Protest in Rome

It just happened that the weekend that I went to Rome with AJ, Ross, and Joe, the President of the United States, George W. Bush, was also visiting Vatican City. On Saturday, after our long tour of the Vatican, we decided to eat somewhere around the Colosseum, as it was on the way to our lodgings by metro. When we stepped outside the Metro Station, we first saw the Colosseum. It was impossible not to. After that initial picture taking, we walked a little bit down the road. We saw that there was an entire police force standing in the middle of the road. As we walked further along, we realized why there were so many policemen. A rather large protest was in motion.

Basically, the protest was against President Bush and the United States. It was extremely well organized and lasted for about an hour. It was a moving protest, meaning that they walked the streets of Rome trying to get their point across. I believe they did, at least to me, an American. For a few minutes, I stood there, watched the protesters, and took some pictures. Many had signs in Italian, which we did not understand. There was a constant flow of people; some were chanting in Italian. Every so often, a simple float, basically a cart on wheels, would come by with people screaming and music blasting from it. There were pictures of President Bush, Saddam Hussein, and Fidel Castro. I guess they were trying to point out similarities. There were a few signs in English. One said, "Push Bush Out" and another said "God Smash America" with a swastika through the word "America."

This protest, and that last sign specifically, is a bit disturbing. Thousands of people are comparing America to a fascist nation. This is not good. It is one thing to dislike the President and the current US administration; I have no shame in saying that I am one of those people. However, it is a completely different thing to liken a democratic President to a dictator. This is what bothered me the most. While the protest itself was not violent, the people protesting were passionate about their cause. I can only imagine that there are thousands of other people, in Italy as well as throughout Europe, who feel the same way. They might not speak out quite so loudly or clearly, but they probably have the same negative view of America and our President.

The United States is, some would argue, the last remaining super power. Other countries imitate our culture and strive to be as economically successful. However, if we are the strongest democratic nation, and other countries see us as going places where we are not wanted, then what does that say? It says that America might (MIGHT) be acting undemocratic. I am not a expert on politics, American or international, but I did observe an hour long, passionate display of hatred for America and its President, a President who is supposed to represent the consensus of the American public. If this is the case, then the majority of the American public should believe in what the government is doing. That is clearly not happening. So, perhaps, this protest is also hinting that the United States political system is not working so well.

I have no answers. I have no brilliant commentary on what is going on politically in the United States or in Italy. All I have is observations, ramblings, and questions.