I’m reading a book called The Italians by John Hooper, a British journalist who worked in Rome.
It’s a book that purports to describe and explain the Italian people’s culture and lifestyle. It’s well written and interesting. I’m enjoying it, as far as the descriptions go, but the explaining part makes me go, “Hmmmm…”
Because a large portion of the early chapters seem to say, “Italians are shifty and deceitful, but here are some historical reasons why they don’t see objective truth the way we Anglo-Saxons do.”
Ummm, yeah. The historical causes sound plausible, being ruled and oppressed by foreign rulers, and warring factions and whatnot. But that’s not the point. If someone had written a book explaining why Blacks hate obeying authority, or why Muslims are so homicidal about their spiritual beliefs, or whatever, I think the author would find it difficult to publish in a mainstream press, never mind being roasted alive in the media.
I guess I’m not sure where observation ends, and prejudice begins. 