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Beppe Severgnini is indeed very popular here in Italy. He has got a deep knowledge of Britain and of the Anglo-Saxon world in general. The article is a post to his forum, which I read regularly.
What the reader basically says is that the English (but remember that for us ½ûÂþÌìÌÃs "the English" means the British) have never lost their feeling of superiority towards the ½ûÂþÌìÌÃs, and keep on boasting their famous self-control. Basically they keep on believing they still havet got the old Victorian attitude toward everyone and every thing, verging on the edge of perfection on everything they do.
But according to the reader, this is not true anymore. He uses hoolingans as the first example (he compares them to vikings and wonders if this can be called self-control), saying they are considered a national shame. He then says that the so much appraised Princess Diana was not actually the best of women (I'll leave the other comments, don't want to cause any stir in this forum). He ends up saying that Queen Elisabeth is the only "monument" to the country, and compares her to President Ciampi's wife.
Very short summary, but hope it gives the idea.

Francesco
[url]www.learnitalian.bravehost.com[/url]
[url]www.italianradio.bravehost.com[/url]

thank you

i thought that the equation english=vikings and hooligans would have been forgotten by now.....maybe not!

[QUOTE=Francesco]
But according to the reader, this is not true anymore. He uses hoolingans as the first example (he compares them to vikings and wonders if this can be called self-control), saying they are considered a national shame. He then says that the so much appraised Princess Diana was not actually the best of women (I'll leave the other comments, don't want to cause any stir in this forum). He ends up saying that Queen Elisabeth is the only "monument" to the country, and compares her to President Ciampi's wife.
QUOTE]

I hope I can be allowed to say something here, since I am English.

From Francesco's summary of the article, I would say that Severgnini has got it about right. As a nation we have always had this feeling that we are better than anyone and everyone else. God alone knows why we continue to believe this, since in many respects we are pretty average. But it's an historical thing, from the times when Britain truly ruled the waves and most of the globe was a rather fetching shade of pink!!

I would concur that Princess Diana was not the heavenly angel that millions made her out to be. But don't get me wrong here; I admired her enormously for what she did in breaking the rather crusty mould of the British Royal family and hauling it into the late 20th century where everybody else was living. But, like all of us, she had her dark side - more than that I will not say, since I know how sensitive so many people still are. Let's just say that it was not all the fault of Prince Charles, for whom I have a huge respect. Again I will not go into detail, since it would take too long, but he has never been afraid to say what he thinks about certain things, and in doing so has upset one or two politicians - but that certainly is no bad thing!!

As to our queen being the only monument, well, I must disagree. There are so many things, let alone people, that could be considered monuments. So many important buildings in London, the beauty of our National Parks (particularly near where I live in Sussex), ancient monuments like Stonehenge and Avebury.

I think most normal intelligent people (forget the press, the media, the hooligans, thugs, racists and others, for they make up only a minority, thank God) are far more accepting of the different ways other people live their lives. Although I doubt if I will ever return to Italy, I will retain a love for its way of life, its culture, art, architecture, food, wine and the breathtaking beauty of so much of Il Bel Paese. Yes, I live in a beautiful country but I treasure the memories of the beauty that other countries have bestowed upon me. And for that I will be eternally grateful.

Just wanted to point out that the article is not Severgnini's (he would never say such things!).
And Peter, I totally agree with you!

Francesco
[url]www.learnitalian.bravehost.com[/url]
[url]www.italianradio.bravehost.com[/url]

Just to point out again:
the article isn't really an article, it's just a reader's opinion, answering a Severigni's article considered too much "britlover".

[FONT="Book Antiqua"][SIZE="3"]I think the reason that so many of us are seeking a new life in Italy are that we are fed up out with dealing with some of the systems and people in the UK.

And before anyone points out that those in Italy are likely to be just as exasperating I can only relply that 'a change is as good as a rest!' And I will be glad never to hear another word about the Royal Family who I totally despise!!

Becky[/SIZE][/FONT]

I'd never 'leave' England or Britain........ it's made me who I am & whilst it has its faults, it's part of me. There are bits I chose to disregard & leave behind, but other bits have formed me.

I am proud of who I am & where I come from.

My love of Italy is derived from a number of things, but it does not mean I will stop being British, with all its (any my!) faults.

Ahh, that's better.
:D

how refreshing to read a thread with some positive things to say about the u.k.in my case ,i will always be grateful for the education system which enabled me ,as a person from a poor immigrant family, to have a good education,join a profession and have a rewarding career and all without knowing anybody with power or influence.

It seems to me that expats roughly fall into one of two categories: those who are moving [I]away[/I] and those who are moving [I]towards[/I].

Obviously, some people are moving away from, say, a media obsessed with the British Royal Family (or Scottish weather) [I]and[/I] towards what they hope will be a better life elsewhere. But it does seem to me that the primary motivation for moving to another country is often either because one is trying to escape something one cannot cope with or because one is looking to build something new.

It also seems to me that the difficulty with moving abroad in order to escape something like a vague, intangible dissatisfaction with one's country of birth is that it often turns out that the problem is not actually external, but rather with how one copes with challenging situations. If you have problems dealing with people in the UK, it's a good bet you'll have problems with people in Italy.

Personally, I could fairly comfortably live the rest of my days in Scotland. I love the country and the people. Unfashionable though it may be to admit it, I think that British culture and society has many positive points. But the prospect of Scotland's long, cold, dark winters as I grow old is just [I]so[/I] depressing!

Scotland is my home, but the prospect of new challenges, new friends, a decent size parcel of land, hot summers, cold winters and temperate springs and autumns is just too appealing.

(And in case anyone concludes that I've got a problem with expats: I was born in the USA, lived there until I was 22 and I am still an American citizen. I've lived in the UK since 1977 and I am now a British citizen. My move to Italy will thus make me an expat twice over.)

Al