In Washington, DC, at a Metro Station, on a cold January morning in 2007, this man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. About 3 minutes: The violinist received his first dollar. A woman threw money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk. At 6 minutes: A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again. At 45 minutes: The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32. After 1 hour: He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed and no one applauded. There was no recognition at all. No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He...
Not many remember, in late 60s or early 70s, three movies from Hollywood in a series brought Italy in the forefront of cine-goers mind. They were “Marriage in Italian Style”, “Divorce in Italian Style” and “Ghost in Italian Style”. I remembered them with a recent development of dispensing compensation in Italian style.
News of Associated Press suggested that Italy agreed to pay Libya $5 billion as compensation for its 30-year occupation of the country in the last century. This has been to by Libyan foreign minister Mr Abdel-Rahaman Shalgam. He further claimed that Italian Prime Minister Mr Silvio Berlusconi, who is visiting Libya at present, is set to sign a memorandum pledging a $5 billion compensation package involving construction projects, student grants and pension for Libyan soldiers who served with the Italians during the Second World War (too late to consider!).
He further said “It is a material and emotional recognition of the mistakes that our country has done to yours during the colonial era” and added “This agreement opens the path to further cooperation”. In return, Italy wants Libya to crack down on illegal migrants turning up on Italian shores and will fund $500 million worth of electronic monitoring devices on the on the Libyan coastline. So, it appears that this compensation not exclusively a giveaway. The Italian Prime Minister said $200 million of the package would be for infrastructure projects over next 25 years, including a coastal highway stretching across the country from Tunisia to Egypt. However, such generous gesture despite its not being without terms is unique in the history of colonial rules. How about Britain, having ruled almost half of the globe; except forming a worthless commonwealth, can the British be expected to follow the Italian queue? At least for their “Jewel in the crown” i.e. India!
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News of Associated Press suggested that Italy agreed to pay Libya $5 billion as compensation for its 30-year occupation of the country in the last century. This has been to by Libyan foreign minister Mr Abdel-Rahaman Shalgam. He further claimed that Italian Prime Minister Mr Silvio Berlusconi, who is visiting Libya at present, is set to sign a memorandum pledging a $5 billion compensation package involving construction projects, student grants and pension for Libyan soldiers who served with the Italians during the Second World War (too late to consider!).
He further said “It is a material and emotional recognition of the mistakes that our country has done to yours during the colonial era” and added “This agreement opens the path to further cooperation”. In return, Italy wants Libya to crack down on illegal migrants turning up on Italian shores and will fund $500 million worth of electronic monitoring devices on the on the Libyan coastline. So, it appears that this compensation not exclusively a giveaway. The Italian Prime Minister said $200 million of the package would be for infrastructure projects over next 25 years, including a coastal highway stretching across the country from Tunisia to Egypt. However, such generous gesture despite its not being without terms is unique in the history of colonial rules. How about Britain, having ruled almost half of the globe; except forming a worthless commonwealth, can the British be expected to follow the Italian queue? At least for their “Jewel in the crown” i.e. India!
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