Mussolini, Berlusconi or a Ferrari???

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undiplomatictv.com and diplomatartist.com at diplomaticallyincorrect.org Who would you select to represent Italy before an international forum, Mussolini,(El Duce), Berlusconi or a Ferrari, or perhaps the options are too narrow and unfair? Why not Felini, or even Michaelangelo or Devinci? How about another Italian "treasure" Carla Bruni? Luciano Pavarotti was UN Goodwill Ambassador and global citizen. "Miss Sarajevo" is only one of his many contributions along with his hometown Modena concerts gathering the world's musical artists on one stage for children.

Transcripts / Production notes / Scripts

Tom: Mussolini, Berlusconi or a Ferrari, if you had a vote, who do you think would represent Italy more effectively before an international audience such as the United Nations, that is the undiplomatic question today on this episode of undiplomatictv.com. After the glory of the Roman Empire, the awakening of the Renaissance and master artists such as Leonardo De Vinci and Michelangelo, in the last hundred years Italy has not had the same influence over global culture or politics. Benito Mussolini or El Duce, was Italy's fascist dictator during WW II. With Hitler and Emperor Hirohito, El Duce became one of the most feared Axis would be rulers of the world, only to lose a war of conquest in Africa to Ethiopian defenders and to introduce the world to "concentration" camps first started by his colonial rulers to control and gradually eradicate the local Libyan villagers. The current Prime Minister Berlusconi has at least managed to stay in power far longer than most other Italian leaders of the post world war II era. He has assembled an impressive media empire and almost as a glitzy array of romantic conquests, both of which have apparently only added to his political prowess, including among women voters. The Ferrari, well what more needs to be said than what a picture states: as an Italian representative, the Ferrari speaks for itself, on the race track and parked in your driveway. Joining me today in this most undiplomatic debate is Ambassador Mo Sacirbey and I'm Tom Osborne.

Mo: Tom, it is perhaps unfair to to compare Mussolini and Berlusconi. I can't argue with the Ferrari though. Mussolini was a contemporary and ally of Hitler making both of them rather despicable images for the country that they led into global war, genocide and ultimately humiliation, although El Duce clearly had more style than the Fuhrer. While Hitler wore a hood ornament on his upper lip, Mussolini did not need such a prop on his face to assume lead role on the stage with his square jaw and raised chin. But if we are down to debating hood ornaments, then why not go with the Ferrari. At least the Ferrari does not end up flipped upside down with the crowd spitting upon it, that is unless the driver takes a hairpin curve at 200kilometers an hour.

Tom: I'm with you Ambassador Mo, Mussolini El Duce is out of the running, but what about Silvio Berlusconi? After all he is the current Italian Prime Minister.

Mo: He is a survivor, but I wonder how much high octane fuel and the little blue pill he relies upon to make it to the romantic track with the 16 year old daughter of a close friend? That is certainly synonymous with taking a hair pin curve on a rocky road at 200 km an hour, in a Fiat compact.

Tom: If Italians presumably vote on the basis of machismo, why not at least take the Ferrari. And Berlusconi looks as if he has had as many makeovers as that wrecked Fiat. That jet black hair and wrinkle free skin can't be natural, can it?

Mo: What is? I bet Berlusconi is pissed off at French President Nicolas Sarkozy who took that Italian national treasure Carla Bruni to France?

Tom: Maybe we did not initially nominate for Italy with a credible list of candidates, at least human candidates?

Mo: Maybe not. Federico Felini may be should be on the list?

Tom: We see his films but we never really saw much of him. How about Carla Bruni?

Mo: Remember, Carla Bruni is French now, at least she has been leased for the moment. Another intrusion into Italian space by a French ruler, Napoleon and now Sarkozy. Anyway, if Carla Bruni qualifies then so does Joe DiMaggio for this vote? Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio and great Italian political leaders?

Tom: Is that a nonsensical question and is this a futile search for Italian global political leadership?

Mo: Think when we speak of Italian global leadership we better stick to the Ferrari, or Prada or Versace. Look at what happened the last time Italy tried to impress its political influence globally, El Duce. But I do have another nominee, Luciano Pavarotti.

Tom: A great musical artist and great UN Goodwill Ambassador who unfortunately passed away too early.

Mo: While he had a reputation for canceling paid concerts at the last minute, he was never absent for his humanitarian efforts. Every year he would bring the globe's great artists to his Italian hometown of Modena on behalf of the world's children to raise money and awareness of those most in danger from war, hunger, disease. The world would follow him to Modena, like no other Italian leader in modern times.

Tom: I'm with you Ambassador Mo. Luciano Pavarotti is the winner. Think you remember this musical tribute to Sarajevo, during that city's moment of greatest need not to be forgotten:

Tags

• Luciano Pavarotti
• Mussolini
• Berlusconi
• hitler
• El Duce

Directors:

• Mo Sacirbey, Tom Osborne & Semyon Maltsev

Producers:

• Susan Sacirbey

Actors:

• Tom Osborne & mo Sacirbey