Moderators: Elvis, DrVolin, Jeff
“Me ne frego” — which translates to “I don’t care” or “I don’t give a fuck” — was adopted by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini as a slogan. The slogan came from a poem by Gabriele D’Annunzio, about the arditi, World War I soldiers who volunteered to fight. The poem used the refrain “me ne frego” to explain that the soldiers didn’t care if they died, because their fight was noble.
Though the arditi disbanded after World War I, many of the original soldiers formed the Black Squads, Mussolini’s goon squad. The Black Squads were essential to Mussolini’s power grab and declared loyalty to the fascist leader.
Mussolini adopted “Me ne frego” as not just a slogan but the prevailing philosophy of his movement. Mussolini explained:
The proud Blackshirt motto “I don’t care” written on the bandages that cover a wound isn’t just an act of stoic philosophy or the summary of a political doctrine. It’s an education to fighting, and the acceptance of the risks it implies. It’s a new Italian lifestyle. This is how the Fascist welcomes and loves life, while rejecting and regarding suicide as an act of cowardice; this is how the Fascist understands life as duty, exaltation, conquest. A life that must be lived highly and fully, both for oneself but especially for others, near and far, present and future.
Italian writer and translator Giovanni Tiso wrote an excellent essay about the history of “me ne frego,” and we highly recommend reading it for more history on the slogan and its importance in fascist ideology. And, of course, “me ne frego” never went away; you can buy shirts and stickers from fascist retailers — even with pictures of Mussolini or the fascist “fasces” symbol on them, making the connotations clear.
Did Melania know about the fascist history of “me ne frego” and what it means? It’s impossible to know — but Melania does claim to speak Italian. And though some have questioned that claim, we see no reason to. Aside from the fact that many Europeans are multi-lingual, early in her modeling career she lived in Italy. Honestly, we’d be surprised if she couldn’t speak Italian.
As for whether or not Melania knows the context, again, we can’t be sure. But it is worth noting that Melania’s hometown is the Slovenian city of Nova Mesto. Nova Mesto was part of Fascist Italy. Her father was in the League of Communists of Slovenia, which fought against the fascists during World War II. So it’s reasonable to assume she knows the fascist meaning of “me no frego.”
While we can’t know if she made the connection between “me no frego” and “I really don’t care, do U,” it’s definitely a bigger gaffe that it seems on its face. (And more evidence that the “Free Melania” meme is utterly misguided.) After all, this is what she chose. She chose to get (and stay!) married to a repulsive yet powerful man.
Furthermore, before her husband became president, she pushed racist conspiracy theories about President Obama’s American citizenship and tolerated anti-Semitic attacks against a Jewish writer who wrote a slightly unflattering profile of her.
She’s as complicit as the rest of them, and this controversy surround Melania’s jacket is more than the press merely having a field day following a thoughtless misstep.
liminalOyster » 26 Jun 2018 21:53 wrote:Interesting thoughts. Side note that I think it's also worthy of a closer look that a number of establishment media have suggested that Melania was directing her message at Donald. Im not buying it (yet at least) but its interesting.
82_28 wrote:“Me ne frego” — which translates to “I don’t care” or “I don’t give a fuck” — was adopted by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini as a slogan.
82_28 » 26 Jun 2018 22:33 wrote:Perhaps!?!?!“Me ne frego” — which translates to “I don’t care” or “I don’t give a fuck” — was adopted by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini as a slogan. The slogan came from a poem by Gabriele D’Annunzio, about the arditi, World War I soldiers who volunteered to fight. The poem used the refrain “me ne frego” to explain that the soldiers didn’t care if they died, because their fight was noble.
Though the arditi disbanded after World War I, many of the original soldiers formed the Black Squads, Mussolini’s goon squad. The Black Squads were essential to Mussolini’s power grab and declared loyalty to the fascist leader.
Mussolini adopted “Me ne frego” as not just a slogan but the prevailing philosophy of his movement. Mussolini explained:
The proud Blackshirt motto “I don’t care” written on the bandages that cover a wound isn’t just an act of stoic philosophy or the summary of a political doctrine. It’s an education to fighting, and the acceptance of the risks it implies. It’s a new Italian lifestyle. This is how the Fascist welcomes and loves life, while rejecting and regarding suicide as an act of cowardice; this is how the Fascist understands life as duty, exaltation, conquest. A life that must be lived highly and fully, both for oneself but especially for others, near and far, present and future.
Italian writer and translator Giovanni Tiso wrote an excellent essay about the history of “me ne frego,” and we highly recommend reading it for more history on the slogan and its importance in fascist ideology. And, of course, “me ne frego” never went away; you can buy shirts and stickers from fascist retailers — even with pictures of Mussolini or the fascist “fasces” symbol on them, making the connotations clear.
Did Melania know about the fascist history of “me ne frego” and what it means? It’s impossible to know — but Melania does claim to speak Italian. And though some have questioned that claim, we see no reason to. Aside from the fact that many Europeans are multi-lingual, early in her modeling career she lived in Italy. Honestly, we’d be surprised if she couldn’t speak Italian.
As for whether or not Melania knows the context, again, we can’t be sure. But it is worth noting that Melania’s hometown is the Slovenian city of Nova Mesto. Nova Mesto was part of Fascist Italy. Her father was in the League of Communists of Slovenia, which fought against the fascists during World War II. So it’s reasonable to assume she knows the fascist meaning of “me no frego.”
While we can’t know if she made the connection between “me no frego” and “I really don’t care, do U,” it’s definitely a bigger gaffe that it seems on its face. (And more evidence that the “Free Melania” meme is utterly misguided.) After all, this is what she chose. She chose to get (and stay!) married to a repulsive yet powerful man.
Furthermore, before her husband became president, she pushed racist conspiracy theories about President Obama’s American citizenship and tolerated anti-Semitic attacks against a Jewish writer who wrote a slightly unflattering profile of her.
She’s as complicit as the rest of them, and this controversy surround Melania’s jacket is more than the press merely having a field day following a thoughtless misstep.
https://hornet.com/stories/melanias-jac ... -care-two/
Eventually leads to via Mussolini:
Elvis » Tue Jun 26, 2018 4:35 pm wrote:82_28 wrote:“Me ne frego” — which translates to “I don’t care” or “I don’t give a fuck” — was adopted by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini as a slogan.
Very, very interesting! I otherwise dismiss the controversy as a distraction, probably intended. Maybe something will leak out revealing that, say, Stephen Miller was behind it.
Later, President Donald Trump said the jacket's message was a shot at the media.
"'I REALLY DON'T CARE, DO U?' written on the back of Melania's jacket, refers to the Fake News Media. Melania has learned how dishonest they are, and she truly no longer cares!" he tweeted.
But a Republican close to the White House sent along a note to say that this explanation of the coat is "revisionist history."
This Republican, who is supportive of Trump, but skeptical of some of what they consider to be the administration's ham-handedness, says there was an urgent meeting among communications staff about how to fix this after it was becoming a story.
It's unclear who, exactly, first had the idea to say her coat's message was directed at the media. But it quickly won approval in the West Wing and by the President.
Heaven Swan » Tue Jun 26, 2018 7:07 pm wrote:I wish I knew if wearing the jacket was her idea or someone else’s...DT, Stephen Miller, Bannon... In any case Melania’s made it clear how complicit and evil she really is. Chilling.
It would be interesting to look at it through the lens of psychological warfare—because it seems like a very deliberate and calculated gesture.
And, although probably a side issue, who owns Zara? Talk about product placement!
Amancio Ortega Gaona is a Spanish billionaire businessman. He is the founder and former chairman of Inditex fashion group, best known for its chain of Zara clothing and accessories shops. As of March 2018, Ortega had a net worth of $68.4 billion, making him the second-wealthiest person in Europe after Bernard Arnault, and the sixth-wealthiest in the world.[2]
Ortega is also the wealthiest retailer in the world.
In 2007, Zara withdrew a handbag from their shelves after a customer noticed a swastika on the bag's design. The bag came from an external supplier, and Zara said that the symbol was not visible when the handbag was chosen. Zara spokesman Susan Suett said that if they had noticed the handbag featured the symbol, they would not have sourced it. Once informed of the swastika symbol, they immediately withdrew the item from their shelves.[53]
In August 2011, a Brazilian television show accused the company of using suppliers who were running sweatshops for their outsourced production. The Regional Superintendency of Labour and Employment of São Paulo, Brazil, closed a factory that produced Zara's clothing for its poor labour conditions.[55] Zara’s representatives said that the accusations of slave labour made against the retailer represent a breach of the code of conduct for workshops of Inditex. The company also states that all factories responsible for unauthorized outsourcing have been asked to regularize immediately the situation of the workers involved.[56]
In August 2014, Zara received criticism for selling a toddler T-shirt for closely resembling uniforms worn by Jewish concentration-camp inmates. The T-shirt was striped and featured a yellow star similar to the Star of David. Zara said that the design of the shirt was inspired by "the sheriff's stars from the classic western films". After being on sale for a few short hours, Zara immediately removed the shirt and apologized.[57] Zara received heavy criticism for selling the T-shirt in Israel because Israel does not have sheriffs. Additionally, the word "Sheriff" is outlined in transparent letters on the bright yellow star.[57] The Anti-Defamation League responded to the shirt, saying that it was offensive, but welcomed Zara's recognition of the potential imagery and removing the shirt from sale.[58]
In July 2016, complaints were made against Zara that they had been stealing designs from multiple independent designers for their products. One of the designers, Tuesday Bassen, who previously worked with brands like Urban Outfitters and Nike, got in touch with Zara and received a response from Zara that claimed that Bassen's designs were not distinctive enough, and that they received only a handful of complaints given the large volume of traffic they receive on their site. When the news was eventually picked up by media outlets, and Inditex, Zara's owning company, was asked to comment on the issue, Inditex replied that the items in question have been suspended from sale, and that they are in contact with Bassen's lawyer to clarify and address the issue.[59][60]
In November 2017, customers shopping at Zara stores in Istanbul, Turkey, found handwritten notes purportedly from Turkish workers in the pockets of in-store garments asking shoppers to pressure Zara into paying them the wages, which they claim they are owed.[61]
As of April 2018, MaXhosa by Laduma is taking legal action against Zara for copying its designs.[63]
Melania Trump set to visit more immigration centers after jacket furor
By LOUIS NELSON
06/27/2018 10:12 AM EDT
First Lady Melania Trump will visit additional immigration holding centers this week, the second such trip for the first lady after she caused a stir by wearing a jack with the words “I really don’t care, do u?” painted on the back.
Trump’s spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said Wednesday that the first lady will visit “additional facilities” this week but did not offer further details, including where those facilities are located and when the visits will occur. She cautioned that the trip may not necessarily take the first lady to the U.S.-Mexico border.
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/06/ ... ket-678818
Cordelia wrote:
But because of the national & international outrage over an immoral, cruel policy, the admin. was forced to withdraw and Melania was quickly dispatched to act as their goodwill emissary (probably outside whatever she's signed onto as her flotus duties for the month). My take is that she was pissed off about being taken away from whatever spa, fashion event, lunch, tennis, etc. she had planned and sent an aide to find her a wearable 'Fuck You'.
Her punishment is more slumming...
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