ITALY: Mussolini, bread and Berlusconi

Our discussion of hard and soft wheat, Marie-Antoinette, gateau and brioche, led Christopher Jones to bring in Italy: "When I read about hard wheat and Europe's soft wheat, and how that unfortunate Austrian princess lost her head over "gateau" (or was it "brioche"?), my thoughts wandered to Italy where Durum wheat is indeed used to bake wonderful bread (besides pasta). Italy's dependence on this essentially North American commodity led il Duce, Benito Mussolini to begin "The Battle of Wheat" and make the country virtually independent of foreign imports. (He was ultimately unsuccessful) This year, as we remember the 80th anniversary of the "March on Rome," il Cavaliere, Silvio Berlusconi has even allowed the TV (he runs the whole thing) to broadcast a martial song (Paccera Nera) in praise of Mussolini.

The current debate surrounding Berlusconi's ascension to power, the rehabilitation of the Duce and Berlusconi's controversial government which includes the Alianza Nazionale (so-called, post-fascist, fascisti ) is fascinating all Europeans. This year, Rome very noisily commemorated the 60th anniversary of the battle of El Alamein, pointing out that Italian soldiers were allowed to keep their weapons by the British victors as a show of respect for their bravery in battle.

Another aspect: many elder UK citizens who sit on huge real estate fortunes are being tempted to sell UK property and buy in Italy. It seems that Berlusconi abolished the Italian estate tax because he himself owns huge properties. Italy and Silvio Berlusconi's right wing government is a subject WAIS cannot ignore.

I will be seeing master chef Paul Bocuse sometime this spring for the inauguration of the Fondation Bocuse. I will ask him about the Queen's unfortunate remark and see if he can clear up the mystery -- brioche or gateau".

RH: I agree that WAIS cannot ignore Berlusconi's right-wing government, and we would like to hear more about it. The rehabilitation of Mussolini is interesting.. Can Christopher tell us if anything similar is possible in Germany, where he lives? I am still confused about the history of the wheat problem, just as I am about marshes. Mussolini is praised for having dried the Pontine marshes and ended malaria, while the US is busy restoring wetlands, regardless of the dangers they present. I suspect this is due to environmentalists who have a naive belief in Mother Nature.

Ronald Hilton - 1/7/03