So, what was I doing yesterday?

[kasche]

Testo integrale del discorso

I can't speak for other people, I can't really say why they decided to come to the protest - but I imagine their reasons can't have been too different from mine. I myself had half a mind not to go - there have been some changes in my personal life, which meant that for the past two/three weeks I've been doing little more than running around between cities, dealing with offices, paperwork and the like and honestly, the prospective of a quiet weekend did look appealing.

...but I kept hearing things on the news, the way they've been butchering every single (PUBLIC) service we have, what they're planning to do to the whole scholastic system, what I know first hand, how they keep cutting on funds and cover it with talk of "reforming the public system", of "eliminating the slackers" - because whatever their reforms are doing, believe me, that ain't it. And you know what? I couldn't stay home. I couldn't stay put. What chance I had of making myself heard, no matter how small or ineffective, I had to take it. Not to mention how everyone everywhere seemed sure there'd be hardly anyone, that the Circus Maximus was too large to fill, that it'd be a flop.

Boy how many people there were. (2.5 millions of them, the organizers said, right before Veltroni's speech begun. Couldn't count them all myself, sorry...)

There were two twin marches going on, to split the partecipants somewhat, and I heard that the second one couldn't even get in. We were ahead enough so that we were in sight of the stand, but whatever we saw we saw on the megascreen next to it. Not that it mattered, the sound system was good enough that I could hear every word. And of course I clapped my hands, I couldn't help myself, I clapped them raw - and the absolute best thing was those times when you could feel the cheers raising behind you, far behind you, then getting bigger, coming closer, until it took the people all around you.

I am glad I went.

Comments

[spacedye-vest.livejournal.com]

I LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU!

I really hope this works, that Italians can't stop them from destroying everything they haven't destroyed already *HUGS*

[kasche.livejournal.com]

AND I LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU RIGHT BACK!

...and nope, it didn't really work. Just like all the other countless protests all over the country (in nearly every university - no, really) isn't working either. Things are actually getting worse - one of the latest news is how a group of right-wing students (or, at least, the news said they were*) attacked others students protesting against the reforms, for "no discernible reason".

Oh, WHO KNOWS who sent them and why...


* students, I mean.

[spacedye-vest.livejournal.com]

I'm really sorry :( But that's the way of the world. People don't matter. The system fucks over however it wants :(

[brighty18.livejournal.com]

I don't know too much about the situation, but from what I understand, good for you!!

[kasche.livejournal.com]

It felt good, no doubt about that :) Not that it had much effect, though. *sigh* But I guess I'm not too surprised about that.

[penhaligonblue.livejournal.com]

Well done, darling. Thanks for the update on politics abroad - I'm getting far too focussed on stateside matters, though it sounds as though the concerns here are not too different from yours.

[kasche.livejournal.com]

*blows kiss* Thank you, sweetheart :D I don't know how things are over there, but here... they're not looking too good. :(

[ourmutualfiend.livejournal.com]

It sounds amazing BruniB.

[kasche.livejournal.com]

Oh boy, it WAS amazing. :D

xxxxxx!

[monophobia.livejournal.com]

I am glad you went too!

Even if you're just one voice in millions, it really does feel like you're doing something. And you are! And I am proud to call you wife. <3

[kasche.livejournal.com]

I'd been to a few protests before, but man, nothing as big and as driven as this.

I LOVE YOU! <3333333