but even this has been removed to deter neo facists rallys? Sounds like an urban myth to me. Never heard of it and I can find no reference on the internet. Mussolini's corpse, however, was stolen from the Musocco cemetery by a group of fascists and moved to various locations. In 1956 his body returned to his family and placed in the family chapel at Predappio where there is a monument. His lover, Clara Petacci, who by some accounts threw herself in front Mussolini, was buried under a false name at Milan and finally exhumed and reinterred at a cemetery near Rome in 1959. I got the impression it is all about Silvio When I first heard this we were in the car and it was read out by a radio station. I was convinced it was about Silvio too.
Peter
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It worries me that someone like Trump could get his finger on the nuclear button! I think the Eagle on the news yesterday deserves a congressional medal.
By the way have you noticed that only 2 people pronounce NUCLEAR as NUCULAR - GW Bush & Homer Simpson - which makes me wonder if they are one and the same?
2010 4/4 sport - le mans green
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